“Johnson clears the modern fog surrounding ancient legislation, guiding readers to see Torah not as a harsh legal code but as a profound moral vision. By reentering the ancient Israelite world, he brings the law down from Sinai once more, making its thought world accessible and its insights illuminating for all.” Joshua Berman, Bar-Ilan University
“Offers a fresh and engaging way to approach the Torah’s legal texts by combining ancient context, storytelling, and thoughtful reflection. Perfect for undergraduate students, seminarians, pastors, teachers, and interested lay readers, this book equips readers with practical tools to think deeply about Torah’s guidance and its relevance for today’s world.” Cynthia Shafer-Elliott, Baylor University
| “A wonderfully insightful and engaging, yet simultaneously remarkably lean, treatment of biblical law in its vast depth and breadth. This is the ideal textbook for classroom use.” | “Short and sweet but nuanced and insightful, this is the introductory textbook I’ve been seeking. Understanding Biblical Law immerses students in the world these laws actually served, training readers to think differently about an oft-misunderstood corpus.” | “A creative, timely, and entertaining remedy for widespread misguided readings of biblical law. Johnson masterfully weaves a gripping fictional narrative into an informative and well-written guide to biblical law. A must-read for anyone interested in acquiring the necessary tools to interpret and apply the heart of biblical law in modern times.” |
| Brent A. Strawn, Duke University | Michelle Knight, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School | Dominick S. Hernández, Talbot School of Theology, Biola |
What people think about Human Rites
“Human Rites is a compelling, challenging, and convicting read.”
Karen Swallow Prior
“Prepare to rethink everything you thought you knew about religious rituals!”
Tim Mackie, Co-Creator of The Bible Project
“I would actually recommend
wife of the author
this book to my friends.”
(upon reading a rough draft)
“Human Rites is a game changer for the practice of Protestant Christianity.”
Anthony Bradley, author of Ending Overcriminalization and Mass Incarceration
Dru Johnson 