Dr. Richard Beck, chair of the psychology department at Abilene Christian University, has released his new book, The Book of Love: A Better Way to Read The Bible. The work blends psychology, theology, and love to encourage a more generous approach to scripture amid divisive faith debates. It draws on attachment theory to explore how personal connections with God influence biblical interpretation.
Dr. Richard Beck's book challenges readers to rethink scripture engagement, prioritizing healing over harm. The idea emerged from a conversation with Landon Saunders at ACU’s Saunders Center for Joy and Human Flourishing, where Beck serves as a senior fellow. Saunders urged writing a book on reading the Bible generously, prompting Beck to title his notebook page 'The Book of Love.' “I just thought maybe I could write the book,” Beck said. “And I opened up my notebook, and I wrote at the top, The Book of Love, and that became the title of the book.”Beck integrates his psychology background, particularly attachment theory, into the theological discussion. He explains that a secure attachment to God leads to viewing scripture through a lens of reliability and consistent love, while an anxious attachment fosters fears of rejection. “If you’re securely attached to God, you’re preconvinced that God is reliable and consistently loving,” Beck said. “But if you’re anxiously attached to God, then you’re going to be worried that God might get upset with you, might reject you.”Colleagues praise Beck's dynamic style. Dr. Cherisse Flanagan, director of psychology, described him as “half psychologist, half theologian, half stand-up comedian,” noting his engaging classroom presence and lifelong impact on students. Beck aims to surprise readers with fresh perspectives on the Bible. “The Bible probably isn’t what you think it is,” he said. “There’s a lot more out there that you can learn and be surprised by, and so I wrote my book to be that kind of surprise.”
