Shameless: A Sexual Reformation

Bolz-Weber (Accidental Saints) seeks to "reach for a new Christian sexual ethic" by examining sexual morality through her experiences and the lens of people she's encountered in her church. The author draws inspiration from Martin Luther, as someone who taught differently than the established church at the time. Unfortunately, she characterizes his basis as siding with people who were being harmed by the church rather than his actual stance of Sola Scriptura—Scripture alone as the standard of truth. With this work, Bolz-Weber encourages Christians and the church to reshape teaching in light of human experience. Within that framework, her stories are fascinating but do not directly address the core issue of how the Bible treats sexuality. Instead, she engagingly shares her own memories and those of some of her parishioners while also relating the history behind the church's teachings on relationships. Finally, she presents a sexual ethic based on principles such as gratitude, connection, and shamelessness.