God of the Old Testament Exposed is highly engaging as it presents compelling arguments suggesting that the Bible was written by fallible humans with specific agendas. It draws parallels between the ancient peoples who became the Israelites and other groups in our modern world. These comparisons help illustrate how a warring people in Bible times might choose a fearsome god to represent them, despite also describing God as loving and compassionate. This presents a contradiction, especially when considering the acts of violence attributed to God throughout the Old Testament, including commands for blood sacrifices and filicide.
The author argues that these stories of blood sacrifice, often overlooked by Christians, reflect the violent histories of the peoples who wrote the original texts of the Old Testament. He compares this to his own history of a fierce people defending themselves as superior to the majority population and stood firm against global criticism. A similar warlike attitude of survival and being the only chosen people helps the reader see why both populations might believe in a fierce god who demands blind loyalty and requires sacrifice as proof of faith.
The author's personal story guides us through how a community under threat would shape their image of themselves into a fierce rather than peaceful God. The narrative then shifts to Jesus, questioning the traditional view of blood sacrifices, which challenges conventional Christian teachings presenting Jesus as such a blood sacrifice.
The book is thought-provoking, making you reconsider the version of God that many have been taught to fear and love. It was a bit scary or "triggering" as it questions the very nature of God. As it is a controversial subject, it is good that the author uses many references to connect readers to direct sources. This certainly builds trust as does his own story.
The delivery of the material in ways which first start opening a crack where you might examine what you have been taught and then give you more and more evidence so that you are willing to challenge what you learned is a smart way to structure the book. In the end, you might feel quite shook-up, as you realised you had not examined, only accepted, the version of God passed down through Sunday school, worship, and holiday gatherings.
Overall, it's a compelling book that challenges established religious beliefs and prompts deep reflection on who God really is.
