Poet George Herbert marveled that the human being is "once a poor creature, now a wonder . . . tortur’d in the space/Betwixt this world and that of grace."

In Tortured Wonders, Rodney Clapp takes up the topic of embodied Christian spirituality with poetic intelligence and flair. With wisdom and flashes of humor, he reminds us that we are "in-between" creatures–neither entirely body nor entirely spirit, neither apes nor angels.

Tortured Wonders begins by showing how orthodox Christian spirituality "never gives up on the body." Clapp addresses the incarnation of Christ and the resurrection of the body, as well as the place of sacraments in Christian spirituality.

Later, Clapp conjures pop-culture figures and narratives, namely Elvis and Bambi, to explore the spiritual consequences of our contemporary phobia about death and obsession with spectacle and celebrity. He calls us to embrace our creatureliness through a string of irresistible topics: Is there sex in heaven? What is the most "biblical" posture for prayer? What can we learn from non-Christian spiritual traditions?

Pastors, counselors, and anyone interested in Christian spirituality will appreciate this lucid and insightful book.

Will there be sex in heaven? Rodney Clapp’s new book has the best discussion of that question I have read. His book is for people, but the angels must be rejoicing. Christians are saved body and soul, and Clapp captures the joy and the challenge of a fully embodied redemption. Few writers can match the way Clapp balances a passion for orthodox theology with a sparkling insight into popular culture. His prose is as vigorous as it is lively, which makes this book an excellent choice for both the college classroom and a church reading group. Clapp is on a mission to show the world that the Christian tradition is immensely more entertaining, as well as more true, than anything television or Hollywood has to offer. That his book is such a pleasure to read shows how well he has succeeded.–Stephen H. Webb, author of The Divine Voice

Rodney Clapp’s Tortured Wonders is profound, earthy, and funny. It presents the practice of Christianity by human beings (not angels, not disembodied intellects) in such a way as to instruct and inspire at the same time. It can stand with such works of spiritual guidance and instruction as William Law’s Serious Call or Sertillanges on the intellectual life. Clapp is especially good on sex and eating (he’s not bad on Elvis, either), and his directness has a way of cutting through persiflage to the bone of an issue.–Paul J. Griffiths, author of Lying