With All Its Teeth

Sex, Violence, Profanity, and the Death of Christian Art

By: Joshua Porter

Narrated by: Jeff Langley

Have Christians settled for artistic bankruptcy? To understand Jesus and the Bible, you have to understand art. The art God creates and commissions comforts and encourages, and it disturbs and offends. What is art? Does it ever go too far? How should Christians understand, receive, and create it?

Joshua S. Porter presents a literary, story-driven Biblical theology of the artistic and the obscene.

©2023 Rejected Publishing Guild (P)2024 Rejected Publishing Guild

Thought provoking and unique

This is an unusual book in that its claims are measured, tempered by the humility that is a prerequisite to any discussion about art. I have heard a lot of absolutist claims about art, most of which the author points out, ranging from "anything goes" to highbrow to provocative to the aesthetic. (Incidentally, I would have appreciated a chapter on the aesthetic and would enjoy hearing the author respond to Kant, Derrida, Hume, and the rest.)

In fact, it isn't precise to say that the book makes claims at all. It lays the foundation for discussion, opening up questions and highlighting the essentialness of art, particularly for Christians.

It is likely to make some people angry. I hope that it will inspire most people to reflect on their biases and sense of authority, as applicable.

It is a well thought out book, carefully researched and written, and unlike many things that I read, did not feel overly repetitive.

The narration is well suited to the text, lively without ever straying into obnoxious, creative, and reflective. Were I to hire someone to record a book I'd written, I would hope for someone who would take such care with my text. It was a pleasure to listen to, appropriately artistic for such a work.