Holy Resilience

“Convincing . . . Readers of all faiths are likely to find this accessible book thought-provoking.”—Publishers Weekly

“[Carr] rereads the familiar materials of the Bible in light of trauma theory and opens the way for a fresh and suggestive interpretation . . . Carr has provided an accessible guide for further work, and this new cognitive discipline for scripture study is sure to be of immense importance for some time to come.”—Walter Brueggemann, Christian Century

“This book, appropriate for both scholarly and general audiences, charts the origins of the Christian Bible . . .  The volume is helpful for nonspecialists interested in exploring questions of how the Bible came to be.”—Tyler Mayfield, Religious Studies Review


“Conversational and clear.”—Thomas Wetzel, Biblical Interpretation

“David Carr’s brilliant book is a magisterial reinterpretation of the emergence and sustenance of biblical Scripture. It is a pioneering, powerful, and poignant treatment of a traumatized people making sense of a catastrophic world—yet still able to find hope in compassion and endurance in empathy!”—Cornel West

“Clear and persuasive, Holy Resilience illuminates the origins of the Bible by bringing the early history of a traumatized people to light. This fascinating and engrossing book peels away the veils of history to teach us about ourselves.”—Mark Epstein, MD, author of The Trauma of Everyday Life
 

"Taking on the entire Christian canon, David Carr courageously and creatively builds upon his established skill as an interpreter of Scripture to provocatively examine the role of trauma in its creation.  His striking interdisciplinary exploration is an important accomplishment."—Daniel Smith-Christopher, Loyola Marymount University of Los Angeles

"This remarkable book, which reads like a thriller, tells the story of how centuries of catastrophes and traumas shaped ancient Israel of Old Testament times and later Jewish and Christian civilizations. Anyone who wishes to know who we are and where we come from should read this book."— Israel Finkelstein, Tel Aviv University