From the medieval crusades to the latest violence in the Middle East, warriors have long claimed the Bibles support for their battles. Patricia McDonald argues that many biblical stories, read as part of a canon from Genesis to Revelation, contain resources for turning violence to service of God and humanity. As varied and complex as life itself, these narratives can provide us with imaginative possibilities and steady motivation to move beyond the narrow defensiveness and self-interest that are becoming ever more problematic in an increasingly interconnected world. McDonald denies nothing of the violence present in the Bible, however, by careful, canonical reading she shows the ways in which violence in the Bible is characteristically overstated. This book is an act of courage that invites a wide and thoughtful reading. Walter Brueggemann
ISBN: 9780836192698 (2004) 374pp
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