Includes bibliographical references and index.

"UNPROTECTED TEXTS will directly and pointedly address widely shared misconceptions about biblical writings and sex, arguing that the Bible cannot--and should not--serve as a rulebook for sexual morality, despite popular claims to the contrary. This is a major book by a top biblical scholar that will shed much-needed light on what the Bible actually says about sex, desire, monogamy, homosexuality, and how we should interpret those thorny verses today. Written over the course of more than 2,000 years, the books of the Bible offer many different-and conflicting-versions of sexual morality. With clarity and precision, Knust addresses the big questions people continue to ask when it comes to sex and the Bible: Is pre-marital sex a sin? When, and in what contexts, is sexual desire appropriate? With whom can I legitimately have sex? Are same-sex relations permissible? What about multiple partners? Is extra-marital sex always wrong? And what is "sex" anyway? With repeated "ah-ha" moments for the reader, Knust reveals what the Bible really says about a topic of perennial interest"--,Provided by publisher.