Short description
A provocative look at the violent content of 'sacred scripture' and what Jews, Christians, and Muslims must do to re-vision their faiths away from justifying violence. Post 9/11 attention focused on Islam as a violent religion, but this work shows that the Bible and the Quran both have violence-justifying content to support holy and other wars.
Long description
A provocative look at the violent content of 'sacred scripture' and what Jews, Christians, and Muslims must do to re-vision their faiths away from justifying violence. Post 9/11 attention has focused on Islam as a violent religion, but Nelson-Pallmeyer shows that the Bible and the Quran both have ample violence-justifying content to support holy and other wars. The challenge, he maintains, is to acknowledge violence in sacred scripture and re-vision God's power.
Review
'No accommodationist, Nelson-Pallmeyer cannot find any place for violence, even when exercised against evil.' Publishers Weekly 'Especially provocative... incite us to grapple with what it means to follow Jesus.' The Other Side 'Anything but passive, Nelson-Pallmeyer's radical pacifism sends sparks flying in all directions.' The Booklist
Table of contents
- Introduction: The Elephant in the Room
- 1. Lunatics and Messengers
- 2. Religion and Violence
- 3. Violence-of-God Traditions in the Hebrew Scriptures
- 4. Violent Story Lines in the Hebrew Scriptures. 5. Violence-of-God Traditions in the New Testament
- 6. Violence-of-God Traditions in the Quran
- 7. Room for Doubt?
- 8. Saved by Enemies
- 9. Saved by Doubt.