Podcasts about violence in the bible

Join us a s Greg Carey begins our Violence in the Bible series.

Join us a s Greg Carey begins our Violence in the Bible series.

Wintery Knight and Desert Rose discuss a common objection to Christianity - that God commanded the Israelites to commit unjustified acts of violence against innocent people. We focus on an important example of this: the Conquest of Canaan. We discuss the historical context of the war and what it says about God's character. We also discuss strategies for responding to the objection. Please subscribe, like, comment, and share. Show notes: https://winteryknight.com/2023/11/11/knight-and-rose-show-42-violence-in-the-bible Subscribe to the audio podcast here: https://knightandrose.podbean.com/ Audio RSS feed: https://feed.podbean.com/knightandrose/feed.xml YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@knightandroseshow Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/knightandroseshow Odysee: https://odysee.com/@KnightAndRoseShow Music attribution: Strength Of The Titans by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5744-strength-of-the-titansLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

The bible declares that God's goodness exceeds our wildest dreams. We'd all love to believe that, but skeptics have a list of reasons that it can't be true. Rather than ignoring the skeptics' argument, join us in honest and courageous conversations about some of life's hardest questions. A new confidence in the goodness of God will arise in each of us! Let us know you're here! If you have a need or prayer request we can support you: thecompass.net/connectioncardIf you call The Compass your church home or you'd like to partner with us in what God is doing here, near, and far, you can visit thecompass.net/give

In this week's conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, they discuss how those outside the Christian faith often perceive the God of the Bible - particularly the Old Testament - as a moral monster. Largely this is due to the (sometimes) bloody violence found in its pages including holy wars, ethnic cleansing and even child sacrifice. Frankly, even those who consider themselves Christ followers find themselves grappling with the same questions as non-believers. Episode Links If today's conversation proved to be a good primer for you, but you'd like to go deeper on this topic, we suggest that you get a series that Dr. White delivered at Meck called “The Bloody Bible.” The series installments explore whether God is the same God in both testaments of the Bible, punishments, sacrifices and slaughters found in Scripture, and finally the differences between Christianity and Islam. If you're new to the Christian faith, and aren't even sure what is meant by “two testaments,” you may want to also check out a series called “How to Bible” which reviews the basics of reading and understanding the Bible. Another resource that Dr. White mentioned that is very helpful is a book he wrote called Christianity for People Who Aren't Christians: Common Answers to Uncommon Questions. If you're engaging in conversations about the Christian faith with unchurched friends, family members, coworkers, etc., this would be great to have on hand to give to them so that they can explore more questions about the Bible like these. Finally, there were several stories from the Bible that were discussed in today's conversation. We would encourage you to read: Genesis 22 (for the story of Abraham and Isaac), Exodus 12 (on the Passover), Deuteronomy 7 (on the slaughter of the Canaanites), Numbers 31 (on the conquest of the Midianites), Matthew 5-7 (the Sermon on the Mount) and Matthew 26 (the Last Supper). For those of you who are new to Church & Culture, we'd love to invite you to subscribe (for free of course) to the twice-weekly Church & Culture blog and check out the Daily Headline News - a collection of headlines from around the globe each weekday.

Pastor Mike Colaw and Josh Lavender talk about violence and the book of Joshua.

If you've spent much time reading the Bible, you know that it is no children's book. What are we supposed to do with Scriptural texts that describe terrible acts of violence--sometimes even commanded by God? Dr. Brian Doak offers a few possible ways to deal with this reality while holding fast to the Christian assurance that violence was not part of God's plan for the world.Dr. Brian Doak is a professor of Biblical Studies with teaching and research interest in the Hebrew Bible & language, and he also serves as vice president of George Fox Digital, GFU's primary center for digital education and innovation.If you enjoy listening to the George Fox Talks podcast and would like to watch, too, check out our channel on YouTube! We also have a web page that features all of our podcasts, a sign-up for our weekly email update, and publications from the George Fox University community.

No matter what age, kids are bound to have questions about violence in the Bible. As a parent, it's important to be prepared to answer these questions in a way that is both honest and intentional. In this podcast, Elizabeth Urbanowicz will talk about how to address and talk to kids about violence in the scripture in a way that is developmentally appropriate and sensitive to their unique needs.

Contact: cosmicdancerpodcast@gmail.com I like to disseminate love, kindness and knowledge. Please respect yourself, people and earth. Take care and thanks for supporting me with Paypal. Peace! https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5E6WCP8KAS4NG Podcast Episode Cover, produced by me using the Photoleap app, available on iOS and Android - Photoleapapp.com. This new series of episodes on Cosmic Dancer podcast channel, aims to disseminate the theoretical teachings of Vedanta philosophy, (dating back nearly 7,000 years), through the practical experiences of daily life. This is through the involvement of guests from the world of music, art, literature, science, etc... Vedanta is not a religion. Vedanta is a philosophy, the Mother of all world philosophies and religions. The Bhagavad Gita is the most representative text of Vedanta, one of the most widely read books ever. We celebrate the teachings of the eminent philosopher Swami Parthasarathy (he is 96 years old) who founded the organization Vedanta Global, and who has authored numerous best sellers including Vedanta Treatise - The Eternities and the invaluable commentary on the Bhagavad Gita. Topic: Discussing on Vedanta , Ahimsa (non-violence), in the Bible (Plagues of Egypt) and the Bhagavad Gita. Guest: the Vedanta teacher S. A. Shreedaran, founder of Mind and Intellect Organization. Ahimsa (non-injury) in its spiritual scope means never having cruel intentions. Non-injury is the spirit that should dominate all our motivations. Our intentions should not be polluted by even a trace of cruelty or hatred. Non-injury is not so much about never causing physical injury to any being as it is about never contemplating harming any living creature. Physically, not hurting is impossible. In order to continue living, some kind of physical harm is unavoidable. However, even if we create unavoidable disturbances around us, if our motives are pure and clean, the harm thus caused is not considered an injury. To best understand in concept of Ahimsa, one must read carefully this story from the Sufi Tradition: "A Sufi soldier was in the middle of a battle. It was a hand-to-hand combat. He skillfully fought the enemy with his dagger. He soon knocked the enemy to the ground and sat astride his chest, raising his hand to drop the dagger. The enemy, in his helpless rage, spat in the face of the Sufi soldier. The Sufi soldier's hand remained suspended in mid-stride and did not strike. "What are you waiting for?" said the fallen enemy. "I am totally under your power. Go ahead, kill me!" The Sufi soldier replied: "I can't. I was doing my duty and you were doing yours. I don't know you and you don't know me. Now you introduced a personal note by spitting at me in anger and I got angry. Now killing you will not be an act of duty, but murder." What Arjuna is taught in the Bhagavad Gita is the essence of all Eastern martial arts, where one is trained to strike the opponent, but within oneself one remains in the center of stillness. They are told to kill but not to not commit murder. This is ahimsa on the battlefield. This is the resolution of the Bhagavad Gita's "koan" of nonviolence. What Pharaoh is to learn from the plagues is not just that God can send them, but that he removes them completely when asked (8:14-15 [10-11]; 9:29) and that he exempts his people from them (8:22-23 [18-19]; 11:7). Combining this with the fact that God starts with lesser plagues (or signs) and only moves to more destructive plagues shows a God who uses power far more carefully than Pharaoh does. He has sustained Pharaoh and Egypt to show them (and the world) that he is a different master to Pharaoh. This is even clearer for Israel. The exodus is not freedom in the sense of autonomy but rather a change of masters (‘Let my people go so that they may serve me'). Pharaoh's mastery leads to suffering and death. God's mastery leads to life in all its fullness (6:6-8).

Pr. Marie Duquette refers to Dr. Rev. Wil Gafney's  bible translations. Women in the bible managed some violence better than men. Jesus knew all this but no one in his home town believed in  him. What is wrong with  us in 2022 that we can't talk about all the 'new normal' issues like mental illness, black culture issues and white supremacy?Support the show

Pastor Nate Walker

This week I am featuring Eric A. Seibert, Ph.D., Professor of Old Testament at Messiah University. Tom Oord introduced him as the world's foremost authority on divine violence in the Bible. I heard this lecture at the 2022 Open and Relational Conference at the Grand Targhee Resort adjacent to the Grand Tetons. Seibert's insights take an honest look at how many verses portray God as violent and offers a sensible approach to dealing with them. Such violent portrayals of embolden some people toward violence, and simultaneously serve to repel others from considering the faith. This lecture will provide a key that will help us see the violent passages for what they are and help us move forward in the loving Way of Jesus that he derived from his Abba.

We continue our look at sexual violence in the bible

We continue our look at sexual violence in the bible

We continue our look at sexual violence in the bible

We continue our look at sexual violence in the bible

Violence in the Bible. How can we make peace with the stories of murder in the Old Testament and other scriptures? Is the text literal history or symbolic stories? Can we find our unique way of processing our unease?

We continue our discussion about sexual violence in the bible.

We continue our discussion about sexual violence in the bible.

The fourth episode in a 12-part series “Black, White, and Red All Over: A Podcast Series about the Bible.” ------------------------ Episode Summary/For Further ExplorationJohn, Ellyn, and Tiffany are joined by special guest Ethan McVay as they review what they took away from the Bible books Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua. They also wrestle with one of the most controversial things in the Bible, and attempt to answer the question, “What Do We Do with All the Violence in the Bible?” They also answer listener questions!  Intro and Fun Banter - 0:00 Tiffany's thoughts on the violence in the Bible - 10:10 Ellyn's thoughts on the violence in the Bible - 13:23 Ethan's thoughts on the violence in the Bible - 15:40 John's thoughts on the violence in the Bible - 18:18 Tiffany's additional insights on Numbers, Deuteronomy, & Joshua - 27:50 Ellyn's additional insights on Numbers, Deuteronomy, & Joshua - 31:10 Ethan's additional insights on Numbers, Deuteronomy, & Joshua - 34:22 A funny moment in Bible - 40:27 Listener Questions - 43:00 Final Thoughts - 45:42 Join them in reading through the Bible this year! Find resources to help get you started below. *If you have thoughts or questions, we'd love to talk with you! Email your questions to youngadults@fbchav.org or john@fbchsv.org* ------------------------ Links to Items to Help You Further Explore How to Process the Violence in the Bible https://bibleproject.com/bible-studies/reflections/making-sense-of-divine-violence/ (Bible Project: Making Sense of Divine Violence) https://bibleproject.com/blog/judgement-cruelty-conquering-promised-land/ (Bible Project: Judgment or Cruelty? Conquering the Promised Land) https://bibleproject.com/blog/why-did-god-command-the-invasion-of-canaan-in-the-book-of-joshua/ (Bible Project: Why Did God Command the Invasion of Canaan in the Book of Joshua?) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merneptah_Stele#%22Israel%22 (Ancient Example: Egyptian tablet claiming the destruction of Israel) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesha_Stele#Original (Ancient Example: Moabite tablet describing their defeat of Israel and killing Israelite men, women, and children in devotion to the Moabite god) https://seedbed.com/violence-in-the-old-testament-starting-points/ (Seedbed: 7 Keys to Understanding Old Testament Violence) ------------------------ Resources & References for After You Listenhttps://my.bible.com/reading-plans/17553-the-bible-recap-with-tara-leigh-cobble#:~:text=%E2%86%90Plans-,Share,-The%20Bible%20Recap (The Bible Recap Reading Plan on the Bible App) https://www.thebiblerecap.com/start (Bible Recap Resources to help get you started in reading through the Bible) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R9HzW7B3jBBAi_NmMnateGeqoYleTVf5/view (The Bible Recap Links) https://bibleproject.com/ (The Bible Project) https://announce.bibleproject.com/?_ga=2.225246429.615507031.1642525114-1608109579.1642525114 (The Bible Project App) Check out All our Other Episodes on our Podcast & Keep an Eye Out for Episode 5 of Season 3 on or around May 1st! ------------------------ Special Thanks to Ellyn Christian and Patrick Chester! Visit us online at https://my.captivate.fm/www.fbchsv.org/youngadults (www.fbchsv.org/youngadults) and check out our sermons and services at https://my.captivate.fm/www.fbchsv.org/sermons (www.fbchsv.org/sermons), and watch our 30min TV Program https://tvchurch.online/ (tvchurch.online)

This episode involves a rich discussion with Brittany Kim and Charlie Trimm about three book's they've written. We first discuss their co-authored book about the discipline of Old Testament theology, including the challenges of relating the two testaments and descriptive vs. normative theology. Then we discuss Brittany's book on Isaiah's familial and servant metaphors, including gendered language for God as well as the way that metaphors can help us wrestle with challenging prophetic texts. Finally, we talk about Charlie's recent work on approaches to violence in the Canaanite conquest, which maps some of the benefits and drawbacks to various proposals for mitigating the challenges of violence in Joshua. And there's much more here! The post Old Testament Theology, Isaiah's Metaphors, and Canaanite Genocide: A Conversation with Brittany Kim and Charlie Trimm first appeared on OnScript.

We look at the putting away of Hagar

We look at the putting away of Hagar

This episode involves a rich discussion with Brittany Kim and Charlie Trimm about three book's they've written. We first discuss their co-authored book about the discipline of Old Testament theology, including the challenges of relating the two testaments and descriptive vs. normative theology. Then we discuss Brittany's book on Isaiah's familial and servant metaphors, including gendered language for God as well as the way that metaphors can help us wrestle with challenging prophetic texts. Finally, we talk about Charlie's recent work on approaches to violence in the Canaanite conquest, which maps some of the benefits and drawbacks to various proposals for mitigating the challenges of violence in Joshua. And there's much more here! The post Old Testament Theology, Isaiah's Metaphors, and Canaanite Genocide: A Conversation with Brittany Kim and Charlie Trimm first appeared on OnScript.

We turn to Genesis 16

We turn to Genesis 16 to look at another passage that possibly contains an example of sexual violence

We look at Genesis 9:20-29

We look at Genesis 9:20-29

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Metamorphosis is the podcast of Trinity United Methodist Church in Piedmont, Missouri, where we share the unchanging gospel with a changing culture. Eric presents an alternative way of understanding the more troubling violence in the Bible: the Bible is both human AND divine. It contains human elements, such as ascribing things to God that aren't true of God, and divine inspiration, such as the deeper, sometimes subtle message of faithfulness to God, God's love, and God's mercy. Contact Eric at jamesericsentell@gmail.com or Trinity UMC at mail@umctrinity.org Homepage: www.umctrinity.org Podcast Author: Trinity United Methodist Church, Piedmont, MO

Many of us are confused by God's violence in the Old Testament. Jesus is so full of grace and forgiveness in the New Testament. But when we read about God's actions before He came to Earth as Jesus, some think the two profiles don't seem to match. What's going? Let's look at the possibilities and have an honest conversation about this important issue! Piano Rock Instrumental by Hyde - Free Instrumentals | https://soundcloud.com/davidhydemusicMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US 

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A listener asks "How is the violence in the Old Testament any different from the Taliban?" At the time of recording, we have seen the Taliban take over control in Afghanistan, and there is evidence of religiously motivated violence.When someone reads the bible - in particular the Old Testament, there appear to be stories that look very similar - violence in the name of God, and even violence used by God. How does this square with the picture of Jesus who was non-violent? What does it say about who God is?Tom, Matt & Karen are back in the pub wrestling with this tough question - as welll as tasting some more weird drinks. Send in questions and comments to twopastorsinapub@gmail.com.

In episode 5 of season 2, Prof. Kathryn Schifferdecker and Katie Langston talk with Prof. Dick Nysse about the question, Why is there so much violence in the Bible? From Genesis to Revelation, violence seeps into the pages of Scripture. Why is it there, and what is God doing about it? Show notes for this episode available at https://enterthebible.org/audio/2-5-why-is-there-so-much-violence-in-the-bible Watch the video version at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24pjI25qCG8See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode: The prospect of stoning a rebellious son or adulterer, or turning over an unorthodox brother or sister for execution is revolting. But how should a Jewish or Christian believer […] The post Caryn Reeder – Family Violence in the Bible first appeared on OnScript.

Episode: The prospect of stoning a rebellious son or adulterer, or turning over an unorthodox brother or sister for execution is revolting. But how should a Jewish or Christian believer […] The post Caryn Reeder – Family Violence in the Bible first appeared on OnScript.

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Ben Robin, Pastoral Assistant of Del Ray Baptist Church DRBC Apologetics Course: Lesson 9. Taught August 1, 2021.

Ben Robin, Pastoral Assistant of Del Ray Baptist Church DRBC Apologetics Course: Lesson 9. Taught August 1, 2021.

How do we make sense of difficult passages in the Bible? What do we do when we encounter passages that are not only questionable, but outright offensive to us?? Ethan gives a few pointers. Follow Ethan:• Blog: ethanrenoe.com• Facebook: Ethan Renoe Official• Twitter: @EthanRenoe• YouTube channel Contact EthanSupport Ethan on Patreon

For some of us, who grew up being taught "the Bible is without error", the violence attributed to God in the Bible presents major cognitive dissonance. For others of us, it doesn't feel quite so major, but it still doesn't make sense! If the Bible is a resource to the modern spiritual life and the pursuit of love and justice in the world (and we believe it is!), what on earth do we do with its violence?

For some of us, who grew up being taught "the Bible is without error", the violence attributed to God in the Bible presents major cognitive dissonance. For others of us, it doesn't feel quite so major, but it still doesn't make sense! If the Bible is a resource to the modern spiritual life and the pursuit of love and justice in the world (and we believe it is!), what on earth do we do with its violence?

Sermon recording from April 25th, 2021.Thesis: The story of Old Testament violence foreshadows the violent death of Jesus, which frees us from the power of sin and offers us life.

During our series, How To Break The Cycle we will be offering 4 equip sessions designed to help and equip our church. Every 2 weeks we will post an Equip Session online as a way to digging deeper into things that would be harder to get into during a sermon. Today's Equip Session is on How To Understand Violence in the Bible. Pastor Ethan referenced two resources in this session. We have attached them below for easy access. How to Understand Violence in the Bible: https://bit.ly/3uFSPk5 Why Did God Command the Invasion of Canaan in the Book of Joshua: https://bibleproject.com/blog/why-did-god-command-the-invasion-of-canaan-in-the-book-of-joshua/

During our series, How To Break The Cycle we will be offering 4 equip sessions designed to help and equip our church. Every 2 weeks we will post an Equip Session online as a way to digging deeper into things that would be harder to get into during a sermon. Today's Equip Session is on How To Understand Violence in the Bible. Pastor Ethan referenced two resources in this session. We have attached them below for easy access. How to Understand Violence in the Bible: https://bit.ly/3uFSPk5 Why Did God Command the Invasion of Canaan in the Book of Joshua: https://bibleproject.com/blog/why-did-god-command-the-invasion-of-canaan-in-the-book-of-joshua/

Today we're tackling a perennially challenging question: what's up with the violence, vengeance, and bloodshed in the Old Testament? Our guest today is Dr. Matt Lynch, Regent's Assistant Professor of Old Testament and author of Portraying Violence in the Hebrew Bible: A Literary and Cultural Study. Join us as Matt helps us understand how to make sense of some of the most difficult passages in Scripture.To learn more about Regent College and its upcoming courses visit:www.regent-college.edu/

After a wide survey of scenes and stories from the Bible, from the damp days after the Flood in Genesis to the tail-end of the last book of the New Testament, we've looked at a lot of the ways violence shows up in the pages of sacred scripture.  But what does it mean for any of us and how we live our lives?  How do we make the difficult decisions about what to do when we feel like violence as the least-worst option in front of us, or when we need to think of alternatives beyond fight-or-flight?  How do we think about the sometimes-not-very-helpful hypothetical situations like a surprie night-time intruder in your home, or what we would do if we lived in a time and place like Hitler's Third Reich?  And how do we consider the consequences and ripple effects of our actions far beyond what we can see, predict or imagine?  What obligation do I have to the kids of the would-be burglar who comes into my house, and how does the shape of Jesus' life affect my choices?  It seems we've got a lot more questions than we started with, but maybe that's a good place to leave things for now.  Join us for this last episode in our series as we make the move from Bible stories to our lived choices.

In the early life of the church, followers of Jesus needed a word of hope to assure them that the destructive and arrogant ways of the Empire wouldn't last forever.  They needed to know that God's victory over evil was assured, and that there was reason to keep on in their faith, showing love and humility in the face of Rome's cruelty and pride.  Against that backdrop, the book of Revelation makes a certain kind of sense--it is resistance literature written in coded language to encourage people to continuing following the way of Jesus no matter how strong or invincible the powers of the day seemed.  Part of what is difficult for modern-day American readers, then, is the disconnect between our situation (living pretty comfortably in the superpower of our day) and the setting of the book of Revelation.  So in today's episode of Crazy Faith Talk, pastors Erica, Sarah, and Steve look at the imagery of violence in the book of Revelation, and explore some of the ways modern-day readers read (or mis-read) this book, and what difference it makes to ask whether God's victory in the end comes through fighting a battle with Christians as soldiers, or whether God's victory is already accomplished through the death and resurrection of Jesus, whose robe is soaked, not in his enemies' blood, but in his own.  Join us for an important and thought-provoking conversation on this week's Crazy Faith Talk!

The wise and faithful Fred Rogers said, "Anything human is mentionable, and anything mentionable is manageable."  It was both a touchstone of his approach to children's television in his Neighborhood of Make-Believe, and also a key to his approach to ministry and life.  Rogers also taught generations of children to ask the difficult but vital question, "What do you do with the MAD that you feel?" with the understanding that we all feel anger sometimes and need to decide how to use, channel, and process it.  With that in mind, pastors Erica, Sarah, and Steve explore a set of prayers in the Bible, found in the Book of Psalms, that vent anger to God sometimes in very explicit ways, even calling for God to do violence to enemies.  What do we make of verses calling on God to bash the heads of the babies of a foreign enemy on rocks, for example?  And what does it mean that these words are in our Scriptures? For that matter, what difference does it make to know that God isn't obligated to give us the things we pray for, but is able to let us vent what we need to vent as the first step toward metabolizing our anger from bitter vengeance into something useful to change what is wrong in the world?  In a conversation that spans everything from particle physics to Maya Angelou to Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, this is an important conversation to have, and you're invited to share in it.  Becuase everything that is mentionable... can become manageable.

Something has gone wrong when we lose our ability to be shocked by terrible things.  And sometimes we need to come face to face with the terrible things to which the Bible bears witness--even if they aren't stories we teach our children in Sunday School or don't hear much about in sermons.  That can be especially true when the culture or historical setting of a story makes it easier to hide or shrug off the horror.  And in cultures throughout human history in which women were treated as the property of men or as second-class, stories in which women are the victims of physical or sexual violence (or both) can sometimes be treated casually, as though such violence is unavoidable, or as if the "real" victims were the men to whom they were attached--husbands, fathers, etc.  So in this episode--which, fair warning, does get into some uncomfortable stories from the Bible about violence done to women--pastors Sarah, Erica, and Steve look at four biblical stories of violence done to women to explore why these stories were remembered, how we understand them today, and why it is important to be able to tell the stories that make us squirm, so that we can protect the lives of those who are vulnerable today.  This one is a challenging subject, but it's an important conversation to have.

Lots of people know the story of when "Joshua fought the battle of Jericho... and the walls came a-tumblin' down." And from one perspective, the story of the Israelites taking the land of Canaan sounds like a triumphant victory and a happy ending.  The freed Israelites at last have a homeland, as God had promised their ancestor Abraham.  But what about the people who lived there already, and what do we do with the ways the conquest stories in the book of Joshua have been co-opted later in history to justify the conquering of "newly discovered" lands, the enslavement, resettling, or killing of indigenous peoples (like the Trail of Tears), or the notion of manifest destiny in our own national past?  Where is God in the midst of this story in the Bible, and how does faith in Jesus affect the way we read it?  This week's episode of Crazy Faith Talk opens all these cans of worms and more, as pastors Erica, Sarah, and Steve gather around the microphone for more conversation.

Lots of people know the story of the Exodus--from the miraculous parting of the sea to the dramatic rise of deliverer Moses to the powerful signs of judgment against Pharaoh's Egypt known as the ten plagues.  It's a saga many know, not only from Sunday School lessons in childhood, but also multiple movies that have colored our imaginations.  But the story of the plagues sent on Egypt is more complicated that the singing-cartoon or Cecil B. DeMille versions many grew up with.  While the plagues are seen as a way of finally forcing Pharaoh's hand to let the enslaved Hebrews go, they also bring a lot of collateral damage on the people of Egypt, who are only indirectly a part of the enslavement of the Hebrews.  They suffer along with Pharaoh--what do we do about that, especially in light of our learning last week that God values each and every human life by virtue of being made in the image of God?  What what do we do with the biblical refrain that God hardened Pharaoh's heart to push the conflict toward increasingly dramatic stakes?  And what do we do when modern-day religious voices declare themselves to be self-appointed prophets who declare that present-day natural disasters are God's judgment or punishment on people?  How do we read the story of the Exodus without giving ourselves permission to see every fire, earthquake or hurricane as a plague sent against someone we don't like?  These are the kinds of questions that we'll explore in this episode of "Crazy Faith Talk" as pastors Erica, Sarah, and Steve gather around the table.  Join us for the conversation!

Many readers of Scripture are jarred when God and Israel commit violence in the Old Testament. From the conquest of Canaan, to the lives of the biblical patriarchs, to the great flood in Genesis, we cannot avoid the fact that God and His people fight and kill. This can lead to a crisis of faith—how can God be good if He is violent? Dr. Matt Lynch, Assistant Professor of Old Testament at Regent College, wants to reframe our questions; rather than merely worrying about God's use of violence, we could instead ask how the biblical authors are critiquing our use of violence. In this episode, Dr. Dru Johnson interviews Dr. Lynch about how the Bible portrays violence. They discuss Scripture's persistent connection between violence and tumult, and the difference between justified forceful harm and unjust violence. They also address the ethical connection between human beings and the rest of creation, and how violence in the Old Testament and New Testament separates humanity from God and the earth. Show notes: 0:00 The problem of violence in the Old Testament and New Testament 2:25 Introducing Dr. Matthew Lynch and his work 7:12 Violence in Scripture versus violence in the modern world 11:50 War with the Canaanites in the book of Joshua 14:28 Ethics, ecology, and the environment 22:47 The New Covenant and our relationship to creation 24:24 The overarching perspective on violence in Scripture 29:15 Listening to the biblical texts for their questions Dr. Lynch's new book: Portraying Violence in the Hebrew Bible: A Literary and Cultural Study Show notes by Micah Long.

Human history is inescapably bloody--and so is the Bible.  We aren't great at facing up to those violent episodes in our history, or owning up to the costs of our actions and choices in human lives.  And if that weren't hard enough, the biblical writers themselves often seem to permit, allow, encourage, or even endorse violence against other people.  And yet, those same biblical voices also insist that all human beings are made in the image of God, and that we are all of infinte worth and sacredness.  How do we hold these two together?  How do we understand the violence in the Bible, whether it's perpetrated by humans against other humans, or described as coming directly from God?  And if human beings are indeed preciously made in the image of God, what are we supposed to do when someone destroys that image by killing someone else?  This is the can of worms we'll be opening in this latest series for the fall exploring violence in the Bible. And as we get started, pastors Erica, Sarah, and Steve look at a passage from early in Genesis that lays down a policy of taking a life for a life.  We'll explore how God intends to limit and prevent human violence, but also the dangerous ways a passage like this can be abused and give license to lynch mobs who see themselves as agents of justice when they are really just bloodthirsty.  And we'll begin a journey through the Bible that will deepen our way of understanding the Scriptures, too.  Join us for a thought-provoking series here on Crazy Faith Talk!

It is very easy to see that many of the commands and laws in the Old Testament fall far short of what we would consider to be morally acceptable in today's society. Slavery, genocide, treatment of women... we cringe at many of the passages that concern such issues in the Hebrew Bible. How should we think about these issues and the book that contains them? Should the Bible be an authoritative text for the 21st century? If so, in what way? Join us as we discuss these issues with Dr. John J. Collins, Holmes Professor of Old Testament Criticism and Interpretation at Yale Divinity School. In his new book, Dr. Collins has provided not only sound exegetical insights into a variety of difficult and controversial passages in both the Old and New Testaments, but he has also formulated an interpretative model for understanding these texts, both in their original and modern contexts. Purchase his new book here! https://tinyurl.com/y9g6xnozDr. Josh's slavery book: https://amzn.to/3ff1ctVDigital Hammurabi YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/2XfIFrsRecorded June 4th 2020

Episode: In this re-run of a 2018 episode, Matt Lynch interviews Christian Hofreiter (RZIM) on one of the most vexed issues in biblical studies … genocide in the Old Testament. […] The post Christian Hofreiter – Making Sense of Old Testament Genocide first appeared on OnScript.

Episode: In this re-run of a 2018 episode, Matt Lynch interviews Christian Hofreiter (RZIM) on one of the most vexed issues in biblical studies … genocide in the Old Testament. […]

Making Sense of Violence in the Bible by The Well Said Podcast

Violence in the Bible from Joshua to Jesus (Part 2 of 2): Jesus and the Cross by Dave Friedrich March 6 What are we to make of the similarities and significant differences between Joshua and Jesus, especially as it relates to the role of violence in the Promised Land? That will be the guiding question of this lecture as we look at how Jesus ‘conquers' in the gospels and the book of Revelation. The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.

Violence in the Bible from Joshua to Jesus (Part 1 of 2): Joshua and the Conquest      by Dave Friedrich Feb 28, 2020 How are we to understand the violence we encounter in the Bible within the broader culture and context of Scripture? That will be our guiding question as we look at Joshua's Conquest in Canaan and address further questions surrounding genocide, the inspiration of Scripture and the goodness of God. The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.

In this final teaching of From Redemption To Recycling we look at three major questions: What does predestination and election mean in the bible? How should we read the bible? What do we do with the violence in the bible?

In this final teaching of From Redemption To Recycling we look at three major questions: What does predestination and election mean in the bible? How should we read the bible? What do we do with the violence in the bible?

Many Christians struggle with accounts of violence in Scripture, especially in the Old Testament. What do we do with divinely-declared wars, sudden acts of judgment and seeming genocides? Join Gray and Eric as they discuss this challenging issue.What's Good:Eric - the Monster Hunter book seriesGray - Subversive Sabbath

A huge thanks to Joseph McDade for his generous permission to use his music: https://josephmcdade.com/ Discord Discussion Board: https://disboard.org/server/474580298630430751  For a GREAT, but deep read on how a non-violent God is not necessary for a nonviolent position, check out  DARRIN W. SNYDER BELOUSEK's work entitled " God and Nonviolence: Creedal Theology and Christian Ethics:" https://www.academia.edu/5671308/God_and_Nonviolence_Creedal_Theology_and_Christian_Ethics Representative Matt Shea following Chritistianity and war to its logical conclusion, arguing for non-Christian male combatants to be executed: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Shea#Political_career Shea's "The Biblical Basis for War:" https://media.spokesman.com/documents/2018/10/Biblical_Basis_for_War.pdf   ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

A huge thanks to Joseph McDade for his generous permission to use his music: https://josephmcdade.com/ Discord Discussion Board: https://disboard.org/server/474580298630430751  Greg Boyd's “The Crucifixion of the Warrior God:” https://www.amazon.com/Crucifixion-Warrior-God-Volumes-ebook/dp/B06XRL77G1/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Crucifixion+of+the+warrior+god&qid=1566062395&s=gateway&sr=8-2 Boyd's shorter version called “Cross Vision:” https://www.amazon.com/Cross-Vision-Crucifixion-Testament-Violence-ebook/dp/B074GJSPNZ/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Crucifixion+of+the+warrior+god&qid=1566062407&s=gateway&sr=8-3 Tim Mackie interview on violence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWDGYaIjWsM Mackie's six part series on violence, wrath, and the Day of the Lord: https://thebibleproject.simplecast.com/episodes/903c95d5-903c95d5 Transcript of Mackie's Day of the Lord Q&R, bottom ⅓ is the relevant portion: https://thebibleproject.com/podcast/day-lord-question-response/transcript/ A small taste of Matthew Flannigan's work on violence of the conquest, but he also has other writings which are great that delve into Ancient Near East language similarities with phrases from the Old Testament: https://web.archive.org/web/20130425115801/http://www.mandm.org.nz/2010/01/sunday-study-joshua-and-the-genocide-of-the-canaanites-part-i.html  Matthew Fleischer's "The Old Testament Case for Nonviolence:" https://www.amazon.com/Old-Testament-Case-Nonviolence-ebook/dp/B078RWXDS9/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+old+testament+case+for+nonviolence&qid=1575549606&sr=8-1 Boyd's "Inspired Imperfection" on how to interpret the Bible: https://www.amazon.com/Inspired-Imperfection-Problems-Enhance-Authority/dp/150645562X/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=inspired+imperfection&qid=1578663381&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzQU5IT1RMT0NST1c2JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMTEzMTA2MTVUUlYzM1NaMjgxUCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNzEzNTA3MzFTQjc3R0E1MDFLSyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU= How the Bible Actually Works by Peter Enns: https://www.amazon.com/How-Bible-Actually-Works-Answers-ebook/dp/B079L6HVVR/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=how+the+bible+actually+works&qid=1589155262&sr=8-1 Eric Seibert's "The Violence of Scripture:" https://www.amazon.com/Violence-Scripture-Overcoming-Testaments-Troubling-ebook/dp/B00APJRLRG/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+violence+of+scripture&qid=1575549459&sr=8-1 George Macdonald "The Higher Faith" Ch. 3: https://archive.org/details/unspokensermons_1205_librivox ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

The Bible is a book of several genres. One of those genres is history, which focuses on the journey of the Hebrews toward establishing their nation and readying themselves for the Messiah. In numerous places in their history, the Bible records God commanding the people to kill, kill, and kill some more. Are these battles and attacks really warranted? Is God excessively bloodthirsty? Or, as non-theists often claim, are these accounts evidence that God is not great, is not worthy of worship, or is a figment of their imagination.This episode explains how Old Testament battles were appropriate in their force and frequency. It also gives a few different perspectives on how to interpret these stories--all of which conclude that God is indeed great.

The Collective initiates with a discussion on violence in the Bible, which--as always--evolves into a more general sharing of ideas. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Every reader comes to the Bible with their own history and set of assumptions. In this introductory episode, Rev Dr Helen Paynter tells Rosie Dawson which principles and commitments inform her engagement with Biblical texts about sexual abuse and violence.

Have you ever wondered about the seemingly excessive violence in the Old Testament? There are actually great reasons for the violence and what you will find is that God is not only a just and holy God but also incredibly patient with sinful man. Join host Jason Gallagher and guests Tony Yu and Daniel Adrean to talk about this difficult topic that can stumble a lot of people. 1 Samuel 15:3 Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and WOMAN, INFANT and NURSING CHILD, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.

The subject of violence in the Bible and God's apparent complicity in it has troubled people for centuries. Did God command genocide and, if he did, what does that say about God? How do we reconcile the difficult passages with the image of a loving God revealed by Jesus whilst holding to the Bible as God's Word? In this episode, Paul addresses not only this question but along the way takes in the whole nature of the created universe, wrath, suffering, mercy, power and the cross, asking the question, how does God rule - through coercion or selfless love? (As with all of the TLS sessions, PDF notes are available at https://kingschurch.co.uk/tls/)

The guys talk with George about violence in the Bible. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bibleoverbrews/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bibleoverbrews/support

The guys talk about violence in the bible, and whether there's a context for it. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bibleoverbrews/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bibleoverbrews/support

The guys talk with George about violence in the Bible. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bibleoverbrews/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bibleoverbrews/support

The guys talk about violence in the bible, and whether there's a context for it. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bibleoverbrews/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bibleoverbrews/support

Some of the scenes in the Bible would not be fit for TV. Literally, Game of Thrones has nothing on the Hebrew Bible when it comes to tales of violence (except dragons). The central event of the New Testament includes the most violent and cruel form of execution the world had to offer.As we read the text, what are we supposed to make of it? More than that, what are we supposed to think about the God we know and trust when it comes to violence? Does God promote violence, or abhor it? What does the Bible really say when it comes to violence?

The Reverend Bob Johnston continues a 6-week sermon series, "Making Sense of the Bible," that will help us engage the Bible as thinking people. The series is a companion to our God's Story Sunday program. This week's sermon looks at violence in the Bible and the differing images of God in the Old and New Testaments.

The Reverend Mary Lessmann continues a 6-week sermon series, "Making Sense of the Bible," that will help us engage the Bible as thinking people. The series is a companion to our God's Story Sunday program. This week's sermon looks at violence in the Bible and the differing images of God in the Old and New Testaments.

The Interview: The Old Testament is filled with grisly tales, which are understandably offensive to modern eyes. Some of the most shocking are found within the conquest narratives of the Deuteronomistic History. In Deuteronomy 7, the Israelites were instructed to smite, destroy, and consume the inhabitants of Canaan, an act that Joshua initiates at the city of Jericho. The text is incredibly violent, bloody, and gruesome, and leaves readers scratching their heads as to why anyone would ever carry out any of these actions. But could Joshua be getting a bad rap? In this episode of the LDS Perspectives Podcast, Laura Harris Hales interviews Dr. George Pierce, a specialist in ancient Near East archaeology and anthropology, about just what these chapters might be telling us. Dr. George Pierce maintains that if we view the conquest narratives through the lenses that ancient Israel would have understood them, then we may gain a better appreciation for their contents. Situated in Deuteronomy, Samuel, Judges, and Kings are tales of Israel’s conquest of Canaan and the rise of its kingdoms. As we look at the account of Joshua and the Israelites and what they’re doing with the defeat of Canaanite cities, we see that the text itself is trying to couch these events in terms of Deuteronomy 7 and its mandate to settle this land and effectively remove its inhabitants. The main thrust of Deuteronomy 7 is to not have Israel interact with the people around them. They have been given divine instruction: don’t interact with the Canaanites; don’t intermarry them; and don’t worship their deities. What we see is that Israel is doing the opposite. They’re not able to dislodge the Canaanites. They do start to intermarry with the Canaanites. They do start to worship other deities. Israel needs a call to repentance. But these are also tales of re-creation. Israel is coming into a land, which for them, because of Canaanites, Hittites, Parrizites, and all the rest of the inhabitants, is effectively chaos. The creation is a parallel concept to the conquest narratives. In creation, Jehovah steps in, puts everything into order with its right function, purifies the thing, and then on the seventh day has rest. In the book of Joshua, the Israelites purify the land by conquests. After capturing the City of the Patriarchs, the land has rest. Many readers look at this ancient text and ask, “What can I get out of this?” And while it’s probably popular to just turn to Joshua 24 and say, “Well, the whole thing just revolves around: “As for me and my house, we’re going to serve the Lord,” Dr. Pierce believes we shortchange the book of Joshua and the Deuteronomic History by not exploring the text on a deeper level. Within the text are complex and rich elements telling us that Israel is trying to obey the commandments of the Lord, but they’re not always successful. Listen in as we discuss Israel’s tale of emergence and settlement in the Holy Land and what it means in terms of obedience and longevity in the land. About Our Guest: Dr. George Pierce grew up in a Baptist household in Florida. He received a BA in History from Clearwater Christian College, an MSC in Archaeological Information Systems from the University of York, an MA in Biblical Studies from Wheaton College, and a PhD in Near Eastern Language and Cultures from UCLA where he joined a church in June 2009. He’s also served as research faculty at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beersheba, Israel. He has excavated in Florida, Scotland, the West Bank, and Israel. His research focuses on regional settlements, historical geography, and computer applications in archaeology. He and his wife, Dr. Krystal Pierce, have two children, Victoria and George III. The Transcript: Download PDF ********* LDS Perspectives Podcast Episode 84: Violence in the Bible with George A. Pierce   (Released June 13, 2018) This is not a verbatim transcript.  Some grammar and wording has been modified for clarity ...

The Old Testament is filled with grisly tales, which are understandably offensive to modern eyes. Some of the most shocking are found within the conquest narratives of the Deuteronomistic History. In Deuteronomy 7, the Israelites were instructed to smite, destroy, and consume the inhabitants of Canaan, an act that Joshua initiates at the city of Jericho. The text is incredibly violent, bloody, and gruesome, and leaves readers scratching their heads as to why anyone would ever carry out any of these actions. But could Joshua be getting a bad rap? In this episode of the LDS Perspectives Podcast, Laura Harris Hales interviews Dr. George Pierce, a specialist in ancient Near East archaeology and anthropology, about just what these chapters might be telling us. Dr. George Pierce maintains that if we view the conquest narratives through the lenses that ancient Israel would have understood them, then we may gain a better appreciation for their contents. Situated in Deuteronomy, Samuel, Judges, and Kings are tales of Israel’s conquest of Canaan and the rise of its kingdoms. As we look at the account of Joshua and the Israelites and what they’re doing with the defeat of Canaanite cities, we see that the text itself is trying to couch these events in terms of Deuteronomy 7 and its mandate to settle this land and effectively remove its inhabitants. The main thrust of Deuteronomy 7 is to not have Israel interact with the people around them. They have been given divine instruction: don’t interact with the Canaanites; don’t intermarry them; and don’t worship their deities. What we see is that Israel is doing the opposite. They’re not able to dislodge the Canaanites. They do start to intermarry with the Canaanites. They do start to worship other deities. Israel needs a call to repentance. But these are also tales of re-creation. Israel is coming into a land, which for them, because of Canaanites, Hittites, Parrizites, and all the rest of the inhabitants, is effectively chaos. The creation is a parallel concept to the conquest narratives. In creation, Jehovah steps in, puts everything into order with its right function, purifies the thing, and then on the seventh day has rest. In the book of Joshua, the Israelites purify the land by conquests. After capturing the City of the Patriarchs, the land has rest. Many readers look at this ancient text and ask, “What can I get out of this?” And while it’s probably popular to just turn to Joshua 24 and say, “Well, the whole thing just revolves around: “As for me and my house, we’re going to serve the Lord,” Dr. Pierce believes we shortchange the book of Joshua and the Deuteronomic History by not exploring the text on a deeper level. Within the text are complex and rich elements telling us that Israel is trying to obey the commandments of the Lord, but they’re not always successful. Listen in as we discuss Israel’s tale of emergence and settlement in the Holy Land and what it means in terms of obedience and longevity in the land. About Our Guest: Dr. George Pierce grew up in a Baptist household in Florida. He received a BA in History from Clearwater Christian College, an MSC in Archaeological Information Systems from the University of York, an MA in Biblical Studies from Wheaton College, and a PhD in Near Eastern Language and Cultures from UCLA where he joined a church in June 2009. He’s also served as research faculty at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beersheba, Israel. He has excavated in Florida, Scotland, the West Bank, and Israel. His research focuses on regional settlements, historical geography, and computer applications in archaeology. He and his wife, Dr. Krystal Pierce, have two children, Victoria and George III. Episode 84 Transcript A Bible Reader’s History of the Ancient World ********* LDS Perspectives Podcast Episode 84: Violence in the Bible with George A. Pierce   (Released June 13, 2018)   This is not a verbatim transcript.

Episode: Matt interviews Christian Hofreiter (RZIM) on one of the most vexed issues in biblical studies … genocide in the Old Testament. Christian Hofreiter has been pondering this question for […] The post Christian Hofreiter – Making Sense of Old Testament Genocide first appeared on OnScript.

Episode: Matt interviews Christian Hofreiter (RZIM) on one of the most vexed issues in biblical studies … genocide in the Old Testament. Christian Hofreiter has been pondering this question for […]

This is part six in our series on responding to your questions and comments.  In light of our killing series, we considered whether Christians should kill the old, the young, enemies, or criminals, however we never addressed the morality of God killing. Brian asked: Can I expect a subsequent episode where you discuss a sort Read more about Off Script 47: Is God’s Violence in the Bible Wrong? (Q&A)[…]

This is part six in our series on responding to your questions and comments.  In light of our killing series, we considered whether Christians should kill the old, the young, enemies, or criminals, however we never addressed the morality of God killing. Brian asked: Can I expect a subsequent episode where you discuss a sort Read more about Off Script 47: Is God’s Violence in the Bible Wrong? (Q&A)[…]

When somebody claims to speak for God, it makes our ears prick up. Sometimes it's because we think they really have something to say, and sometimes it's becasue we have heard too many charlatans, fakers, and religious snake-oil salesmen, and we are upset when someone panders and tricks people by saying they have "a word from the Lord." The prophets of Israel had the same challenge--too many court prophets just recited back the official party line of the king and told people what they wanted to hear.  And when a real prophet arose with a minority report, who could speak truth to power, people didn't want to listen.  So how would a real voice from God stand out from the pretenders and court prophets?  Elisha was one of those voices raised up to speak up and speak out when the powerful were not practicing justice and mercy.  But even Elisha seemed to cross the line defending his own authority when he unleashes an attack of wild bears on some teenagers who made fun of him in this strange story from 2 Kings in our ongoing series of "Weird Bible Stories." So... what do we do with stories from the Bible in which someone invokes the name of God to do violence?  What do we do when they are voices of authority that we have respected?  And what does GOD do with US when WE are the ones praying angrily and vengetfully against OUR enemies?  Join the conversation and listen in...

Brian Zahnd is the founder and pastor of Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, Missouri. Brian hung out with Daniel this past week to chat about his new book, Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God. Brian's book reveals the love of God in a beautiful and fresh way and deals with a great deal of the violence found in the Bible. In this episode, Brian explores a wide variety of age-old questions: How should we read the Bible? Who killed Jesus? What's up with all the violence in the Bible? What happens to us when we die? Brian's new book was just released a few days ago, so be sure to grab a copy of it along with his previous books too.

On this week's episode, Pete and Jared speak with Brian Zahnd about violence in the Bible. Brian Zahnd is the founder and lead pastor of Word of Life Church (Saint Joseph, MO), and he writes, blogs, and Tweets regularly on the problem of violence in the Bible. His next book Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God is set to be released August 2017. 

All July & August, we're addressing the major questions about Christianity that we can't ignore. During week three, guest speakers, David Lamb addressed the question, "Why is the Bible so violent?"

It's not a pretty topic. But it has to be addressed. The extreme violence in Sacred Scripture (particularly the Old Testament) understandably causes a lot of people problems. After all, how are we supposed to reconcile this kind of bloodshed with a loving, merciful God? Why did He command it? How could He command it? Didn't Jesus say to love your neighbor and pray for your enemies? Sometimes what we read just doesn't seem to square with who we know Him to be. And you can't, as some do, simply gloss over or ignore this material. We're not. In fact, we're going to tackle it head on with my guest, Curtis Mitch. Among his other illustrious achievements, Curtis is the main guy behind the commentary in the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible. He's been living, eating, and breathing Scripture for the last 18 years on that project. It's his full-time job. In other words, he knows the Bible like few others. So in this episode of the Art of Catholic, Curtis and I will discuss: The historical context of perhaps the darkest passage of Scripture Why God commanded the killing of the Canaanites...all the Canaanites in the land The insidious role of idolatry (both then and now) Why you can't call the Conquest of Canaan genocide (it's anything but) The beauty and logic of what scholars call "divine accommodation" The hidden mercy of God in all of this (it's there...trust me!) This episode will transform the way you understand God's dealing with people in ancient times, and how He deals with us today. God bless! Matthew P.S. Grab your FREE copy of my quick guide to deeper prayer 8 Ways To Jumpstart Your Prayer Life! It's an easy step-by-step guide to help you rocket to God! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Don't miss a show! Subscribe to The Art of Catholic by clicking this link and then clicking "View in iTunes" under the picture and then "Subscribe"!  Love the show and want more people to hear the Catholic faith? Leave a review by clicking here and then the "View in iTunes" button under my picture. This pushes the show up the rankings and puts it in front of more people. Android user? You can listen to The Art of Catholic on the Beyond Pod app from the Google Play Store. Want to tour Catholic Europe's most beautiful holy sites? Join Matthew on a  St. Paul Center pilgrimage to Fatima, Spain, Lourdes, and other amazing holy sites this October 23rd to November 1st. Click here for details.

Was God in the Old Testament always violent? Was Jesus of Nazareth never violent?

Pastor Jeremy closes out our series on tough questions of faith, looking at one of the most challenging wrestles related to faith and the scriptures - that of God-ordained violence in the Bible.  Do these circumstances in scriptures discredit God?  Do they undermine his love and mercy?  Or do they, in fact, substantiate it?

How are we to make sense of all the violence that fills the Bible? And what does this tell us about the God who seems to command it? Listen in as Pastor Keith responds to these questions as he surveys what happened to the Canaanites.