Unclean

"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 we are so prone to alienate "the other" and how we may pursue  a way of hospitality and love. This is a deeply human, and humanizing, book."

--Mark Van Steenwyk is a founder of the Missio Dei community in Minneapolis and a general editor of JesusRadicals.com.



"I believe that this is one of the most important books that I have read in the last decade....it is one of the few books I would recommend to every Christian psychologist....Seriously, you really should read this book."

--Rodney L. Bassett, as reviewed in the Winter 2012 issue of theJournal of Psychology and Christianity,