Scripture can inspire goodness, but its authority has also been wielded to defend slavery, marginalize LGBTQ individuals, ignore science, and justify violence. Grounded in close readings of scripture and tradition in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, Rachel Mikva shows us that the Abrahamic religions have always been aware of their power both to harm and to heal. As she suggests here, these sacred stories have built-in tools—interpretive traditions—that help believers to assess ideas that may prove to be worldly rather than spiritual.