Unsettling the Word: Biblical Experiments in Decolonization

by Rose Marie Berger (Illustrator), Steve Heinrichs (Editor), Sylvia Mcadam (Afterword)

For generations, the Bible has been employed by settler colonial societies as a weapon to dispossess Indigenous and racialized peoples of their lands, cultures, and spiritualties. Given this devastating legacy, many of these people want nothing to do with it. But is it possible for the exploited and their allies to reclaim the Bible from the dominant powers? Can it serve as an instrument for justice in the cause of the oppressed, and even a nonviolent weapon toward decolonization?

In Unsettling the Word, over 60 Indigenous and Settler authors come together to wrestle with the Scriptures, rereading and re-imagining the ancient text for the sake of reparative futures. When read through these new lenses, the biblical texts come alive in new and surprising ways.

Genres: Theology, Religion, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Indigenous, Christianity, Christian

322 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 20, 2019

Reviews

[Maggie Ayau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fuck. Just sitting on the floor, heart beating fast, in tears. Anticipation, longing, conviction, holy remorse, unresolved hope. There is all truth here. Decolonizing myself and my Christian praxis is hard and necessary work but I am reminded here that it is also good work. I, we, have much to do. Read this book.

[James Wheeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a way to keep learning about Indigenous peoples as a lead up to National Indigenous day. It is a little choppy because there are over 60 writers who contribute pieces but there is a beauty in the mosaic too. Each one is a post-colonial re-imagination of a biblical text or story from Genesis 1 to Revelation 21. Some are creative re-writing of the story, others are poems. Some sizzle with righteous fire, others lament. But they all state the truth about colonial violence and the fiery determination to work towards the healing and blessing of Indigenous people from the ravages of colonialism. And a big part of that is the settler church repenting and turning towards their Indigenous neighbor in humility and a learning posture.

I wish i could have read this in a book club and then planned out some possible action steps. But i did go to a pow wow for the first time and i learned alot and had fun, and i loved the amazing regalia everyone was wearing.

[Aaron White · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very challenging book. Compiled by Steve Heinrichs, afterword by Sylvia Mcadam, numerous authors use various Scriptural passages to examine colonial theology and ways of "unsettlling" or "decolonizing" the Word. Many of these contributions are striking, shedding new and uncomfortable light on well-worn scripture passages. In several instances I was stunned by how powerfully the author connected the text to historical or current realties, and in ways that pushed the reader towards concrete action. Even those entries which seemed fairly remote from the text in question (and which on occasion angered me with what I thought was a very loose interpretation or connection), upon second reading and third thought often sparked contrition and a new appreciation.
You likely won't agree or be happy with everything in this book, no matter what position you are coming from. But it is a very powerful, effective, and important exercise in decolonizing the Bible, a book which has enormous power for good and for ill.

[Bobbi Salkeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a really good idea start to finish.

[Alanna Schwartz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is good inspiration for ways we can decolonize our own minds and biases. A good model for non-indigenous Christians and people.

[Evonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an anthology of writings, trying to reinterpret biblical texts from the point of view of colonized people groups. Sometimes the scriptures are just a verse, sometimes more; sometimes taken wildly out of context, sometimes not.

I liked the idea of being inspired to retell the stories from other perspectives, and some of them I really enjoyed. Others I absolutely loved. Some I found offensive and condemning, while others simply twisted what I understand the text to be saying.

Overall it was interesting, not riveting. I think I learned more about what I think of political structures , and so that's a benefit. And I'm pleased to say that I was pushed out of my comfort zone by some of them. Definitely good discussion material in there!

[Kim Shay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating read. In this volume, contributors from various cultural experiences come together and reflect on the Bible through the lens of de-colonization. The entires were short; sometimes only a poem or a couple of pages. Each chapter begins with a Bible reference and then how that author looks at the principles through a lens of de-colonization.

For example, there is a chapter called "The Foolishness Petropolis," by Steve Heinrichs, the general editor of the volume. This account of the Tower of Babel depicts Settlers as those who build show the "tower." Those trying to ascend to heaven are colonizers.

One day they "discovered" a valley in the land of Shinar and settled there. Shinar is actually the prairie region of Turtle Island. It wasn't in need of discovering. People had been there forever...

So the settlers of Babel built a city and a tower that almost reached to heaven. It made them famous. And the corporations and her nation-state were proud. And the military stood on guard to protect it and to ensure the continued intake of civilized resources from uncivilized places.

In a chapter called, "Voices Rise," the account of the day of Pentecost is expressed in a different set of voices. Instead of Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, the voices are Oneida, Mohawk, Tuscarora, Onondaga, Seneca, Cayuga. It is not that the authors are replaces the Bible. They are merely rejecting a strictly colonial reading of it.

There is a great emphasis throughout the book on protecting the land and speaking out against matters like corporate greed and the exploitation of resources. That will probably rankle the garden variety Evangelical reader. But then, the title of this book would probably scare away a conservative Evangelical reader despite the fact that is they who need to read it the most. The Evangelicals I know would look at the book as being profane, or heretical. I found it compelling.

We may want to contain the Bible in a very narrow white, colonial, Western, democratic, capitalistic box. But that is a very confining space. And it's actually not consistent with where the majority of Evangelicals reside: outside of North America. The majority of Christians are not in that little box.

I would rather extend my view of the Bible rather than trying to tame it into an arbitrary framework that is mostly about protecting male, white power.

[C.j. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note* I have a personal relationship with a few of the contributors of this book.

I am giving this a 5 because I believe I am unqualified to provide an analytical review of this work. However, I believe that more works like this should be created and read. This both is a book for and not for those that want to start learning about the effort of decolonization and indigenous peoples. It is for those wishing to start because they won't understand much. The necessary backstory will or things to know will not be given. You will not be told what it all means nor what you are supposed to do now. It will not be spoon-fed what the value of these perspectives is. You will not be given the proof of these perspectives. You will have to sit with the discomfort of it all. I have a feeling that many that label themselves as people who are progressive will struggle the most, they will think they get it. I assure you, you won't and maybe that is the truest intention with Unsettling Word.

As a side note, the art and design of the book are both exceptional. My copy had the black type ink smear. Do not try to clean it you will only damage the cover.

[Caleb · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is simply modern secular progressive ideology masquerading as Christian literature. Worse, it is essentially all bad slam poetry.

The only use in reading this book is to understand the mind of the modern liberal church. In this case, the doctrines are utterly secular and un-Christian. Flee from any person or group that endorses this interpretive method.

It is not often that I have low expectations for a book, and find the book to be even worse than I expected. "Unsettling the Word" exceed my expectations in this regard.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will never be done with this book. Every time I do a Bible study, I look to see what is in this book. It helps me see my faith with new eyes. I have, however, read all the way through it, so I am declaring that I am done for Goodreads purposes.

[Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great, rich collection of essays that responds to and is in conversation with scripture from Indigenous perspectives. There is much to return to, to learn here, and to bear witness to.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, unique perspectives.

[Marilyn]

Delaney mentioned in Highlands Book Club

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me: "Wow, haha, okay, so yeah, the Israelites' campaign against the Canaanites really parallels the colonizers' genocide of the Native Americans ..."