Dr. Cole - thank you for this response. Agreed that the bible has been used to lend authority to horrific deeds. However, are you aware of the consensus among biblical scholars (Christian and otherwise) that the stories of which polygamy and concubinage are a part amount to an unambiguous 'narrative denunciation' of such actions? These ancient authors/editors knew that a well-told denunciatory story had far more rhetorical force and moral power than a baldly stated rule. As for your claim that the bible played no role in the reversal of 'modern slavery' (which was not in existence for 1863 years!), I merely point to William Wilberforce's role in shifting western slavery politics and the motivating impact of the New Testament Scriptures on his own untiring campaign. For the record, I don't do apologetics. But I do look forward to continue learning from you on other topics about which you offer informed comment.
Dear Dr. Cole, I have been following your blog for some time and appreciate hearing your perspective on almost all things - except Christian/Jewish Scripture. Some all-too-obvious rejoinders to your five points: 1) Scripture condemns Solomon's actions even more strongly than you do; 2) the Apostle Paul's letter to Philemon initiated the overthrow of modern slavery, and the bible nowhere advocates submission to sexual mistreatment; 3) the book of Genesis puts Abraham's actions here on par with Adam's (Gen 16:2-3: 'listened...take...gave' - cf. Gen 3:17, 6-7)...again, it condemns them far more strongly than you do; 4) agreed! these laws sound very odd to our ears, because they deal with succession, not marriage; 5) this is baffling. are you advocating involuntary castration?! (notice: the law does not prohibit her from punching him, pulling his hair, banging his head with a pot, running him over with a camel, etc...)
Dr. Cole - thank you for this response. Agreed that the bible has been used to lend authority to horrific deeds. However, are you aware of the consensus among biblical scholars (Christian and otherwise) that the stories of which polygamy and concubinage are a part amount to an unambiguous 'narrative denunciation' of such actions? These ancient authors/editors knew that a well-told denunciatory story had far more rhetorical force and moral power than a baldly stated rule. As for your claim that the bible played no role in the reversal of 'modern slavery' (which was not in existence for 1863 years!), I merely point to William Wilberforce's role in shifting western slavery politics and the motivating impact of the New Testament Scriptures on his own untiring campaign. For the record, I don't do apologetics. But I do look forward to continue learning from you on other topics about which you offer informed comment.
Dear Dr. Cole, I have been following your blog for some time and appreciate hearing your perspective on almost all things - except Christian/Jewish Scripture. Some all-too-obvious rejoinders to your five points: 1) Scripture condemns Solomon's actions even more strongly than you do; 2) the Apostle Paul's letter to Philemon initiated the overthrow of modern slavery, and the bible nowhere advocates submission to sexual mistreatment; 3) the book of Genesis puts Abraham's actions here on par with Adam's (Gen 16:2-3: 'listened...take...gave' - cf. Gen 3:17, 6-7)...again, it condemns them far more strongly than you do; 4) agreed! these laws sound very odd to our ears, because they deal with succession, not marriage; 5) this is baffling. are you advocating involuntary castration?! (notice: the law does not prohibit her from punching him, pulling his hair, banging his head with a pot, running him over with a camel, etc...)