Amalekite Genocide (Bad God! Part 9)

The so-called “genocide” of the Amalekites raises deep moral questions. A closer look at its context reveals a picture that resists easy conclusions.

Canaanite Genocide (Bad God! Part 8)

Few biblical stories raise more questions than the Canaanite “genocide.” A closer look at the ancient context complicates the picture in surprising ways.

God of War (Bad God! Part 7)

Much has been said about God and the warfare He commanded in the Old Testament. It can’t be ignored, but there’s something crucial we keep missing.

The Fear of God (Bad God! Part 6)

Why should we fear the God of love? How is love freely given if it comes from fear? If we understand what it means, biblically, to “fear God,” then these questions resolve themselves.

The Wrath of God (Bad God! Part 4)

We think of many things when we think about the “wrath” of God. But where did the vision of wrath we have today come from? Is it the same thing as the wrath described in the Bible?

Is God Really Jealous? (Bad God! Part 3)

Jealousy is considered one of the most unattractive traits you could find in another person. And yet the Bible boasts about the jealousy of God. So … is God a jealous, petty Deity?

Why We Hate Judgment (Bad God! Part 2)

Many of our issues with the depiction of God in the Old Testament come down to one thing: Who is He to judge? This article looks at the history of human self-perception and its relation to a sovereign God.

Bad God! Violence in the Old Testament (Part 1)

Is the God of the Old Testament a loving Father or a “capriciously malevolent bully” as Richard Dawkins claimed? This series of articles seeks to find out by looking at the most troubling Old Testament passages.