• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Randal Rauser

Home of progressively evangelical, generously orthodox, rigorously analytic, revolutionary Christian thinking (that's what I'm aiming for anyway)

  • About
  • Books
  • Articles
    • Articles (single)
    • Articles (in series)
  • Audio/Video
    • Audio Interviews, Lectures, and Debates
    • Video Interviews and Lectures
    • Powerpoint Slides
  • Blog
    • Current Posts
    • Blog Archives
  • Podcasts
    • The Tentative Apologist Podcast
    • Archived Podcasts
    • Reviews

biblical violence

Christian Bellows on the Canaanite Genocide

December 16, 2022 by Randal

While researching Jesus Loves Canaanites, I came across some truly abhorrent defenses of biblical genocide in general and pedicide in particular. For example, Christian apologists claimed that the Canaanites were evil squatters, that they were like cancer, and that killing infants would actually be a merciful act. So it should be no surprise that I devoted […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: biblical violence, Christian Bellows, genocide, satire

Can Skeptical Theism Save Biblical Violence?

October 18, 2022 by Randal

According to skeptical theism, God could have reasons to allow evil and suffering in the world that we cannot even imagine. If our reasoning is so limited in this area, could it also be limited in understanding the nature of morality? ?

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: biblical violence, skeptical theism

Killing Canaanites? Debriefing the Copan/Rauser Debate

October 12, 2022 by Randal

In this post-debate debrief, I review one key section of my debate with Paul Copan and explain how his view of Joshua entails that Israelites targeted and killed an indiscriminate number of Canaanite civilians. ?

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: biblical genocide, biblical violence, debate, Paul Copan

If an Atheist Asks About Biblical Violence DON’T SAY THIS!

October 10, 2022 by Randal

The Bible depicts God commanding and commending apparent moral atrocities. So what do we say in response? Well for starters, don’t say this! ?

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: apologetics, biblical violence, Frank Turek

Debating the Canaanite Genocide with Paul Copan

October 7, 2022 by Randal

I think this is my eleventh appearance on “Unbelievable” with Justin Brierley. It was also one of the most enjoyable and lively debates in which I’ve had the privilege to participate. ?

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: biblical violence, debate, Jesus Loves Canaanites, Justin Brierley, Paul Copan, Unbelievable

Biblical Violence, Moral Relativism?

September 28, 2022 by Randal

When David beheaded Goliath, he violated rule 113 of customary international humanitarian law which prohibits the mutilation of corpses in war. Interestingly, that was never addressed when I learned the story in Sunday school. I know what you’re thinking: “That’s anachronistic! You can’t judge an earlier action by a later law!” But I’m less interested […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: biblical violence, David and Goliath

Atheist Edge Debate Debrief and Dialogue

September 19, 2022 by Randal

Yesterday, I appeared back on the Atheist Edge YouTube Channel to debrief my recent debate with Richard Carrier. The host Kaz brought a range of questions and arguments to the discussion. ?

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: Atheist Edge, biblical violence, hermeneutics, interview, theology

Did God Command Genocide? An Interview on Capturing Christianity

September 15, 2022 by Randal

Delighted to appear on Capturing Christianity today to talk about the problem of biblical genocide.

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: biblical violence, Capturing Christianity, genocide, hermeneutics, interview, Jesus Loves Canaanites

Biblical Violence: A Friendly Debate with Richard Carrier

September 5, 2022 by Randal

On July 31, 2022, I debated Richard Carrier on the problem of biblical violence. The debate was hosted by the Atheist Edge YouTube channel. It was only available to subscribers for five weeks, but here is the world premiere for the masses! Check it out! ?

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: biblical violence, debate, Richard Carrier

Speaking to Abraham’s Silence: A Review

May 15, 2022 by Randal

J. Richard Middleton. Abraham’s Silence: The Binding of Isaac, the Suffering of Job, and How to Talk Back to God. Baker Academic, 2021. The binding (Aqedah) of Isaac is one of the most troubling stories in all Scripture. And it is not hard to see why. The story depicts God commanding a father to butcher […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: Abraham, Abraham's Silence, biblical hermeneutics, biblical violence, hermeneutics, review, Richard Middleton

Why God Did Not Command the Slaughter of the Canaanites, Briefly Explained

March 7, 2022 by Randal

This article provides a brief synopsis of a case explaining why God did not command the slaughter of the Canaanites. It is based on a debate opening statement that I gave last year. And it provides an introduction to some of the arguments I develop at length in Jesus Loves Canaanites. “Slaughter” is defined as the […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: biblical violence, hermeneutics, Jesus Loves Canaanites

The Limits of Defending Biblical Violence By Appealing to a Big, Wild, and Dangerous God

March 4, 2022 by Randal

Over the years, I have seen many Christians attempt to address problems of divinely sanctioned biblical violence by reframing them as virtues: in short, the bug is a feature. How so? On this re-narration, the problem of biblical violence should remind us that God is big and wild and dangerous. This offers an essential chastening […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: Bible, biblical violence, hermeneutics, moral intuitions

Seven Things I Wish Every Christian Knew About the Bible: A Review

January 18, 2022 by Randal

Michael Bird. Seven Things I Wish Every Christian Knew About the Bible. Zondervan, 2021. Seven Things is an introduction to the Bible written by Anglican priest and New Testament scholar Michael Bird. The book is written in seven chapters addressing origins (chapter 1), inspiration and inerrancy (chapter 2), authority (chapter 3), the cultural distance between the biblical […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: biblical violence, book review, hermeneutics, Michael Bird, review

My Debate With Aron Ra

January 7, 2022 by Randal

My debate with Aron Ra is now available for your viewing pleasure. It was a cracking exchange that ranged widely over concepts like worldview, epistemology, the ethics of discourse, and yes, biblical violence. ?

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: Aron Ra, biblical violence, debate, epistemology

  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 8
  • Go to Next Page »

Footer

Against Malaria Foundation

Against Malaria Foundation

Support Kiva

Support Kiva

Search this website

Archives



Copyright © 2023 • Randal Rauser • A Steady Site