Is God A Vindictive Bully

Author : Paul Copan
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 43,6 Mb
Release : 2022
Category : Bible
ISBN : 149343800X

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Is God a Vindictive Bully? by Paul Copan Pdf

"Critics outside the church often accuse the Old Testament God of genocide, racism, ethnic cleansing, and violence. But a rising tide of critics within the church claim that Moses and other "primitive," violence-prone prophets were mistaken about God's commands and character. Both sets of critics dismiss this allegedly harsh, flawed, "textual" Old Testament God in favor of the kind, compassionate, "actual" God revealed by Jesus. Are they right to do so? Following his popular book Is God a Moral Monster?, noted apologist Paul Copan confronts false, imbalanced teaching that is confusing and misleading many Christians. Copan takes on some of the most difficult Old Testament challenges and places them in their larger historical and theological contexts. He explores the kindness, patience, and compassion of God in the Old Testament and shows how Jesus in the New Testament reveals not only divine kindness but also divine severity. The book includes a detailed Scripture index of difficult and controversial passages and is helpful for anyone interested in understanding the flaws in these emerging claims that are creating a destructive gap between the Testaments." --

Author : Paul Copan
Publisher : Baker Academic
Page : 354 pages
File Size : 44,5 Mb
Release : 2022-10-18
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781493437993

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Is God a Vindictive Bully? by Paul Copan Pdf

Critics outside the church often accuse the Old Testament God of genocide, racism, ethnic cleansing, and violence. But a rising tide of critics within the church claim that Moses and other "primitive," violence-prone prophets were mistaken about God's commands and character. Both sets of critics dismiss this allegedly harsh, flawed, "textual" Old Testament God in favor of the kind, compassionate, "actual" God revealed by Jesus. Are they right to do so? Following his popular book Is God a Moral Monster?, noted apologist Paul Copan confronts false, imbalanced teaching that is confusing and misleading many Christians. Copan takes on some of the most difficult Old Testament challenges and places them in their larger historical and theological contexts. He explores the kindness, patience, and compassion of God in the Old Testament and shows how Jesus in the New Testament reveals not only divine kindness but also divine severity. The book includes a detailed Scripture index of difficult and controversial passages and is helpful for anyone interested in understanding the flaws in these emerging claims that are creating a destructive gap between the Testaments.

Author : Paul Copan
Publisher : Baker Books
Page : 256 pages
File Size : 47,5 Mb
Release : 2011-01-01
Category : Religion
ISBN : 1441214542

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Is God a Moral Monster? by Paul Copan Pdf

A recent string of popular-level books written by the New Atheists have leveled the accusation that the God of the Old Testament is nothing but a bully, a murderer, and a cosmic child abuser. This viewpoint is even making inroads into the church. How are Christians to respond to such accusations? And how are we to reconcile the seemingly disconnected natures of God portrayed in the two testaments? In this timely and readable book, apologist Paul Copan takes on some of the most vexing accusations of our time, including: God is arrogant and jealous God punishes people too harshly God is guilty of ethnic cleansing God oppresses women God endorses slavery Christianity causes violence and more Copan not only answers God's critics, he also shows how to read both the Old and New Testaments faithfully, seeing an unchanging, righteous, and loving God in both.

Author : Dan Barker
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 320 pages
File Size : 41,9 Mb
Release : 2018-03-06
Category : PHILOSOPHY
ISBN : 1454930101

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God by Dan Barker Pdf

What words come to mind when we think of God? Merciful? Just? Compassionate? Delving deep into the Bible, former evangelical preacher Dan Barker uncovers God's negative qualities: jealous, petty, unforgiving, bloodthirsty, vindictive--and worse! Witty and well researched, this unique atheist book explains exactly why the Scripture shouldn't govern our everyday lives. It makes a powerful argument for the separation of church and state.

Author : Paul Copan,Matt Flannagan
Publisher : Baker Books
Page : 352 pages
File Size : 53,9 Mb
Release : 2014-11-11
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781441221094

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Did God Really Command Genocide? by Paul Copan,Matt Flannagan Pdf

A common objection to belief in the God of the Bible is that a good, kind, and loving deity would never command the wholesale slaughter of nations. Even Christians have a hard time stomaching such a thought, and many avoid reading those difficult Old Testament passages that make us squeamish. Instead, we quickly jump to the enemy-loving, forgiving Jesus of the New Testament. And yet, the question doesn't go away. Did God really command genocide? Is the command to "utterly destroy" morally unjustifiable? Is it literal? Are the issues more complex and nuanced than we realize? In the tradition of his popular Is God a Moral Monster?, Paul Copan teams up with Matthew Flannagan to tackle some of the most confusing and uncomfortable passages of Scripture. Together they help the Christian and nonbeliever alike understand the biblical, theological, philosophical, and ethical implications of Old Testament warfare passages. Pastors, youth pastors, campus ministers, apologetics readers, and laypeople will find that this book both enlightens and equips them for serious discussion of troubling spiritual questions.

Author : Rob Bell
Publisher : HarperCollins
Page : 240 pages
File Size : 45,6 Mb
Release : 2014-09-02
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9780062389374

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What We Talk About When We Talk About God by Rob Bell Pdf

How God is described today strikes many as mean, primitive, backward, illogical, tribal, and at odds with the frontiers of science. At the same time, many intuitively feel a sense of reverence and awe in the world. Can we find a new way to talk about God? Pastor and New York Times bestselling author Rob Bell does here for God what he did for heaven and hell in Love Wins: he shows how traditional ideas have grown stale and dysfunctional and reveals a new path for how to return vitality and vibrancy to how we understand God. Bell reveals how we got stuck, why culture resists certain ways of talking about God, and how we can reconnect with the God who is with us, for us, and ahead of us, pulling us forward into a better future—and ready to help us live life to the fullest.

Author : David Kinnaman,Gabe Lyons
Publisher : Baker Books
Page : 256 pages
File Size : 48,8 Mb
Release : 2007-10-01
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781441200013

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unChristian by David Kinnaman,Gabe Lyons Pdf

Based on groundbreaking Barna Group research, unChristian uncovers the negative perceptions young people have of Christianity and explores what can be done to reverse them.

Author : Paul Copan,William Lane Craig
Publisher : B&H Publishing Group
Page : 336 pages
File Size : 50,7 Mb
Release : 2012
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781433672200

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Come Let Us Reason by Paul Copan,William Lane Craig Pdf

Divine hiddenness, naturalism, Zeitgeist: The Movie, Hinduism. Addressing contemporary challenges to the church, nineteen respected modern Christian apologists offer thoughtful new essays on culture, the historical Jesus, other religions, and more.

Author : C. S. Cowles,Eugene H. Merrill,Daniel L. Gard,Tremper Longman III
Publisher : Zondervan Academic
Page : 228 pages
File Size : 43,6 Mb
Release : 2010-06-01
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9780310873761

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Show Them No Mercy by C. S. Cowles,Eugene H. Merrill,Daniel L. Gard,Tremper Longman III Pdf

Did God condone genocide in the Old Testament? How do Christians harmonize the warrior God of Israel with the God of love incarnate in Jesus? Christians are often shocked to read that Yahweh, the God of the Israelites, commanded the total destruction--all men, women, and children--of the ethnic group known as the Canaanites. This seems to contradict Jesus' command in the New Testament to love your enemies and do good to all people. How can Yahweh be the same God as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ? What does genocide in the Bible have to do with the politics of the 21st century? Show Them No Mercy explores the Old Testament command of God to exterminate the Canaanite population and what that implies about continuity between the Old and New Testaments. The four views presented are: Strong Discontinuity – emphasizes the strong tension, regarding violence, between the two main texts of the Bible (C.S. Cowles) Moderate Discontinuity – provides a justification of God’s actions in the Old Testament with strong emphasis on exegesis (Eugene H. Merrill) Eschatological Continuity – a reading of the warfare narratives that ties them contextually to the book of Revelation and the Second Coming (Daniel L. Gard) Spiritual Continuity – incorporates the genocidal account into the full picture of the Old and New Testaments (Tremper Longman III) The Counterpoints series presents a comparison and critique of scholarly views on topics important to Christians that are both fair-minded and respectful of the biblical text. Each volume is a one-stop reference that allows readers to evaluate the different positions on a specific issue and form their own, educated opinion.

Author : William A. Dembski,Michael R. Licona
Publisher : Baker Books
Page : 272 pages
File Size : 49,9 Mb
Release : 2010-07-01
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781441211798

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Evidence for God by William A. Dembski,Michael R. Licona Pdf

There have always been challenges to belief in God as he is revealed in the Bible and each new year seems to add more questions to the doubter's arsenal. In Evidence for God, leading apologists provide compelling arguments that address the most pressing questions of the day about God, science, Jesus, the Bible, and more, including Is Intelligent Design really a credible explanation of the origins of our world? Did Jesus really exist? Is Jesus really the only way to God? What about those who have never heard the gospel? Is the Bible today what was originally written? What about recently publicized gospels that aren't in the Bible? and much more

Author : Paul Copan
Publisher : InterVarsity Press
Page : 188 pages
File Size : 52,7 Mb
Release : 2022-09-13
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781514002353

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War, Peace, and Violence: Four Christian Views by Paul Copan Pdf

In a world of war, terrorism, and other geopolitical threats to global stability, how should committed Christians honor Jesus Christ and his Word? How should Christians think and act when it comes to church-state relations, the preservation of order, the practice of just peacemaking, and the use of coercive force? In this volume in IVP Academic's Spectrum series, four contributors—experts in Christian ethics, political philosophy, and international affairs—offer the best of current Christian thinking on issues of war and peace. They present four distinct views: Eric Patterson, just war view Myles Werntz, nonviolence view A. J. Nolte, Christian realist view Meic Pearse, church historical view Each contributor makes a case for his own view and responds to the others, highlighting complexities and real-world implications of the various perspectives. Edited and with an introduction and conclusion by the philosopher Paul Copan, this book provides a helpful orientation to the key positions today. Spectrum Multiview Books offer a range of viewpoints on contested topics within Christianity, giving contributors the opportunity to present their position and also respond to others in this dynamic publishing format.

Author : Gregory K. Beale
Publisher : P & R Publishing
Page : 32 pages
File Size : 53,9 Mb
Release : 2013
Category : Bible
ISBN : 1596388528

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The Morality of God in the Old Testament by Gregory K. Beale Pdf

Author : Heath A. Thomas,Jeremy Evans,Paul Copan
Publisher : InterVarsity Press
Page : 352 pages
File Size : 46,8 Mb
Release : 2013-04-06
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9780830884285

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Holy War in the Bible by Heath A. Thomas,Jeremy Evans,Paul Copan Pdf

The challenge of a seemingly genocidal God who commands ruthless warfare has bewildered Bible readers for generations. The theme of divine war is not limited to the Old Testament historical books, however. It is also prevalent in the prophets and wisdom literature as well. Still it doesn t stop. The New Testament book of Revelation, too, is full of such imagery. Our questions multiply. Why does God apparently tell Joshua to wipe out whole cities, tribes or nations? Is this yet another example of dogmatic religious conviction breeding violence? Did these texts help inspire or justify the Crusades? What impact do they have on Christian morality and just war theories today? How does divine warfare fit with Christ s call to "turn the other cheek"? Why does Paul employ warfare imagery in his letters? Do these texts warrant questioning the overall trustworthiness of the Bible? These controversial yet theologically vital issues call for thorough interpretation, especially given a long history of misinterpretation and misappropriaton of these texts. This book does more, however. A range of expert contributors engage in a multidisciplinary approach that considers the issue from a variety of perspectives: biblical, ethical, philosophical and theological. While the writers recognize that such a difficult and delicate topic cannot be resolved in a simplistic manner, the different threads of this book weave together a satisfying tapestry. Ultimately we find in the overarching biblical narrative a picture of divine redemption that shows the place of divine war in the salvific movement of God.

Author : Bernard Schweizer
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 256 pages
File Size : 50,7 Mb
Release : 2010-11-04
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9780199781348

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Hating God by Bernard Schweizer Pdf

While atheists such as Richard Dawkins have now become public figures, there is another and perhaps darker strain of religious rebellion that has remained out of sight--people who hate God. In this revealing book, Bernard Schweizer looks at men and women who do not question God's existence, but deny that He is merciful, competent, or good. Sifting through a wide range of literary and historical works, Schweizer finds that people hate God for a variety of reasons. Some are motivated by social injustice, human suffering, or natural catastrophes that God does not prevent. Some blame God for their personal tragedies. Schweizer concludes that, despite their blasphemous thoughts, these people tend to be creative and moral individuals, and include such literary lights as Friedrich Nietzsche, Mark Twain, Zora Neale Hurston, Rebecca West, Elie Wiesel, and Philip Pullman. Schweizer shows that literature is a fertile ground for God haters. Many authors, who dare not voice their negative attitude to God openly, turn to fiction to give vent to it. Indeed, Schweizer provides many new and startling readings of literary masterpieces, highlighting the undercurrent of hatred for God. Moreover, by probing the deeper mainsprings that cause sensible, rational, and moral beings to turn against God, Schweizer offers answers to some of the most vexing questions that beset human relationships with the divine.

Author : Martin G. Kuhrt
Publisher : Wipf and Stock Publishers
Page : 296 pages
File Size : 45,5 Mb
Release : 2020-07-30
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781725263963

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God is Good by Martin G. Kuhrt Pdf

Is the God of the Bible the most unpleasant character in all fiction, as Richard Dawkins claims in The God Delusion? He is backed up by former preacher and now virulent atheist, Dan Barker, who has cited Scripture, seeking to justify every one of Dawkins's infamous character slurs about the God of the Old Testament. Dawkins says the biblical God is "jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully." Barker has added eight accusations of his own. Dawkins was too kind, he says. The God of the Bible is also "a pyromaniacal, angry, merciless, curse hurling, vaccicidal, aborticidal, cannibalistic slavemonger." Furthermore, Barker thoroughly implicates Jesus in the alleged crimes of his Father. God is Good seeks to answer every one of these twenty-seven accusations. Written for theological students, pastors, preachers, thoughtful laypeople who wince at some of what they read in the Bible, and those atheists who are honestly searching for truth, this book ducks none of the difficult questions and problematic passages.