Bloody, Brutal and Barbaric? Ep.1 Introduction and Slaughtering Children

Summary

In our inaugural episode, we give an overview of some of the biblical texts that talk about the slaughter of innocents and war rape that rightly cause us such ethical discomfort. Pushing through the awkwardness of never having done this before, we talk about what we hope to gain from reading this book and give an overview of the authors’ arguments, and talk about how hard questions sometimes emerge from deeper faith, and not skepticism. We also consider how we picture war, both ancient and modern, and consider to what degree Hollywood has affected our perceptions.

Show Notes

1) Our thanks and appreciation to our partners:

This podcast is a production of the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence.

https://www.csbvbristol.org.uk/

Podcast cover art by Studio of Broken Things

https://www.facebook.com/ISA4048

Intro music "Br1ghter" by Tape Machines, Le June, Nbhd Nick

2) Webb and Oeste’s list of troubling texts (p. 25 n. 1):

Genocide:

Num 21:2-3
Deut 2:34; 3:6; 7:2; 13:15; 20:16-17
Josh 6:21
1 Sam 15:3

War rape:

Num 31:17-18, 25
Deut 21:10-14

3) Also referenced in this episode were the stories in Joshua of Rahab (Josh. 2) and the Gibeonites (Josh. 9-10).

4) On the issue of whether there’s an angry God of the Old Testament, and a reformed, loving God in the New Testament, there are a number of good resources, such as the book by CSBV’s director Dr Helen Paynter, God of Violence Yesterday, God of Love Today? 

https://www.amazon.ca/God-Violence-Yesterday-Love-Today/dp/1532691033