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The Evangelical Liberal is a blog to explore more open and liberated ways of being a Christian, particularly for those who have struggled to find their way within the evangelical tradition. Read more-
Recent Posts
- “Up, civil unrest!” (an Easter-ish reflection)
- Still Evangelical Liberal after all these years?
- Reasons to be hopeful?
- Covid questions – 3. What kind of God would send a pandemic?
- Covid questions – 2. Is it sent by God to punish sin?
- Covid questions – 1. Is it the end of the world?
- All together at the cross
- Does light overcome darkness?
- God bless America
- The Penitent Thief – a Good Friday reflection
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Tag Archives: Old Testament
The Bible – the Good Book, or a very bad book?
Before we get to inerrancy and inspiration, I’d like to look at the worst stuff in the Bible and the terrible uses Scripture has sometimes been put to. From one viewpoint, the Bible is a deeply troublesome set of books … Continue reading
Posted in Bible
Tagged Bible, evangelical, inerrancy, Marcion, Old Testament, Scripture, sexism, violence
24 Comments
‘Daddy, why was Abraham holding a knife to Isaac’s throat?’
This happy question was put to me recently by my (at the time) 5-year-old son. We were listening to a Michael Rosen poem about his childhood memories of being told Bible stories with the aid of coloured chalks, and of … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, Controversies, Evil, Love of God, Theology
Tagged Abraham, difficult questions, Genesis, Isaac, Michael Rosen, Old Testament, sacrifice, violence
10 Comments
Is God homicidal?
How do Christians square Old Testament bloodshed with the God who is Love? In my last post I ranted about the awfulness of atrocities depicted in the Old Testament, and questioned the character of the God who seemed to approve … Continue reading
Posted in Anger at God, Bible, Controversies, Evil, Heresy/blasphemy, Love of God, Suffering, The faith journey
Tagged genocide, God's love, holiness, homicidal, Old Testament
14 Comments
Hating the God you love (and loving the God you hate)
I’ve written before about swearing at God, and getting angry with God. But what do you do when, as a Christian, you feel passionate hatred and even revulsion towards God? I see myself as a worshipper; a longing for God … Continue reading