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the_jesus_fandom's review
3.75
This book helped me answer quite a few doubts, although not all the explanations were super satisfactory. But I guess some of all this will remain an issue of faith ‘til I get to heaven.
wadebearden's review against another edition
5.0
Copan does a fine job here of placing the Old Testament laws in their proper context. This work deals primarily with the "hard" texts of the OT and reconciles some of the problems raised by popular atheists like Dawkins and Harris.
jasoncomely's review against another edition
5.0
My review of "Is God a Moral Monster?" is at http://jesusinbooks.com/what-utterly-destroy-actually-means-in-the-old-testament/
nurullahdogan's review against another edition
5.0
I still need more time to process and reflect on what I just read to make sure I understand and agree on some of the things, but Paul Copan seems to be living up to his reputation in being promoted as the go-to person on these subjects. With all that he presented, he definitely makes an interesting case in defense of some of the troublesome passages in the Old Testament.
abbsentminded's review against another edition
3.0
Read mostly for the content on OT violence. Served as a good introduction-- he mostly argues that English translations and misunderstandings of ANE cultures have led critics and casual churchgoers alike to view the conquest narrative as way worse than it actually was. For instance, he shows that linguistic expressions such as "every man woman and child" are simply stock terms for decisive victory in battle even though they rarely if ever combatted civilians. He also covers archaeological and biblical evidence of gradual cultural assimilation instead of a swift and brutal material destruction.
Overall though, he shows that the reality wasn't *as bad* as often portrayed, but the reality still raises moral questions. . . So I would've liked to see him interact more robustly with those, beyond the cliche "God works in mysterious ways" and "God takes sin seriously."
Although I came for the violence issue, I was surprisingly satisfied with how he covered gender and slavery. He takes a pretty basic divine accommodation stance which I find compelling, but I thought his explanation of particular laws in cultural context represented one of the book's greatest strengths.
Edit: After reading this, I turned to Greg Boyd's "Crucifixion of the Warrior God"-- I would highly recommend checking this out if you were likewise unsatisfied by Copan's interpretation! In my view, Boyd wrestles with the text more honestly and deeply, and in a way that ultimately points back to Christ crucified as complete revelation. He also explicitly responds to Copan's arguments at several points throughout. Happy reading!
Overall though, he shows that the reality wasn't *as bad* as often portrayed, but the reality still raises moral questions. . . So I would've liked to see him interact more robustly with those, beyond the cliche "God works in mysterious ways" and "God takes sin seriously."
Although I came for the violence issue, I was surprisingly satisfied with how he covered gender and slavery. He takes a pretty basic divine accommodation stance which I find compelling, but I thought his explanation of particular laws in cultural context represented one of the book's greatest strengths.
Edit: After reading this, I turned to Greg Boyd's "Crucifixion of the Warrior God"-- I would highly recommend checking this out if you were likewise unsatisfied by Copan's interpretation! In my view, Boyd wrestles with the text more honestly and deeply, and in a way that ultimately points back to Christ crucified as complete revelation. He also explicitly responds to Copan's arguments at several points throughout. Happy reading!
leevoncarbon's review against another edition
4.0
The conquest of Canaan and the commands of God relating to that have been a burr under my saddle for some time. This book covers more than that topic but it was the area in which I was most interested. He did not disappoint and with meticulous care analyzed the full context of that time in Israel's life. The long history of moral deviancy of the Canaanites was one point he raised. He also detailed the sharp contrast between the practice of war among other middle eastern nations and that of Israel at the time, showing that Israel operated within moral boundaries that other nations never even imagined. One of his more interesting points was that Joshua used the language of conventional warfare rhetoric in his writing. i.e. highly exaggerated, much like that of a hockey team telling how they "annihilated their opponent" even as the opposing team walked out of the rink under their own steam. He argued that when Joshua wrote that all who breathed were destroyed, it most likely meant only that the fighting men were routed. As he points out, the people who had apparently been totally wiped out appear later in Joshua's own writing.
His writing about the obscure laws within the Mosaic covenant were not of the same high level of interest to me but the author certainly explored each matter of concern in depth. The problem of course is that many of the arguments are nuanced and detailed. Most critics do not have the desire nor the time of day to listen to such arguments through to the end in, for example, explaining why we treat the statements about homosexuality differently than we do the command not to wear clothes of mixed cloth.
His writing about the obscure laws within the Mosaic covenant were not of the same high level of interest to me but the author certainly explored each matter of concern in depth. The problem of course is that many of the arguments are nuanced and detailed. Most critics do not have the desire nor the time of day to listen to such arguments through to the end in, for example, explaining why we treat the statements about homosexuality differently than we do the command not to wear clothes of mixed cloth.
gbdill's review against another edition
2.0
Overall a good book. Perhaps a little too academic for what I was looking for. The book was primarily written to refute the "New Atheists" various misperceptions of God. Didn't agree with everything the author states, but at the same time was enlightened about many things I didn't know about our God found in the Old Testament.
kaitdoud's review against another edition
3.0
Overall an interesting read concerning the Old Testament, although some sections seemed quite weak. At times you wished he would explain more and say less.