Encountering violence in the Bible
Book Description
In a world where violence seems increasingly pervasive, from acts of terrorism to rising crime rates, many spiritual seekers grapple with difficult questions about how sacred texts address these harsh realities. This scholarly exploration emerges from an international conference that brought together eighteen biblical scholars from nine countries to examine one of the most challenging aspects of scripture: passages that appear to justify or describe violence.
Drawing from the Hebrew Bible, New Testament, Second Temple Jewish literature, and the Qur'an, this collection offers diverse theological and scholarly perspectives on interpreting violent biblical passages in contemporary contexts. The contributors tackle fundamental questions that resonate with modern readers: How should we understand ancient texts that seem to endorse violence? Are these passages as violent as they initially appear? What pathways exist for overcoming violence through spiritual understanding?
Rather than avoiding these uncomfortable scriptural elements, the scholars engage directly with the ethical challenges they present. Their varied approaches provide readers with thoughtful frameworks for wrestling with these complex texts while maintaining spiritual integrity. The discussions span both testaments and related religious literature, offering a comprehensive examination of how violence appears across different sacred traditions.
For those seeking to deepen their understanding of scripture while honestly confronting its most difficult passages, this work provides scholarly insight into navigating the intersection of faith, ethics, and the reality of violence in our world.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~9 hours)
📄 Length: 309 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore War
- ✓ Explore War, religious aspects
- ✓ Explore Violence, religious aspects
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects
- ✓ Explore Våld i Bibeln
- ✓ Explore Christianity
- ✓ Explore Violence
- ✓ Understand spiritual ethics
