Who on Earth is God: Making Sense of God in the Bible

(Paperback)

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Description

How should we understand the God of the Bible How do we make sense of God's apparently changing character in the Bible theologically God is not obvious - unlike all the animate and inanimate objects which we can see around us. God does not appear to fulfill any useful purpose; what is God for or about Is God just a mystery Or a problem Or both In Who On Earth is God: Making Sense of God in the Bible Neil Richardson provides the answers to these fascinating questions. Richardson tackles the hard issues surrounding some of the more problematic passages head on, looking at divine anger, violence and jealousy, and suggesting how these can be interpreted. The book engages with the difficult questions posed by contemporary issues, and the 'new atheism' pioneered by popular writers such as Richard Dawkins. This takes discussion 'beyond the bible' into later developments in thought, and notions of God in a post-modern context. This is an indispensable guide for people with or without faith, wrestling with these difficult, and eternal, questions and themes.

Reviews

Here is a book for new Christians and non-Christians. But also for Christians like me long in the tooth and with years of reading and teaching the Bible under their belt. It is clear, brave, and honest. It will stir people to discussion and debate. It will surely accomplish what its author describes as his aim: to offer a foundation for a far-reaching Jewish and Christian humanism. It should be stuffed into brief cases, lunch boxes and pockets and read on buses, offices and in the pew. * Leslie Griffiths, Methodist Minister and Member of the House of Lords, UK *
Neil Richardson is to be congratulated for his boldness in tackling such a huge subject, and for doing so in a remarkably even-handed way. Would that some of those whose views he challenges were as willing to be so balanced! He doesnt shirk the hard questions raised by some biblical passages. Rather he encourages his readers to confront them openly and honestly. His suggestion that we can no longer identify the God of the text with the real God will be challenging to some but profoundly helpful to many. This is a fine example of apologetics! * Adrian Curtis, University of Manchester, UK *

Author Bio

Neil Richardson was Tutor in New Testament Studies and later Principal of Wesley College, Bristol, UK. He served as President of the British Methodist Conference in 2003-2004.