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.

Promotional Information

In this courageous and controversial book, Nelson-Pallmeyer explores the relationship between human violence and the scared texts of Jews, Christians, and Muslims.

About the Author

Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer is Assistant Professor of Justice and Peace Studies at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. For more than twenty years he has studied and written about the relationship of religion, violence, and peace and his books include Jesus Against Christianity: Reclaiming the Missing Jesus and School of Assassins: Guns, Greed, and Globalization.

Reviews

"This is an interesting and controversial book that deserves to be read and debated widely and would be recommended for undergraduate students on intriductory religion courses or more specialist courses in religion and violence."
*Theological Book Review*

'A book guaranteed to send sparks flying, yet it is both topical and relevant to today's key global issues, while arguing strongly against the use of violence in any circumstances.' Publishing News

"In the present work he argues that violent depictions of God in the Scriptures of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have contributed to tragic events such as the September 11 disaster, the misguided U.S. "war against terror," and ongoing violent conflict in the Middle East. In sum, N.-P. does a service by pointing out troublingly violent biblical and Quranic passages..."- Harold C. Washington, The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, Vol. 68, 2006
*Catholic Biblical Quarterly*

"This is an interesting and controversial book that deserves to be read and debated widely and would be recommended for undergraduate students on intriductory religion courses or more specialist courses in religion and violence." -- Theological Book Review
'A book guaranteed to send sparks flying, yet it is both topical and relevant to today's key global issues, while arguing strongly against the use of violence in any circumstances.' Publishing News
"In the present work he argues that violent depictions of God in the Scriptures of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have contributed to tragic events such as the September 11 disaster, the misguided U.S. "war against terror," and ongoing violent conflict in the Middle East. In sum, N.-P. does a service by pointing out troublingly violent biblical and Quranic passages..."- Harold C. Washington, The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, Vol. 68, 2006 * Catholic Biblical Quarterly *

This hard-hitting, cogent book by Nelson-Pallmeyer, an assistant professor of peace and justice studies at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., explores the relationship between religion and violence in Christianity, Judaism and Islam. "I accept that there are positive streams within the Bible and the Quran," he writes. "The problem that has been ignored for too long, however, is that these streams flow from and are flooded by an enormous reservoir of God's abusive violence." Nelson-Pallmeyer cites Old Testament/Hebrew Bible passages that point to God as a "determined and powerful land thief" and a "relentless" and bloodthirsty warrior. And while the New Testament is often perceived as a softer, gentler statement about God's goodness, Nelson-Pallmeyer claims that this more mild ethos is shored up by a system in which Jesus' sacrificial death appeases "a violent God who punishes sin." Likewise the Quran, which is informed by the Old and New Testaments, not surprisingly has a strong orientation toward religious violence (though Nelson-Pallmeyer overstates his case when he maintains that "almost every sura presents fear of God's wrath as the foundation for belief and action"). Nelson-Pallmeyer's sometimes harsh rhetoric is balanced by his extensive knowledge of the three religions' sacred texts and by a writing style which, for an academic, is refreshingly free of jargon. Chapters are short, accessible, and persuasive. While this book's perspective may be one-sided, it is a side that needs to be heard. (Feb.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.