Exploring Violence in the Old Testament

The podcast delves into the controversy surrounding the perceived violence in the Old Testament and how some view the God depicted in these texts as angry or vindictive compared to the more loving portrayal of God in the New Testament through Jesus. The guest, Dr. Paul Copan, argues that the allegations made by atheists, like Richard Dawkins, misrepresent the complexities of the Old Testament narratives. By drawing attention to the use of hyperbolic language in ancient war texts, Copan illustrates how descriptions of total annihilation often employed exaggeration rather than indicating actual events. He emphasizes the necessity to approach these texts with an understanding of historical context and the literary conventions of the time.