Mary Magdalene Never Wore Blue Eye Shadow: How to Trust the Bible When Truth and Tradition Collide Paperback – October 15, 2019

This book is very well written. It is palatable without oversimplifying the information or language. Most people will be able to pick this up and learn something interesting, regardless of their exposure to the topics covered. Haley’s archeological background and understanding of the historical and linguistic context of the Bible has a lot to offer the reader. I’m sure many Christians will take aim at some of her conclusions for being too “liberal” and not “Answers in Genesis” approved, but honestly thank God for that. I actually am on the opposite side of the spectrum. Sometimes her reverence for the Bible and its inspiration shined so bright I did a double take wondering if parts were too conservative for me. But it wasn’t. I appreciated that about the book. It challenged me not to throw the baby out with the bath water. I especially appreciated the portion discussing the end of Mark, and how the additions at the end of Mark mirrors the scribes handlings of earlier parts of the Bible. God’s hand has been on the Bible and whatever we have is what we are supposed to have and that’s all part of its inspiration. Also thank you for showing examples of yom not meaning a literal 24 hour day. I was taught there is no place it ever means anything other than a 24 hour day and have since rejected that. I appreciate having the receipts to back it up now. I would seriously consider using this book as a supplemental read for a class that I teach. It’s a great introduction to rethinking how to understand the Bible. Just very well put together.

Amanda delves deep into the very structure of the Bible, exploring how the holy manuscripts were written, compiled, and translated and teaching us to cherish each passage for its unique literary structure and voice. That contribution alone would have been enough, because she lays out that complicated history in such an easy-to-understand format that the reader leaves enlightened rather than overwhelmed.But she goes deeper, teaching us how to view science’s relationship with the Bible in a healthy manner (the passages on creation literally made me tear up!), how to look at scripture in context rather than “cherry-picking,” how to read slowly and carefully, and ultimately, how to strip everything away, everything you have ever heard, everything you are “supposed” to read into scripture, and just listen.Particularly helpful, I thought, was the chapter entitled “Too Many Cookbooks in the Christian Kitchen,” which talks about the problem, not new to our generation, of preferring to follow a doctrine, or a denomination, or legalism, or a man, which is so easy for us to do, isn’t it? I think a lot of times these problems start as we try to boil our beliefs down into a teachable message to take out into the world. But we forget to fluff the stew back up again to learn God in the fullness of His glory. Amanda does a wonderful job reminding us of just how important it is to do that.Her tone is conversational and easy-to-read. I found that the scripture she used as examples throughout was particularly well-chosen. You feel like you’re in a really fun classroom and she’s the teacher at the front with a blackboard breaking it all down into understandable language. And finally, I will add that what Amanda does is more than just teach hermeneutics (a word we learn in the last chapter!). She presents the beautiful, awe-inspiring picture of God’s plan. It seeps in when you least expect it, moving you to emotion and prodding you to reflect on what an awesome God we serve.Highly recommended!

I was intrigued by the get-go on this book. The title "Mary Magdelene Never Wore Blue Eye Shadow" was both an apt picture of the bias we Christians, especially those of us who have grown up in church all our lives, possess without even realizing it. When you have been raised in Sunday School (and for that I am thankful) and attending church services multiple times weekly, the rich truths of the Bible have often been reduced to cute, seemingly unrelated stories which could be easily relayed on a flannelgraph or in a child's play set. We forget that the Bible, as Amanda reminds us, is "God's Library in One Book"-- all pointing to one story which is God's redemption of a world He loves through the only perfect satisfaction of His justice and grace, Jesus Christ. Amanda's book helps us see how we can both interpret the individual accounts properly in their context while keeping in mind the "big picture". Her teaching of church history and how we came upon so many different denominations and fractions within one faith was helpful and reassuring-- we may not understand every mystery of the Bible, but we can trust its veracity completely. This book is helpful for anyone who has those nagging questions and uncertainties about how it all fits together and gives perspective on how we use faith every day when dealing with issues of the past, present, and future. This book was both an enjoyable read and encouraged me to continue to seek God through His Word and trust Him even when I still have questions that remain.