Is the God of the Old Testament Angry, Sexist and Racist? Book Review Example

The book God Behaving Badly: Is the God of the Old Testament Angry, Sexist, and Racist? written by David Lamb has some interesting analysis of the Bible’s Old Testament. The author David Lamb does a wonderful presentation and review of the Bible based on the current negative view that God is a jealous, angry spiteful and violent God. David Lamp approaches each area of the Old Testament in a nice easy to read chronological way that allows the reader to follow. In order to understand the analysis of the “God Behaving Badly” book by the author David Lamb it helps to understand the motives behind the man evaluating the Bibles Old Testament. This reason was shared in the first chapter. The primary reasons this book was written is because David Lamp was offended and appalled by the book “The God Delusion” by Richard Dawkins who describe God is such an obnoxious manner.

In defense of Richard Dawkins it is his right to express how he feels about any subject and his own personal values are his own values which he lives his life. However, David Lamb has the same freedom to express his opinions and beliefs as he responds to these beliefs that God is a spiteful God. Richard Dawkins describes the Old Testament ins this way in his book in Chapter 2,” The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty unjust; unforgiving control freak; a vindictive, blood thirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomachostic, carprciously malevolent bully”. (Dawkins 55). This analysis will be a neutral evaluation based on David Lamb interpretations but neither supporting David Lamb’s nor Richard Dawkins options. To achieve this goal, the paper will be divided into 8 sections representing Chapter 1 to Chapter 8.

Chapter 1

At risk of addressing some of the points made by Richard Dawkins about events that happen in the Old Testament to be true, nonetheless the author took on the literary challenge to present the bible in a different light. The very point that David Lamb makes in the opening chapter is to explain why the book was a best seller with many people all over the world has taken the time to view the book. David points out just because a human being selects read certain passage, books or materials does not suggest that that material is true nor does it mean numerically that they all support his opinion. His thoughts were Richard Dawkins book was an awakening to people that God is depicted in such an odious way. The sales were based on making such as horrible analyst that intrigue others like myself to read. The meaning of God is even negative in the views of the world of insurance. In most contracts, there is a clause called the “Acts of God which are all bad things that can happen such as hurricanes, lighting, earthquakes, and floods. David makes a very valid real point that people sign that document every day for contracts which states” An act of God refers to acts that our out of the human control” which you get the point.

The primary point that needs to be addressed is how God is portrayed in the Bibles Old Testament. Richard Dawkins first argument is a valid one. Anyone that reads the Bible regularly understands that God. There are moments in the bible where God appears angry with people not following the word of God. Is the parable meaning been overlooked in the reading of the Bibles Old Testament by Richard Dawkins? The things that are left out is how patient God is with the sinners or non-believers that never stops trying to convert them or comfort them. Nonetheless, the argument that God is mad cannot be ignored. This can be followed by the point that God may be misogynistic meaning exhibiting a hatred of women or the mistreatment of women. The illustration that is use to support his point is Sodom Town Square Lot offered up his daughters for rape but was never condemned in the Old Testament which suggest God is misogynistic. The primary point is made that God is a control freak that is a capriciously malevolent bully which David Lamb does not with the assessments. Many of the statements by Richard Dawkins are embellishments for entertainment purposes to get everyone to purchase the books. David Lamb believes all these atrocious statements made by God must be addressed.

David summarizes his answer in Chapter 1 indicating that first Richard Dawkins does not know how to read the bible. The reader must read the text seeking the four levels of understanding about how to interpret the text. The first thing that would be learned is God does things because of love not out of hatred. In the Old Testament the word “Love” is mentioned 180 times.  The reader has already started with a preconceived idea that God is spiteful which means everything that is read will support that frame of mind or thinking. The first level is understand the message while considering  what message was being sent to those people at that time in the Bible. The second level is God’s later messages such as his message when he was making the earth and his message after the earth was formed. The third level of interpretation is Gods signs or prophecies that clearly indicate God intentions of love and clarification in worship. The fourth is discern the message with applications that apply to living the Christian way of life. The bottom line the reason God is given a bad reputation is because the lack of learning how to read the bible from the heart. Richard Dawkins did not actual say in a few words that God did not exist only to say that God is a number of horrible adjectives. This suggest that subconsciously Richard Dawkins believes in God but just believes is too harsh on the people that his loves. Richard questions in the Old Testament the level of God’s love but never questions his existence.

Chapter 2

The perception of God being angry is relative to a parent who is angry at a child for breaking a rule. That parents have spent 18 years grooming, loving, supporting, and nurturing that child. These are emotions that parents feel when the child do not believe what they have been taught for years. This is the best parable to explain Gods angry and the result. How many times have children to come back later in their life thanking the parents for being harsh, truthful, punishers, chastising, and being hard. This is too simple according to David Lamb that others believe his explanation of Gods anger is love. However, there are some weakness in the defense of God being angry which David indicated he was aware this could happen. However, the primary response to Gods anger is explained by David Lamb.

David indicated that God is anger at humans for not following his word. The example that is used is Noah’s Ark which the Israelites were told that it was Gods words and signs that the world would be flooded. However, the Israelites went against God in four ways: The Ark was symbolic which God instructed the Israelites only the holy men priest should carry the Ark, it was ignored. The transport of the Ark was disobedient by God, the lack of belief of this event would happen and this opening disdain for Gods Ark.  David suggests that God is giving us examples of why things do not work out when we disregard God with disobedience.

Chapter 3

In Chapter 3, David addresses sexism as one the worst arguments because GOD created Adam and Eve. It is difficult to suggest that one was cursed over the women. However, in creation God created in the likeness of God, therefore, everyone has God in them. God created Adam and Eve based on the greatest God has given the world is “Love”. To suggest that God is a sexist because he created man first is an exaggeration on Gods meaning and intent. This supports the theory of being able to learn how to read the bible and interpret. In the suggestion of God being sexist mean one gender that is understood as having dominance over the other gender. The Bibles Old Testament has quite a few references about women that may appear to be discriminatory towards women. The response to sexism is the Bible shares the action or event, this does not mean that the Bible is advocating those activities or events. The Bibles Old Testament does describe events where women are treated unequally but that does not mean God condones it. Richard Dawkins has taken some societal issues while getting away from Gods intentions. God is focused on saving our souls not fixing society.  In response to Richard Dawkins the Bible is not sexist it has examples of both men and women in sin.

Chapter 4

David Lamb believes that God is a not racist. It is an illogical argument that has no merit. The Christians have been accused as being racist or encourage racism. However, just because the Christians encourage racism does not mean that God supports that position. In the Old Testament and the New Testament condones racism. The statements made by Richard Dawkins shows his level of biblical ignorance. This is judgment on a few verses that make God look racist instead of reading the Bible for its full meaning. All languages come from God and he is the redeemer of all men and women.

The remaining chapters have the same theme attacking Gods words in Chapter 5 is violence or peaceful God, Chapter 6 Legalistic or Gracious God, Chapter 7 Rigid or Flexible God, and Chapter 8 a Distant or Near God. Richard Dawkins is attacking the characteristics of the Bibles Old Testament lessons turning them into humanistic characteristics that should have no comparison with God our creator. David believes that the Old Testament provides historical and cultural background to shed light on problematic passages. The more the Bible is read the less ones understanding becomes about questions Gods intentions and respecting our creators cares about us through love not hatred.

Works Cited

Dawkins, R.The God delusion. Great Britain. Bantam Press.2006.Print

Lamb, D. (2011).God Behaving Badly: Is the God of the Old Testament Angry, Sexist and Racist? Westmont: IL, InterVarsity Press.