Scared by the Bible: The Roots of Horror in Scripture

Join us for a "Halloween-themed" presentation as Dr. Brandon Grafius, academic dean of Ecumenical Theological Seminary, guides us on a conversation between the Bible and horror, and argues there's more horror in the Bible than we might think –- and more theology in horror than we might expect! Based on his new book "Scared by the Bible: The Roots of Horror in Scripture," the conversation will center on how we read horrifying texts, why they scare us and what our fears reveal about our lives. Brandon R. Grafius is professor of biblical studies and academic dean at Ecumenical Theological Seminary, Detroit. His work explores the intersection of religion, horror, and politics, and has been widely published in both academic and popular spaces, including Salon, The Christian Century, and The Metropolitan Review. His recent book, Scared by the Bible: The Roots of Horror in Scripture, was published in 2025 by Morehouse publishing. Concerning Dust and Ashes: Affects of Horror in the Hebrew Bible, is scheduled for publication in 2026 by Oxford University Press. This event is made possible by the Judd Family Endowed Fund. Co-sponsored with the Rochester Hills Public Library.