Is God a Moral Monster takes on the most challenging passages of Scripture that serve as ammo for hostile non-Christians and weights that burden the conscience of Bible-reading Christians. Copan addresses topics of atheism, slavery, conquest, misogyny, weird laws, and several more by helping the reader read between the lines to see God’s goodness in the midst of it all. Along the way, he subtly drops several keys to interpreting the challenging texts correctly that can be applied to any number of passages.
Overall Impression
This book is an excellent book for those wanting to know more about the viewpoint that defends God’s goodness in the Old Testament commands that seem bizarre or disturbing to us. Copan is extremely knowledgeable about the Old Testament and other ancient Near East literature which makes him apt to respond to such topics.
Favorite Quotes
The Old Testament presents us with several passages that can be disturbing, or at least confusing to modern 21st-century Christians. Many laws for Israel sound strange, foreign, or outright absurd. However, many of these laws make much more sense when we consider the context in which they were given. God chose and set apart a people group, the nation of Israel, to be His vessel and means of grace to the rest of the world. In order to be set apart from the rest of the nations, there were certain ways in which they should act set apart from other nations.
[God’s laws] were to be viewed first as visible reminders to live as God’s holy people in every area of life (74).
The Bible, especially the Old Testament, is a rich form of literature with complex themes, plots, and a variety of genres. Simply because a command or action is described in the Bible does not mean it is prescribed today. At the time the Bible was written, God was working out his purposes within the societal frameworks that were established by humans, his image-bearers. All nations, including Israel, had fallen short of God’s ideal. But it is His guidance that would give Israel commands and doctrines that were revolutionary to how they were used to viewing the world, while at the same time not too far-fetched to where they would have no understanding of what was being asked.
If human beings are to be treated as real human beings who possess the power of choice, then the “better way” must come gradually. Otherwise, they will exercise their freedom of choice and turn away from what they do not understand (61, citing Alden Thompson).
Humans tend to reject what is unfamiliar. The rejection of God based on Scripture most often comes from a lack of desire to engage and learn what the biblical text is actually accomplishing. It is unfortunate, that the “monster” many reject, is the all-loving God who created, loved, and suffered for those who reject Him.
The God whom the New Atheists consider a monster is not just a holy God to be reckoned with but a loving, self-sacrificing God who invites us to be reconciled to him (222).
Top Takeaways
- God has chosen to be relational with humans in establishing a partnership of dominion over the earth. He has given us the “dignity of causality” in which our intentions and actions have a real effect in making this world what it is.
- The resulting societal structures that we make and shape in the world are the structures and cultures that God chooses to work within.
- The Law of Israel contains significant improvements to ANE counterparts yet within the bounds of their ANE societal structures. This is to enable easier acceptance of such statutes while promoting advancement toward the ideal.
- God’s laws for Israel helped them practically experience deeper theological realities of being set apart as holy; providing physical reminders for them to fulfill their covenant with God.
- Case law does not imply approval (If _____ happens, then _____.)
- If an event is described in the Bible it does not mean it is prescribed today.
Disclaimer
Please note: If you liked this review or my linked summary, I encourage you to purchase the book. This review is meant to be a supplement to the book and certainly not a substitute.
