| Title | : | The Atheist Handbook to the Old Testament: Volume 2 |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 449 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 2022 |
This book provides:
clear and straightforward explanations to complex topics
direct engagement with hot-button Old Testament issues
specific arguments to help you in a debate or discussion
Whether you are looking to debate problematic Old Testament issues on social media or have a relaxed, meaningful discussion with a family member over coffee, The Atheist Handbook to the Old Testament is an indispensable resource for you.
Praise for "The Atheist Handbook to the Old Testament, Volume Two":
The chapters detailing the conquest of Canaan and the Exodus from Egypt accurately summarize the current state of our knowledge and beliefs, and are written in an accessible and understandable way, making them an excellent resource for people who are interested in learning more about how the biblical narrative relates to our knowledge of ancient history. I would not hesitate to assign both chapters to my own students.
Dr. Eric H. Cline, Professor of Classics, History, and Anthropology and Director, GWU Capitol Archaeological Institute, The George Washington University
Joshua Bowen’s The Atheist Handbook to the Old Testament Volume Two will appeal to atheists and those of faith alike for its insightful examination of Scripture’s most problematic passages. Bowen’s approach to the topic is refreshing, for he encourages a respectful debate between atheists and believers over the historicity of the biblical narratives. In this book, Bowen presents an authoritative critique of Scripture’s historical and ethical claims based on the best and most recent scholarship, with a particular focus on textual and archaeological discoveries. He convincingly shows why a civil society cannot base its ethics on the ancient biblical texts.
Kenneth Atkinson, Professor of History, University of Northern Iowa
Dr. Bowen deftly distills Old Testament studies into a format accessible to those of us without a doctorate in the field. His book both tells and dismantles biblical stories, provides critical background and context, and helps us to enter discussions better informed and more prepared. It's essential reading.
Seth Andrews, Host of The Thinking Atheist podcast, author of "Confessions of a Former Fox News Christian", and "Christianity Made Me Talk Like an Idiot".
The Atheist Handbook to the Old Testament: Volume 2 Reviews
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This volume 2 is just as great, if not better, than volume 1! I highly recommend both books if you would like an overview of the Old Testament events and a better understanding of the time period and area where the events may have taken place.
If you decide to listen to this one as an audiobook, just know that Seth Andrews is a wonderful narrator.
Chapter One — The Story of the Old Testament: The Conquest to the Divided Monarchy
Chapter Two — A Brief History of Egypt
Chapter Three (Parts 1 and 2)— The Conquest of Canaan - Fact or Fiction? Archeology and the Origins of Israel
Chapter Four (Parts 1 and 2) — The Exodus from Egypt: What We Can and Cannot Say About It
Chapter Five (Parts 1 and 2) — “Your Eye Shall Have No Pity”: Old Testament Violence and Genocide
Chapter Six (Parts 1 and 2) — “Because He Has Deflowered Her”: Old Testament Laws on Adultery and Rape
Chapter Seven (Parts 1 and 2) — Did the Old Testament Plagarize?
Chapter Eight — Conclusion -
As everyone knows, the sequel rarely measures up to the original. In the case of the Atheist Handbook to the Old Testament, however, the second volume is even better than the first! After providing a historical synopsis of the OT, from the death of Moses to the early Israelite monarchies, as well as a brief overview of Egyptian history, Dr. Bowen deftly guides us through the debate over the historicity of the Israelite conquest of Canaan and the Exodus. He rigorously, objectively, and meticulously lays out the facts and the historical consensus regarding these two topics that are a staple in apologetics/counter-apologetic circles. Dr. Bowen then carefully transitions to two very sensitive issues in the Old Testament: violence (including genocide), and sexual misconduct (including rape). As is his wont, Dr. Bowen throughout the text explores these issues within the broader context of the Ancient Near East (ANE), as well as comparing and contrasting biblical legal codes with modern jurisprudence. As in the first volume, Dr. Bowen is circumspect and measured in his approach to these incendiary issues; he neither seeks to sensationalize nor polemicize: his only goal is clarity. Finally, Dr. Bowen concludes the book with a thorough discussion of plagiarism, borrowing, and mimesis in the Old Testament. As I wrote in my review of the first volume, this book isn’t a polemic for skeptics. Rather, it’s a neutral exploration of the Old Testament that anyone, from fundamentalist evangelist to armchair skeptic to seasoned biblical scholar would benefit from reading.
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I liked listening to both this book and Volume 1. This review will cover both.
- The Good
The content is very instructive and is something that both atheist and hard core Christians should grapple with. There were some things I had heard before, and some things I had not (child sacrifaces made to Yahweh?). It seems to be intended as a book accessible to non academics of reasonable education level, written about the Old Testament by an atheist (who used to be a believer) from the perspective of an atheist, in order to 1) give atheists information to use in coversation with apologists or 2) give apologists something to think about and take away some of their arguments. The author mentions a few times that he was a Christian but overall I think it is very balanced and factual, not a Dawkins/Hitchens style rant.
One helpful thing the books often do is look at the history, laws, and literature of the surrounding civilzations of that time period. For example, the author talks some about laws dealing with slavery in other nations like Assyria and Babylon, then compares them to laws in the Torah (spoiler - they aren't very different). Similarly for adultery and rape. Bowen is careful to point out the fact that the marital status of the woman is very important and makes a very compelling case that adultery and rape, both in the Ancient Near East in general in the Old Testament in particular, are generally crimes committed against a woman's husband or father. Even in the case of rape, it is not a crime committed against her but against her male supervisor. I think any Christian who has read the Olt Testament has had to squirm a few times and turn the page (I have) when confronting laws about slavery and rape. Bowen does a good job of collecting the laws into one place, telling the reader what they are, comparing them to other ANE countries, and letting the reader deal with it.
Volume 1 contains a lengthy introduction (well, lengthy for the lay reader) of the methods of archeology, then discusses the archeological findings of cities conquered in the Conquest of Canaan in the Torah and Joshua. The author states that there is very little agreement between the archeology and the text.
Similarly, Volume 2 contains a discussion of the Exodus, making the case that there is little evidence for 2 - 3 million people wondering through the desert for 40 years. One weakness of this section, in my opinion, is little discussion of the archeological and historical evidence of a large group of Isrealites living in Egypt for hundreds of years.
One thing he says several times is that Apologists will often say "Well, it is _possible_ that the literal interpretation is true." He responds by saying that the person who disagrees should say "Yeah, it is possible. But is it likely." This is a better way of conversations than simply shouting facts at each other.
-The Less Good
One point of irritation the reader or listener might have is that the writing style can be wordy and a little academic, and he tends to repeat himself. I suspect all the material could have been said in about 3/4 the number of words. Some of the summary of the Old Testament is overly detailed.
Another thing is that the order in which he deals with the history seems a little out of place and out of order. But if you can get past that, the books are very good.
One potential good side of the "academic" style of writing is that it keeps him on task of presenting the facts and the scholarly consensus, instead of sermonizing. He does sermonize a little, but not much, and those few times are easy to spot.
-Overall
Whether you are a Christian or Jewish Apologist or an Atheist who has conversations with Christians, I think the material in the book is something you should grapple with. To me, it seems well researched, balanced, and generally factual. -
Like the first volume, Vol. 2 is a useful blend of summaries of the Israelite Old Testament/Tanakh “sacred” texts, a discussion of how those writings affected the origins and development of the Jewish/christian religions, and a general history of the Ancient Near East (ANE) where that is relevant to those writings. In addition, Bowen explores what these writings say about a few specific topics including slavery, violence & genocide, adultery & rape, and how women were viewed/described in not just the biblical writings but in the ANE in general. Vol. 2 concludes with a section on “plagiarism” in the ancient world and how the Israelite writings/myths borrowed from the mythologies and legends of other ANE (and beyond) ideas. Like with Vol. 1, for atheist, agnostic, believer, or member of a different religious tradition, The Atheist Handbook can be a valuable tool for developing a deeper understanding of the world and context of these ancient writings.
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If you liked volume 1, you will definitely like volume 2. I really loved all the comparisons with other ancient near eastern texts. We get to see Assyrian and Hittite law codes that preceded the composition of the Bible. We also get a healthy dose of religion and myth texts, along with the explaining of cultural influence and exchange. Cognates, I'm always a sucker for a bit of cognate analysis. Can't escape a volume like this without an archaeological survey. Just a lot of great information.
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En præcis og omfattende gennemgang af det gamle Testamente, set ud fra moderne bibelstudier. Kan godt grænse til det kedelige, med mange opsamlinger, men det gør i mine øjne også det mere troværdigt, og nemmere at huske. Værd at tjekke ud, både for troede og ikke troende. Langt det meste af den er en objektiv gennemgang af feltet, fra en ekspert på området.
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Fantastic read
Dr Josh never fails. His discourse is not only brilliant but easy to read and understand. He manages to fit a ton of academic information in a relatively small format. This book is a definite must-have for anyone who is a true seeker of knowledge
