PsychoBible

The United States counts roughly 2,000 religious denominations and close to 500,000 churches and temples, and the Bible shapes conduct as much as doctrine. Readers may wonder whether drinking alcohol is sinful, whether prayer can heal, how the Bible views homosexuality, why celibacy is prized, whether faith and feminism can coexist, and how the crucifixion narrative should be read. Armando Favazza, a psychiatrist who studies culture and society, takes up these questions and others. He traces how the Bible's influence on behavior has played out across different times and places, from the gradual compilation of the scriptures thousands of years ago to the present. The book is aimed at anyone who wants to understand the roots of their society's beliefs and behaviors, and perhaps their own, and it will especially appeal to readers willing to examine their faith critically.