Next Religious Studies Department Brown-Bag: Violence in the Bible

The Department of Religious Studies
Brown Bag Lunch Colloquium Series
University of Pittsburgh
Presents
Violence in the Bible
Jerome Creach
Robert C. Holland Professor of Old Testament
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
April 11, 2012
12:00 Noon
2628 Cathedral of Learning
Coffee and cookies provided
The presentation will address the problem of biblical texts that present God acting destructively and apparently approving the violent behavior of others. Drawing from the rich tradition of interpreting the Bible figuratively, the presentation will suggest that such a reading of many problematic texts is actually closer to the original intent of those texts than the reading often given by modern critical scholars. Among the topics addressed will be the problem of the conquest (Joshua 1-12) and the ban (Deuteronomy 7:1-5) and God's ongoing battle with the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8-16).
Jerome Creach is the author of five books on the Psalms and Prophets. His new work on violence in the Bible will appear in the series Interpretation: Resources for the Use of Scripture in the Church (Westminster John Knox Press, forthcoming 2013).