Description: ""I desire mercy, not sacrifice."" Echoing Hosea,
Jesus defends his embrace of the ""unclean"" in the Gospel of
Matthew, seeming to privilege the prophetic call to justice over
the Levitical pursuit of purity. And yet, as missional faith
communities are well aware, the tensions and conflicts between
holiness and mercy are not so easily resolved. At every turn, it
seems that the psychological pull of purity and holiness tempts the
church into practices of social exclusion and a Gnostic flight from
""the world"" into a ""too spiritual"" spirituality. Moreover, the
psychology of purity often lures the church into what psychologists
call ""The Macbeth Effect,"" the psychological trap that tempts us
into believing that ritual acts of cleansing can replace moral and
missional engagement. Finally, time after time, wherever we see
churches regulating their common life with the idiom of dirt,
disgust, and defilement, we find a predictable wake of dysfunction:
ruined self-images, social stigma, and communal conflict. In an
unprecedented fusion of psychological science and theological
scholarship, Richard Beck describes the pernicious (and largely
unnoticed) effects of the psychology of purity upon the life and
mission of the church. Endorsements: ""Theologians write endlessly
about how Christian faith should affect our morality, our
philosophy, and our spirituality. Richard Beck is the only one I
know who asks what it has to do with what turns our stomachs. He
writes bluntly and stunningly about the engagement of grace with
our visceral dynamics of disgust and avoidance. Our complex,
precognitive repulsions toward groups, behaviors, and persons stem
from deep patterns in our nature. But, unredeemed, those patterns
also block us from the gospel path. Beck combines biblical
interpretation, theological wisdom, and dramatic psychological
insights to give an earthy and exciting take on the Christian
life."" --S. Mark Heim Samuel Abbot Professor of Christian Theology
Andover Newton Theological School ""In his thoughtful, engaging,
and even sometimes humorous style, Richard Beck tells the church
that it is time to get dirty. With one leg hip-deep in theology and
the other in psychological science, Beck persuasively argues that
the church's obsession with purity is a costly pursuit, one fraught
with serious psychological and sociological consequences. You may
not always agree, but you will be challenged in new ways to think
about the church's mission."" --Peter C. Hill Editor, Journal of
Psychology and Christianity ""Richard Beck has my vote as the
liveliest voice in the contemporary integration of psychology and
theology. In Unclean, he weaves together his sophisticated grasp of
psychological research and theological reflection in a manner that
is both prophetic and inviting. This is one of those rare books
that can be helpful to those who love the church and also to those
who have been hurt by churches. Beck writes with an integrative and
formative rhythm that kept stimulating my mind and pulling at my
heart. These ancient Biblical concepts of mercy, holiness, and
hospitality have been implanted anew with deeper meaning for me.""
--Steven J. Sandage Professor of Marriage and Family Studies Bethel
University ""I am thankful that this insightful and important work
has come to print. Richard Beck has woven together important themes
from various critical conversations--psychology, theology, biblical
studies, and missional ecclesiology--with exceptional artistry. He
has ventured across the purity boundaries of academic disciplines
for the sake of a large picture of the hospitality of God. His
readers will be well rewarded for welcoming this ambitious and
immensely practical book."" -- Mark Love Director, Resource Center
for Missional Leadership Rochester College ""Richard Beck's
insightful book is a must-read for those who want to embody
Christ's love in the world. Moving beyond mere sentimentality, this
book exposes why
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