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A review by abbsentminded
Is God a Moral Monster?: Making Sense of the Old Testament God by Paul Copan
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!