Is God a Moral Monster? cover art

Is God a Moral Monster?

Making Sense of the Old Testament God

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Is God a Moral Monster?

By: Paul Copan
Narrated by: Claton Butcher
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About this listen

Leading apologetics writer with a proven track record tackles the most difficult Old Testament passages and topics, helping listeners to reconcile the God of righteousness with the God of love.

©2011 Paul Copan (P)2016 Baker Publishing Group Bible Study Bibles & Bible Study Christianity Judaism Sacred Writing Spirituality Middle East Morality
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A lot of very deep fundamental what-I-thought-were-problems in the bible are treated with very clear, and balanced, analysis. The issues are shown to be very different in nature than they seen at first glance.

Paul doesn’t cop out, hand wave or skim over any of the issues. It feels like the arguments for each issue that have been called out by skeptics in the past have a more natural fit / answer through the lens Paul brings. Although I’m sure some could benefit from even more probing, the level of assessment is still very satisfactory and more than enough to assure the reader that it is very reasonable - more reasonable in fact - to understand that God is not the moral monster they may have thought him to be.

Paul’s non-inflammatory and measured assessment makes it a very suitable resource for many purposes. It’s a reference book for a believer to deepen their knowledge of God or to learn a broader context for apologetics; but can easily serve as a gift to a skeptic / atheist who is open to challenging their own thinking .

Extremely insightful and measured

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Solid discussion on the character of God and the laws in the old testament.
It would be nice if audible could add chapter titles.

Engaging and insight

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I enjoyed the organisation and content. I think everyone can learn something from this book. Probably a key lesson is that just because it is reported in the bible doesn't mean God likes it. Also seek the root meaning of controversial words and don't just rely on translations. Deeper reading of the scriptures will be always be rewarded and this book will help you look deeper.

an important contribution to the debate

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The book points out various claims by people and continues to deal with such claims and sees if they are true or not, most of which turn out to be Misrepresentations, strawman fallacies, or haven't considered other relevant data.
This book is easy to understand, and I'd put it at the age of 15+ readers

Informational and Academic

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If you’re looking at this title for a potential purchase and you’ve gotten to the point where you’re reading reviews, chances are this book is going to scratch that itch. I’m pretty picky with audiobooks and am frequently disappointed by either the reader or the materials failure to convert well to audio, but this one really hit every mark.

The content is fantastic as well, unless of course you mistook this books title as an argument for God being a moral monster. Paul Copan is exceptionally informed and is a great communicator of big concepts, dealing with the issues presented in the book fairly and thoroughly.

I highly recommend this audiobook (or a hard copy) to anyone who is troubled by some of the fierce opposition they have surely witnessed at the hands of a semi-informed unbeliever. I’d also recommend it to anyone who would like a better understanding of their faith and it’s historical roots, and certainly the open minded unbeliever willing to challenge their unbelief.

Well worth it.

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A great time deep dive into some of the aspects of biblical history both before and after Christ.
Much of the bible can be offensive to our modern day sensibilities and it is great to get into it.

Great writing and great narration.

Very insightful

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God fearing,
Character building,
And heart challenging.
Paul's argument against the many common Atheist arguments are grounded in systematic theology and the heart of the biblical texts.
As a mature christian, environmental scientist, and teacher on many of these topics to kids in outdoor education, this would have to be one of the best broading reads of OT texts, and true God fearing charter I have read.
Growing up in the west we have so many culture thoughts and preseptions on many faiths and way we live, but realising how wrong we have God's heart is only a true testament to our brokenness.

Highly recommend the read to those of any faith with these questions, as this will deepen a depiction of Yahweh with a new perspective on his involvement with humanity and we're we have come as a people and why God has our best intentions.

God's perspective is far beyond our mere understanding.

Compelling evidence and depiction of Yahweh heart.

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I’ve really enjoyed the breadth and depth of Paul’s book -and of the depth of study and honest wrestling on it evidences. He faces all the “hard, challenging stuff” within Scripture and provides really helpful overviews that place each challenge both in the context of THE WHOLE of Scripture, and also of the cultures round about.

This is not a reactive or threatened response to the challenges both followers and not-yet-followers of Jesus inevitably have as they read certain passages in the pages of both Old and New Testaments; instead it’s a thoughtful, considered, progressive response which seeks above all to place everything in the context of the character of God as He reveals Himself: one who made and live ALL mankind, regardless of ethnicity, choice or even its acceptance of Him. In fact, God’s choice to live His enemies is fully explored in every one of the passages we may initially find “morally challenging”. He answers what He can, and opens valuable and valid questions, along with positive avenues of thought, in places where definitive answers aren’t possible.

Thank you Paul.

Honest wrestling without shirking

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