Women Under the Law (Bad God! Part 14)

Were women second-class citizens in Israel? Could they be seized by any lustful man? Did they have to marry their rapist? These questions will finally be answered.

Old Testament Law (Bad God! Part 12)

Old Testament Law has been viewed as unnecessarily harsh and barbaric, especially in view of modern, allegedly enlightened values. A closer look reveals much, much more than meets the eye for an eye.

The Flood (Bad God! Part 11)

The worldwide flood account retells of a catastrophic deluge that killed untold numbers of human beings. A version of this story exists in many cultures. In this article, we try to untangle the meaning of the flood by looking at it in its original context.

The Tenth Plague (Bad God! Part 10)

There is perhaps no more difficult event in Scripture than the killing of the firstborn sons of Egypt during the tenth plague. Yet the image that this event conjures in our mind may not be quite what Exodus is depicting.

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.