Amy-Jill Living is one fine conversationalist. Her blend of scholarship and passion, coupled with a generous approach to the viewpoints of others, carve out a rare and welcome spot in modern religious circles.She is the University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies, Mary Jane Werthan Professor of Jewish Studies, and  Professor of New Testament Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity SchoolHolding a B.A. from Smith College, M.A. and Ph.D. from Duke University, she is author of more than a dozen books, including “The Difficult Words of Jesus,” “Short Stories from Jesus,” and “The Bible Without Jesus.”Her books, though decided not written from a Christian perspective, are used in Christian churches across the country to uncover the Jewish perspectives on scriptures from the lens of a scholar.