Overview

Many Christians wrestle with biblical passages in which God commands the slaughter of the Canaanites - men, women, and children - and the book of Joshua in particular showcases the genocidal violence which saturates the Old Testament. The issue of the morality of the God portrayed in these passages is one of the major challenges for faith today, leading many Christians to cast doubt over what, if any, theological value can be gleamed from such accounts and how they can even be called Holy Scripture. In this bold and innovative book Douglas Earl grasps the bull by the horns and guides readers to new and unexpected ways of looking at the book of Joshua.

Full Product Details

Author:   Douglas S. Earl
Publisher:   James Clarke & Co Ltd
Imprint:   James Clarke & Co Ltd
Dimensions:   Width: 15.30cm , Height: 1.20cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.292kg
ISBN:  

9780227173763

ISBN 10:   0227173767
Pages:   190
Publication Date:   30 June 2011
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Awaiting stock  
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Table of Contents

Preface Foreword by Walter Moberly Introduction If Jericho was Razed, is our Faith in Vain? Facing the historical problem: If Jericho was not razed,is our faith in vain? Facing the ethical problem: If Jericho was razed is our faith in vain? The Joshua Delusion? Remembering the forgotten pathways: Listening to Origen On Wearing Good Glasses: The Importance of Interpretation Turning to Anthropology for help Joshua, identity construction and herem Joshua as revelatory Scripture How do we know it's true? Clearing the Ground: Understanding Joshua as an Ancient Text The composition of Joshua Is Joshua a 'conquest account'? Understanding herem; Summary Reading Joshua Joshua 1 - 12: the conquest Joshua 13 - 22: the land Joshua 23 - 24: Israel's ongoing response Summary Reading Joshua as Christian Scripture Reading old texts in new contexts: Joshua in the canon The Interpretation of Joshua in the Christian tradition Taking the tradition forward Reading Joshua alongside the gospels Joshua and openness to 'the other' Joshua and genocide Summary So what? Joshua and history Joshua and salvation history Joshua and miracles Conclusion Response to Douglas Earl Response to Christopher J.H. Wright Endnotes Bibliography.

Reviews

'The fruits of Earl's approach are not dissimilar to the result of reading the book of Joshua as 'story'. His originality lies in the way he conscripts Turner and Kunin to bolster his case for reading it as myth. Readers who are prepared to follow him on the journey will find this a challenging and stimulating book, even if they disagree with him.' John J. Bimson in The Expository Times, Vol. 124 (1), October 2012 'These books [The Joshua Delusion? along with Reading Joshua as Christian Scripture, by the same author] are definitely worth reading. Earl's treatment of myth is useful, and his discussion of the narrative of Joshua is also quite helpful. [...] Also to be commended is his willingness, particularly in JD, to address issues which can be somewhat sensitive within his own Evangelical Christian community.' Anthony Milner in Gregorianum, Vol. 93 (2012).

'The fruits of Earl's approach are not dissimilar to the result of reading the book of Joshua as 'story'. His originality lies in the way he conscripts Turner and Kunin to bolster his case for reading it as myth. Readers who are prepared to follow him on the journey will find this a challenging and stimulating book, even if they disagree with him.' John J. Bimson in The Expository Times, Vol. 124 (1), October 2012

Author Information

Douglas Earl did his PhD on the book of Joshua at the University of Durham. He is author of Reading Joshua as Christian Scripture.

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