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God: The Most Unpleasant Character in All Fiction
What words come to mind when we think of God? Merciful? Just? Compassionate? In fact, the Bible lays out God’s primary qualities clearly: jealous, petty, unforgiving, bloodthirsty, vindictive—and worse! Originally conceived as a joint presentation between influential thinker and bestselling author Richard Dawkins and former evangelical preacher Dan Barker, this unique book provides an investigation into what may be the most unpleasant character in all fiction. Barker combs through both the Old and New Testament (as well as thirteen different editions of the “Good Book”), presenting powerful evidence for why the Scripture shouldn’t govern our everyday lives. This witty, well-researched book suggests that we should move past the Bible and clear a path to a kinder and more thoughtful world.
310 pages, Hardcover
First published April 5, 2016
285 people are currently reading
2156 people want to read
About the author
Dan Barker
22 books187 followersDaniel Edwin Barker is an American atheist activist and musician who served as an evangelical Christian preacher and composer for 19 years but left Christianity in 1984. He and his wife Annie Laurie Gaylor are the current co-presidents of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. He has written numerous articles the organization's newspaper Freethought Today. He is the author of several books including Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist. Barker has been an invited speaker at Rock Beyond Belief. He is on the speakers bureau of the Secular Student Alliance.
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August 15, 2019
God: The Most Unpleasant Character in All Fiction by Dan Barker and Richard Dawkins
“God: The Most Unpleasant Character in All Fiction” is an expose of “God’s” true qualities based on the very book that attempts to describe “Him”. Taking a page from Richard Dawkins, former evangelist minister and co-president of the Freedom from Religion Foundation, Dan Barker takes the readers on a journey through the Bible and during this trip he clearly describes the “Lord Jealous”. This provocative 322-page book includes twenty-eight chapters broken out by two parts: Part 1. Dawkins Was Right and Part II. Dawkins Was Too Kind.
Positives:
1. Well-researched, well-written book. Barker takes glee in exposing the character of “God”.
2. The fascinating topic of the characterization of “God” through analyzing the Bible. “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, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully.”
3. The chapters are broken out by character traits. Each chapter begins with a biblical appropriate passage. “A jealous and avenging God is the Lord, the Lord is avenging and wrathful.” —Nahum 1:2”
4. Barker knows the Bible with mastery and provides countless biblical passages that clearly supports his main points. “He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering.” (Genesis 22:2)”
5. So many biblical passages that will make your head spin. “Leviticus 19:28 “You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh on account of the dead or tattoo any marks upon you: I am the Lord.”
6. Traits of an unjust “God”. “Exodus 22:18 “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.””
7. The concept of hell. “The concept of eternal Hell, a truly infinite lack of forgiveness, does not occur until the New Testament, thanks to Jesus.”
8. Many examples of “God’s” Type-A micromanagement.
9. Traits of a vindictive “God”. “Deuteronomy 32:35 “The Lord says, … ‘I will take revenge; I will pay them back. In due time their feet will slip. Their day of disaster will arrive, and their destiny will overtake them.’””
10. The bloodthirsty lord. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you for making atonement for your lives on the altar; for, as life, it is the blood that makes atonement. (Leviticus 17:11)”
11. Threatening nonbelievers, so cruel. “2 Chronicles 15:13 “All who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, were to be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman.””
12. Ethnic cleanser of biblical proportions. “Go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey. (1 Samuel 15:3)”
13. Misogyny and plenty of it. “Deuteronomy 22:28–29 “If a man meets a virgin who is not betrothed, and seizes her and lies with her, and they are found, then the man who lay with her shall give to the father of the young woman fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife, because he has violated her; he may not put her away all his days.” RSV (You broke it, you buy it.)”
14. So anti-gay. “Leviticus 20:13 “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death; their blood is upon them.””
15. The Bible endorses slavery, how terrible. “Leviticus 25:44–46 “As for your male and female slaves whom you may have: you may buy male and female slaves from among the nations that are round about you. You may also buy from among the strangers [NRSV: “aliens”] who sojourn with you and their families that are with you, who have been born in your land; and they may be your property.””
16. Examples of infanticide. “O daughter Babylon, you devastator! Happy shall they be who pay you back what you have done to us! Happy shall they be who take your little ones and dash them against the rock! (Psalm 137:8–9)”
17. Examples of megalomania. ““So I will display my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.” —Ezekiel 38:23””
18. Examples of malevolence. ““I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.” —Isaiah 45:7, KJV”
19. Just a plain old bully. “But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let the Israelites go. (Exodus 10:20)”
20. Examples of flame-happy “God”. “Leviticus 21:9 “And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.” KJV (Notice that her “crime” is profaning her father.)”
21. And so much more.
Negatives:
1. I wanted more expert commentary from Barker.
2. I would have added a section on how the Bible came together and the different versions.
3. No notes or links.
In summary, I enjoyed this book. It will serve as an excellent reference when I debate my Christian friends. Barker has great command of the topic and even takes glee in exposing what are clearly difficult and realistic characterizations of the biblical “God”. Provocative and what must be difficult for Christians to digest, this is the word of “God”. I recommend it.
Further recommendations: “The God Delusion” by Richard Dawkins, “The Religion Virus” by James A. Craig, “50 Reasons People Give For Believing in a God” by Guy P. Harrison, “The God Virus: How Religion Infects Our Lives and Culture” by Darrel W. Ray, “End of Faith” by Sam Harris, “Faith No More: Why People Reject religion” by Phil Zuckerman, “Atheism Advanced” by David Eller, “Why We Believe In God(s): A Concise Guide to the Science of Faith” by J. Anderson Thomson Jr., “The Believing Brain” by Michael Shermer, and “Why I Became An Atheist” by John W. Loftus.
“God: The Most Unpleasant Character in All Fiction” is an expose of “God’s” true qualities based on the very book that attempts to describe “Him”. Taking a page from Richard Dawkins, former evangelist minister and co-president of the Freedom from Religion Foundation, Dan Barker takes the readers on a journey through the Bible and during this trip he clearly describes the “Lord Jealous”. This provocative 322-page book includes twenty-eight chapters broken out by two parts: Part 1. Dawkins Was Right and Part II. Dawkins Was Too Kind.
Positives:
1. Well-researched, well-written book. Barker takes glee in exposing the character of “God”.
2. The fascinating topic of the characterization of “God” through analyzing the Bible. “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, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully.”
3. The chapters are broken out by character traits. Each chapter begins with a biblical appropriate passage. “A jealous and avenging God is the Lord, the Lord is avenging and wrathful.” —Nahum 1:2”
4. Barker knows the Bible with mastery and provides countless biblical passages that clearly supports his main points. “He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering.” (Genesis 22:2)”
5. So many biblical passages that will make your head spin. “Leviticus 19:28 “You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh on account of the dead or tattoo any marks upon you: I am the Lord.”
6. Traits of an unjust “God”. “Exodus 22:18 “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.””
7. The concept of hell. “The concept of eternal Hell, a truly infinite lack of forgiveness, does not occur until the New Testament, thanks to Jesus.”
8. Many examples of “God’s” Type-A micromanagement.
9. Traits of a vindictive “God”. “Deuteronomy 32:35 “The Lord says, … ‘I will take revenge; I will pay them back. In due time their feet will slip. Their day of disaster will arrive, and their destiny will overtake them.’””
10. The bloodthirsty lord. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you for making atonement for your lives on the altar; for, as life, it is the blood that makes atonement. (Leviticus 17:11)”
11. Threatening nonbelievers, so cruel. “2 Chronicles 15:13 “All who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, were to be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman.””
12. Ethnic cleanser of biblical proportions. “Go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey. (1 Samuel 15:3)”
13. Misogyny and plenty of it. “Deuteronomy 22:28–29 “If a man meets a virgin who is not betrothed, and seizes her and lies with her, and they are found, then the man who lay with her shall give to the father of the young woman fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife, because he has violated her; he may not put her away all his days.” RSV (You broke it, you buy it.)”
14. So anti-gay. “Leviticus 20:13 “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death; their blood is upon them.””
15. The Bible endorses slavery, how terrible. “Leviticus 25:44–46 “As for your male and female slaves whom you may have: you may buy male and female slaves from among the nations that are round about you. You may also buy from among the strangers [NRSV: “aliens”] who sojourn with you and their families that are with you, who have been born in your land; and they may be your property.””
16. Examples of infanticide. “O daughter Babylon, you devastator! Happy shall they be who pay you back what you have done to us! Happy shall they be who take your little ones and dash them against the rock! (Psalm 137:8–9)”
17. Examples of megalomania. ““So I will display my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.” —Ezekiel 38:23””
18. Examples of malevolence. ““I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.” —Isaiah 45:7, KJV”
19. Just a plain old bully. “But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let the Israelites go. (Exodus 10:20)”
20. Examples of flame-happy “God”. “Leviticus 21:9 “And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.” KJV (Notice that her “crime” is profaning her father.)”
21. And so much more.
Negatives:
1. I wanted more expert commentary from Barker.
2. I would have added a section on how the Bible came together and the different versions.
3. No notes or links.
In summary, I enjoyed this book. It will serve as an excellent reference when I debate my Christian friends. Barker has great command of the topic and even takes glee in exposing what are clearly difficult and realistic characterizations of the biblical “God”. Provocative and what must be difficult for Christians to digest, this is the word of “God”. I recommend it.
Further recommendations: “The God Delusion” by Richard Dawkins, “The Religion Virus” by James A. Craig, “50 Reasons People Give For Believing in a God” by Guy P. Harrison, “The God Virus: How Religion Infects Our Lives and Culture” by Darrel W. Ray, “End of Faith” by Sam Harris, “Faith No More: Why People Reject religion” by Phil Zuckerman, “Atheism Advanced” by David Eller, “Why We Believe In God(s): A Concise Guide to the Science of Faith” by J. Anderson Thomson Jr., “The Believing Brain” by Michael Shermer, and “Why I Became An Atheist” by John W. Loftus.
November 4, 2024
Wow. My mind is reeling from the sheer atrociousness of the Christian god. It's been murder, rape and blood spatter for nearly 16 hours of audio book - all in the name of god, or committed directly by the almighty himself. You can of course pick up any bible and start to actually read it, you won't get far before the jealous god begins to assert himself, or you can have a look here:
https://www.salon.com/2014/05/31/11_k...
I never understood the book of Job. I understand it even less now - god lets the devil bet that Job won't love god if all his worldly possessions, he won't still love god. To prove his point, god LETS the devil run with it. There is no moral lesson here. You must love god, and if you do, he will let you suffer. Right.
When I was 10 or 11 years old I set out to read the grown-up version of the Bible. I cannot believe my educated parents - bible translators at the time - let me. They cannot possibly have been ignorant to the horrors I would encounter. So perhaps I might not know exactly that when two angels came to visit Lot in Sodom and the population demanded that the handsome strangers and "know them" that meant having sex with them. But surely I understood that he protected the strangers rather than his daughters, that he threw out in their stead.
Hopefully I didn't really understand this part on cannibalism either: "And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow. So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son...." (II Kings 6:28-29)
I do remember thinking that god overreacted here though: 'Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some boys came out of the town and jeered at him. "Get out of here, baldy!" they said. "Get out of here, baldy!" He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.' 2 Kings 2:23-25 NIV
So sure, I knew what the bible contained. I even remarked, at an attempt to be converted by Mormons when I was 18, that I commented that the god of the new testament and the old testament are so different they should be different deities and not one. (Even after this, it took me more than ten years to leave the baptist version of christianity I was raised in behind.) Nonetheless, despite knowing my bible fairly well and the new testament exceedingly well, I was shocked. It reads like a horror story and I got to read the adult version of it as a child! Furthermore, it wasn't appreciated when I started reading Stephen King and other horror authors as a teen. None of the evil portrayed in standard fiction comes even close to the Christian god. I was primed to enjoy it, after hours upon hours with the old testament a few years before.
The author briefly touches on the new testament, mainly to make the point that Jesus says he is god and as such he is jealous and vindictive and full of bloodlust. Jesus proclaims to this in John, which is the last of the gospels and thus the one farthest removed from the actual historical person. This is perhaps the only weak point of the book, but honestly, at that point you're kind of tired of death and damnation anyway.
Up until now I have been fairly content to be respectful of religion and to keep my atheist views to myself - aside from this one arena. However, from this point forward, keeping my tongue in check when hearing friends and acquaintances speak of "the love of good" and mean it, will be exceedingly difficult. God doesn't love anyone or anything, he hates in abundance though. It wouldn't matter, since he doesn't exist, the trouble is that so many live their lives as if he did and think free thinkers are the immoral ones.
If you think the author and I are completely wrong, just pick up the bible yourself and start reading from the beginning. Enjoy! I hope you like horror stories.
https://www.salon.com/2014/05/31/11_k...
I never understood the book of Job. I understand it even less now - god lets the devil bet that Job won't love god if all his worldly possessions, he won't still love god. To prove his point, god LETS the devil run with it. There is no moral lesson here. You must love god, and if you do, he will let you suffer. Right.
When I was 10 or 11 years old I set out to read the grown-up version of the Bible. I cannot believe my educated parents - bible translators at the time - let me. They cannot possibly have been ignorant to the horrors I would encounter. So perhaps I might not know exactly that when two angels came to visit Lot in Sodom and the population demanded that the handsome strangers and "know them" that meant having sex with them. But surely I understood that he protected the strangers rather than his daughters, that he threw out in their stead.
Hopefully I didn't really understand this part on cannibalism either: "And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow. So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son...." (II Kings 6:28-29)
I do remember thinking that god overreacted here though: 'Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some boys came out of the town and jeered at him. "Get out of here, baldy!" they said. "Get out of here, baldy!" He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.' 2 Kings 2:23-25 NIV
So sure, I knew what the bible contained. I even remarked, at an attempt to be converted by Mormons when I was 18, that I commented that the god of the new testament and the old testament are so different they should be different deities and not one. (Even after this, it took me more than ten years to leave the baptist version of christianity I was raised in behind.) Nonetheless, despite knowing my bible fairly well and the new testament exceedingly well, I was shocked. It reads like a horror story and I got to read the adult version of it as a child! Furthermore, it wasn't appreciated when I started reading Stephen King and other horror authors as a teen. None of the evil portrayed in standard fiction comes even close to the Christian god. I was primed to enjoy it, after hours upon hours with the old testament a few years before.
The author briefly touches on the new testament, mainly to make the point that Jesus says he is god and as such he is jealous and vindictive and full of bloodlust. Jesus proclaims to this in John, which is the last of the gospels and thus the one farthest removed from the actual historical person. This is perhaps the only weak point of the book, but honestly, at that point you're kind of tired of death and damnation anyway.
Up until now I have been fairly content to be respectful of religion and to keep my atheist views to myself - aside from this one arena. However, from this point forward, keeping my tongue in check when hearing friends and acquaintances speak of "the love of good" and mean it, will be exceedingly difficult. God doesn't love anyone or anything, he hates in abundance though. It wouldn't matter, since he doesn't exist, the trouble is that so many live their lives as if he did and think free thinkers are the immoral ones.
If you think the author and I are completely wrong, just pick up the bible yourself and start reading from the beginning. Enjoy! I hope you like horror stories.
June 3, 2017
"And now, reading the foreward: Richard Dawkins".
Yes, I know you groaned. I groaned too. We all groaned. It was uncharacteristically brief, then enter, stage right, Dan Barker, who proceeds to explain how he's pretty much the opposite of a born-again Christian in that he was once real into God, as a minister, then quit that lame shit and proceeded to become a proto-neckbeard.
I made it a quarter of the way through the book because it got monotonous. Barker kept announcing "And now, ladies and gentlemen, irrefutable proof that God is a DICK!" and then unveiling bible quote after bible quote with the showmanship of a Vegas stage magician. You could almost hear the "VOILA!"s.
Like, I know, dude.
"Ah, perhaps! But did you know that he told Abraham to BURN HIS SON! VOILA!"
Yeah, man. Everybody knows that.
"How about when those kids called Elisha bald and God sent SHE-BEARS TO KILL THEM ALL! VOILA!"
Yeah. He's a total prick but this is also not news.
"Well! What about... when... he DROWNED THE EARTH!"
Really, fam? You're trying to shock me with Noah's Ark?
"THE DEVIL ONLY KILLED TEN PEOPLE! VOILA!"
I know. I am like the foremost defender of the Devil. And those were all hired jobs.
"GOD TOLD HIM TO, VOILA!"
I just... yeah. I just said that.
"HE SAYS RIGHT IN THE TEN COMMANDMENTS "for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous"! MAYBE... MAYBE WE SHOULDN'T CALL HIM GOD, OR YAHWEH! MAYBE WE SHOULD CALL HIM JEALOUS! VOILA!"
Oh, dude, this is getting sad.
"Wait! Don't you want to hear about the cotton-linen blends?"
Look, I gotta go. Thanks for... quoting really well-known scripture at me for two hours, I guess.
Yes, I know you groaned. I groaned too. We all groaned. It was uncharacteristically brief, then enter, stage right, Dan Barker, who proceeds to explain how he's pretty much the opposite of a born-again Christian in that he was once real into God, as a minister, then quit that lame shit and proceeded to become a proto-neckbeard.
I made it a quarter of the way through the book because it got monotonous. Barker kept announcing "And now, ladies and gentlemen, irrefutable proof that God is a DICK!" and then unveiling bible quote after bible quote with the showmanship of a Vegas stage magician. You could almost hear the "VOILA!"s.
Like, I know, dude.
"Ah, perhaps! But did you know that he told Abraham to BURN HIS SON! VOILA!"
Yeah, man. Everybody knows that.
"How about when those kids called Elisha bald and God sent SHE-BEARS TO KILL THEM ALL! VOILA!"
Yeah. He's a total prick but this is also not news.
"Well! What about... when... he DROWNED THE EARTH!"
Really, fam? You're trying to shock me with Noah's Ark?
"THE DEVIL ONLY KILLED TEN PEOPLE! VOILA!"
I know. I am like the foremost defender of the Devil. And those were all hired jobs.
"GOD TOLD HIM TO, VOILA!"
I just... yeah. I just said that.
"HE SAYS RIGHT IN THE TEN COMMANDMENTS "for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous"! MAYBE... MAYBE WE SHOULDN'T CALL HIM GOD, OR YAHWEH! MAYBE WE SHOULD CALL HIM JEALOUS! VOILA!"
Oh, dude, this is getting sad.
"Wait! Don't you want to hear about the cotton-linen blends?"
Look, I gotta go. Thanks for... quoting really well-known scripture at me for two hours, I guess.
July 3, 2016
I received a copy of this book through the Goodreads First Reads giveaway program in the hopes that I would leave an honest review.
This book served to reinforce my preconceived notion that religion is merely a means to explain things that society doesn't understand. But it also showed me that it was used as a way to control a group of people (and has continued to do so for thousands of years to an extent). And it confirmed for me that a theocracy based on a literal interpretation of the Bible would be just as violent and wrong as some of the theocracies that employ Sharia law today.
I would honestly recommend this book to everyone. I think it would help to show Christians why there is an increasing number of people who are skeptical of Christianity and why it is difficult for those same people to accept moral outrage based on the Bible. And non-religious people will likely enjoy it because it reinforces their pre-conceived notions (like me).
My one complaint is that I wish the book included more commentary from the author. It would have broken up the monotony of the lists of Bible verses that demonstrate each negative characteristic a little bit.
4 out of 5 stars.
Review originally posted on Just Another Girl and Her Books blog
http://www.justanothergirlandherbooks...
This book served to reinforce my preconceived notion that religion is merely a means to explain things that society doesn't understand. But it also showed me that it was used as a way to control a group of people (and has continued to do so for thousands of years to an extent). And it confirmed for me that a theocracy based on a literal interpretation of the Bible would be just as violent and wrong as some of the theocracies that employ Sharia law today.
I would honestly recommend this book to everyone. I think it would help to show Christians why there is an increasing number of people who are skeptical of Christianity and why it is difficult for those same people to accept moral outrage based on the Bible. And non-religious people will likely enjoy it because it reinforces their pre-conceived notions (like me).
My one complaint is that I wish the book included more commentary from the author. It would have broken up the monotony of the lists of Bible verses that demonstrate each negative characteristic a little bit.
4 out of 5 stars.
Review originally posted on Just Another Girl and Her Books blog
http://www.justanothergirlandherbooks...
March 12, 2016
I thought this book would be interesting because the title comes from Richard Dawkins' "The God Delusion." Dan Barker is not Richard Dawkins. Neither is he Christopher Hitchens or Michael Shermer - all authors that I admire. Basically this is a concordance of often repeated Bible quotes with little or no interpretation provided to prove the author's point. Don't waste your time.
February 7, 2017
The Lord Jealous.
"For you shall worship no other god, because the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous god..."
- Exodus 34:14
From the get-go Dan's dry humor about the god from the bible drew me in. Throughout the book he points out the inconsistencies and downright weird crap in the bible's numerous passages (not to mention numerous versions), and he uses versus from the Old and New Testament to support the claim of Lord Jealous being:
"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, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully."
- Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion
This is not a book for those who believe in this god or even the bible as anything more than fictional historical accounts by ancient civilizations, if you couldn't tell.
Dan goes through each trait Dawkin's subscribed to Lord Jealous, and adds a few of his own at the end. Right from the beginning he warns the reader some pages will be a little much to read in one sitting, and he recommends scanning through at first and coming back later. In my ignorance I was determined to read through every single verse he gave me to understand his arguments.
Yeah. Um... After three pages of pure verses on how fire-happy the god of the bible was I took his recommendation and skimmed. I will be going through later and re-reading - and I look forward to it!
Dan's understanding of the bible is a huge help throughout this book - he used to be a preacher - and there are many points he can make that someone with a lesser innate knowledge of the books and how the verses work would be able to.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for arguments the religious will make about "taking it out of context" and for a better understanding of why the bible is not a great moral compass - and while this won't happen I'd also recommend it to anyone who does believe in the bible's god. To better understand the religion a solid take on what is good and bad about it is needed.
Any religious sort who does has my admiration, regardless if they agree with Dan or not.
I wish I would have read this sooner. <3
"For you shall worship no other god, because the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous god..."
- Exodus 34:14
From the get-go Dan's dry humor about the god from the bible drew me in. Throughout the book he points out the inconsistencies and downright weird crap in the bible's numerous passages (not to mention numerous versions), and he uses versus from the Old and New Testament to support the claim of Lord Jealous being:
"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, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully."
- Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion
This is not a book for those who believe in this god or even the bible as anything more than fictional historical accounts by ancient civilizations, if you couldn't tell.
Dan goes through each trait Dawkin's subscribed to Lord Jealous, and adds a few of his own at the end. Right from the beginning he warns the reader some pages will be a little much to read in one sitting, and he recommends scanning through at first and coming back later. In my ignorance I was determined to read through every single verse he gave me to understand his arguments.
Yeah. Um... After three pages of pure verses on how fire-happy the god of the bible was I took his recommendation and skimmed. I will be going through later and re-reading - and I look forward to it!
Dan's understanding of the bible is a huge help throughout this book - he used to be a preacher - and there are many points he can make that someone with a lesser innate knowledge of the books and how the verses work would be able to.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for arguments the religious will make about "taking it out of context" and for a better understanding of why the bible is not a great moral compass - and while this won't happen I'd also recommend it to anyone who does believe in the bible's god. To better understand the religion a solid take on what is good and bad about it is needed.
Any religious sort who does has my admiration, regardless if they agree with Dan or not.
I wish I would have read this sooner. <3
July 9, 2017
A book of bible verses describing the horrible aspects of God. I know first hand that this book will offended certain people who swear God is good, kind, and loving.
August 2, 2017
Heavily focused on the OT and what a horrific god he is.
Would be nice to see a full length breakdown on the NT rather then a small chapter.
Would be nice to see a full length breakdown on the NT rather then a small chapter.
May 16, 2016
This was both a tough read and an easy read for me. It was tough because it cemented for me that the ideals and ideas concerning the biblical god's character that I had been raised with are quite the opposite of what the bible tells. On the other hand, the clear list of references, coherently explained, presented in context, and thematically connected to the characteristics being explored made it an extremely easy read.
Dawkins' writing often polarizes audiences along the theistic/atheistic line, and it is clear where Barker's position is on the matter in this book. I'd be the first to admit that Dawkins can come across as arrogant and condescending in his writing, but I can't fault his content or science. Barker, however, nails both the content and the delivery. While there are some elements of tongue-in-cheek humour to his assassination of god's character, he doesn't come across as arrogant, patronizing, or condescending. From time to time, there's a little bit of anger in his tone, and it seems to be directed more to the idea that such a repulsive character as god could ever be considered to be benevolent. That's a tone that I can understand.
Barker has done an outstanding job with this book, diving in to the subject matter and presenting clear, concise, well-backed, and well-thought arguments to further establish the malevolent nature of the biblical god as the most unpleasant character in all of fiction. I highly recommend this book!
Dawkins' writing often polarizes audiences along the theistic/atheistic line, and it is clear where Barker's position is on the matter in this book. I'd be the first to admit that Dawkins can come across as arrogant and condescending in his writing, but I can't fault his content or science. Barker, however, nails both the content and the delivery. While there are some elements of tongue-in-cheek humour to his assassination of god's character, he doesn't come across as arrogant, patronizing, or condescending. From time to time, there's a little bit of anger in his tone, and it seems to be directed more to the idea that such a repulsive character as god could ever be considered to be benevolent. That's a tone that I can understand.
Barker has done an outstanding job with this book, diving in to the subject matter and presenting clear, concise, well-backed, and well-thought arguments to further establish the malevolent nature of the biblical god as the most unpleasant character in all of fiction. I highly recommend this book!
August 20, 2016
Its danial tanvir , i am 22 am from pakistan and i am very good friends with atheist writer dan barker and i have gotten dozens and dozens of emails from him
i have read two of his last books twice.
he is great!.
this was a great read but it was not as good as his other book called "god less"
in which he tells us about how he became atheist from a preacher/
i LOVED his books and i read this book two time .
he talks about why be good when there is no god/
he gives arguments against the existance of god.
i loved his book titled "Godless"
and i cant wait to read his new book!.
it should sell millions
bye
i have read two of his last books twice.
he is great!.
this was a great read but it was not as good as his other book called "god less"
in which he tells us about how he became atheist from a preacher/
i LOVED his books and i read this book two time .
he talks about why be good when there is no god/
he gives arguments against the existance of god.
i loved his book titled "Godless"
and i cant wait to read his new book!.
it should sell millions
bye
August 14, 2017
What a damning book for Christianity. It's definitely a tough read, due to the fact that it is 90% scripture verses, all of which are full of unjustifiable violence, genocide, infanticide, racism, sexism, slavery, rape & more all in disturbingly graphic detail, & with the approval or by the command of Yahweh. Thank God He's not real!
February 19, 2016
After debating fundamentalists on the internet for more than a decade, I must say I expected a little more from this book than hundreds of pages of (sometimes superficial) quote-mining. It's not that I disagree with Barker - his conclusion is pretty much spot-on. But the way he gets there leaves his position open to attack. Perhaps I am wrong, though. Perhaps the average reader has no idea about the horrors hiding in the bible, and really needs this to see it.
May 20, 2016
This is a nice compilation / commentary on the aspects of the character of the god of the bible that they don't teach you in Sunday school. Or they teach you and then candy coat it.
It's harsh, it's painful, but it's true.
I think it finally helped me realize something I've known for a while and this is that I'm done.
Even if it turned out that the god of the bible was real, why would to want to serve such a vile being?
It's harsh, it's painful, but it's true.
I think it finally helped me realize something I've known for a while and this is that I'm done.
Even if it turned out that the god of the bible was real, why would to want to serve such a vile being?
February 9, 2019
I’ve only recently deconverted after a childhood of Christianity. Like many former believers, I walk in the world with a lot of things I was taught about God still rattling around in my brain and behavior. Nothing has helped my Former Christian Guilt more than this book. Learning more of the places in the bible where God himself is said to do the morally indefensible is a refreshing balm.
Because if there is a God, and he’s really like he is in the bible, then I am PROUD not to worship him.
Because if there is a God, and he’s really like he is in the bible, then I am PROUD not to worship him.
September 16, 2017
The perfect answer to anyone who thinks the god of the Bible is a good guy.
June 12, 2017
This is not a book -- it is a collection of Bible quotes, many of which are repeated several times and the only thing the author contributes is grouping like verses together under headings like "God loves blood" "God kills to prove he is lord" and so on. 16 hours of pompous, insane, evil verses with very little in between.
If you have never read the Bible and you are Christian, sure, read this. You won't be at the end.
If you have read the Bible this is just tedious -- and what little commentary there is (seriously, so little) is often sufficiently flawed that the collection would better make the author's point without any commentary at all.
I know, the preface makes the point that context doesn't matter -- actually it does, not because it makes the stuff okay, but because people can take the fact the context matters and disprove your argument, even tho the full context is actually -worse- than the given form. This is particular to the many times punishments are quoted as random acts without the context that "You break the covenant, and this happens" -- all the stuff about women who wouldn't touch their feet to the ground being jealous of their babies flesh so that they might eat it in secret >.> There's lots of just lazy as shit things like this in the sparse commentary and frankly I'm just thinking "How can you be so lazy about your commentary as to have this little of it and still be mostly wrong?"
If you want good commentary on Christianity in its own terms, read God: A Biography. If you want a list of wretched shit God said, read Deuteronomy. If you want rage against god read Fighting God: An Athiest Manifesto, and if you want alternative arguments to Christianity try Why Everybody is Wrong About God or Breaking the Spell or The God Delusion.
This book offers nothing.
If you have never read the Bible and you are Christian, sure, read this. You won't be at the end.
If you have read the Bible this is just tedious -- and what little commentary there is (seriously, so little) is often sufficiently flawed that the collection would better make the author's point without any commentary at all.
I know, the preface makes the point that context doesn't matter -- actually it does, not because it makes the stuff okay, but because people can take the fact the context matters and disprove your argument, even tho the full context is actually -worse- than the given form. This is particular to the many times punishments are quoted as random acts without the context that "You break the covenant, and this happens" -- all the stuff about women who wouldn't touch their feet to the ground being jealous of their babies flesh so that they might eat it in secret >.> There's lots of just lazy as shit things like this in the sparse commentary and frankly I'm just thinking "How can you be so lazy about your commentary as to have this little of it and still be mostly wrong?"
If you want good commentary on Christianity in its own terms, read God: A Biography. If you want a list of wretched shit God said, read Deuteronomy. If you want rage against god read Fighting God: An Athiest Manifesto, and if you want alternative arguments to Christianity try Why Everybody is Wrong About God or Breaking the Spell or The God Delusion.
This book offers nothing.
April 2, 2016
If you read the Bible it's easy to gloss over the really nasty stuff in it ordered by a "just and loving god". But take out those things and show them separately and it will make you wonder why you ever followed this religion. People say Islam is an "evil" religion because of a few really bad apples mis-interpreting the Kor'an. But if you do the same thing to the Kor'an that Dan Barker did to the Bible here, you'd find much the same. This book reminds you that Christianity was started during a barbaric, backward, Bronze Age time where unhappiness and despair were rampant and the thoughts of all the people in power getting their comeuppance while you're in a better place was the overriding hope of the day. Fascinating read all the while stomach turning that an entire religion is based on this while turning a blind eye to its less savory aspects that are right there staring you in the eye - if you only looked.
February 24, 2016
It is unusual to find that the author of a book called God: The Most Unpleasant Character in All Fiction is a former evangelical minister but this is an unusual book. Dan Barker sets out to prove the truth of the title by showing the reader numerous quotes from several of the numerous versions of the Christian bible itself; he succeeds. "True Believers" who claim that the bible is "God's Word" will have a difficult time arguing against the quotes while free thinking readers will likely come away recognizing the veracity of the title. Curious readers who have any interest at all in religion, either from the standpoint of a believer or a non-believer, will find it a stimulating read.
Read
August 25, 2025I have to admit upfront that I don’t agree with the premise of this book, so my perspective may be a bit biased. Still, I read it with the goal of better understanding a different viewpoint.
The main weakness of this book, in my opinion, is that it frequently pulls verses out of context rather than engaging with Scripture as a unified whole. The Bible tells one continuous story that reveals God’s character and attributes working together. This book, however, seems to cherry-pick passages to support conclusions the author already holds with little historical, and no hermeneutical insight.
If you approach this book as an atheist who already agrees with its premise, you’ll likely find it affirming and enjoyable. But if you don’t share that starting point, the book offers little depth or convincing explanation for its conclusions about the God of the Bible.
The main weakness of this book, in my opinion, is that it frequently pulls verses out of context rather than engaging with Scripture as a unified whole. The Bible tells one continuous story that reveals God’s character and attributes working together. This book, however, seems to cherry-pick passages to support conclusions the author already holds with little historical, and no hermeneutical insight.
If you approach this book as an atheist who already agrees with its premise, you’ll likely find it affirming and enjoyable. But if you don’t share that starting point, the book offers little depth or convincing explanation for its conclusions about the God of the Bible.
August 28, 2019
It's funny how one can get fooled by others into believing things about the Jewish/Christian god and the commandments that arent't even true. One of my next goals is to read the whole bible, cover to cover.
Es gracioso cómo podemos ser inducidos a creer cosas acerca del dios judeocristiano y los mandamientos que simplemente no son ciertas. Uno de mis objetivos de corto plazo es leer la Biblia completa.
Es gracioso cómo podemos ser inducidos a creer cosas acerca del dios judeocristiano y los mandamientos que simplemente no son ciertas. Uno de mis objetivos de corto plazo es leer la Biblia completa.
December 13, 2019
Well, you can take the preacher out of the evangelicism, but you can't the evangelicism out of the preacher. Dan Barker is a reformed evangelical preacher and a minor pillar of the "New Atheism" movement, and has been publishing books like this for years, and my dude, please, get a hobby. Barker quit on being a minister during the 80's, when evangelical moralizing was at its peak and had America by the balls, and yes, this was a dark f*cking time, but considering everything which has happened in these last few years in spite of the age of mass secularism it would stand to reason that maybe the Bible isn't actually the common denominator here.
Barker's latest book is essentially little more than a play-by-play Biblical commentary in which he attempts to highlight every instance of the Biblical God being a jerk, which feels backwards coming out this late into his career, doesn't it? Surely this should have preceded his last six books (two of which were autobiographies), that would seem to make sense. Then again, maybe he shouldn't have published anything at all, because who precisely needs to be reminded that "the OT God is kinda unpleasant." F*cking shocker.
What is most ironic is how strongly Barker embodies everything wrong with the evangelical movement -- he is a rabid prosteletyzer fuelled by misdirected moral outrage. Barker feels he must prove to the lost flock that they are living a life consigned to mortal damnation. Look at how gleefully he makes sure to refer to the Bible as "fiction" in the title, so "provocatively." This is a man who runs an organization called "Freedom From Religion" because he seriously believes the real root of evil in America is the usage of "in God we trust" on the $1 bank note. This is a man so absolutely ferverous about his beliefs he f*cking released this:
He sells this from his website with the disclaimer: "music CD album," presumably so that dance-fearing Christians may cower before his heretical Mr. Rogers sweater.
But I can only go on about this for so long, attacking a specific person or cause, because I am not Dan Barker, and thus lack the obsessive emotional stamina. It must be completely exhausting to be a evangelical atheist and try to keep up that indignation in the face of general religious apathy; Dawkins is in on this book too, but at least he has a real job. What's Barker's Plan B? Busking? Cause this schrick must surely run out sometime. Even Barker's diehard adherents will have to get sick of jerking off about how weird Leviticus is eventually. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, whether or not he exits.
Barker's latest book is essentially little more than a play-by-play Biblical commentary in which he attempts to highlight every instance of the Biblical God being a jerk, which feels backwards coming out this late into his career, doesn't it? Surely this should have preceded his last six books (two of which were autobiographies), that would seem to make sense. Then again, maybe he shouldn't have published anything at all, because who precisely needs to be reminded that "the OT God is kinda unpleasant." F*cking shocker.
What is most ironic is how strongly Barker embodies everything wrong with the evangelical movement -- he is a rabid prosteletyzer fuelled by misdirected moral outrage. Barker feels he must prove to the lost flock that they are living a life consigned to mortal damnation. Look at how gleefully he makes sure to refer to the Bible as "fiction" in the title, so "provocatively." This is a man who runs an organization called "Freedom From Religion" because he seriously believes the real root of evil in America is the usage of "in God we trust" on the $1 bank note. This is a man so absolutely ferverous about his beliefs he f*cking released this:
He sells this from his website with the disclaimer: "music CD album," presumably so that dance-fearing Christians may cower before his heretical Mr. Rogers sweater.
But I can only go on about this for so long, attacking a specific person or cause, because I am not Dan Barker, and thus lack the obsessive emotional stamina. It must be completely exhausting to be a evangelical atheist and try to keep up that indignation in the face of general religious apathy; Dawkins is in on this book too, but at least he has a real job. What's Barker's Plan B? Busking? Cause this schrick must surely run out sometime. Even Barker's diehard adherents will have to get sick of jerking off about how weird Leviticus is eventually. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, whether or not he exits.
August 17, 2021
Bill Maher calls the bible "Godʻs Big Book of Bad Ideas," and every time I look closely at any book, chapter, or verse in the bible, I more fervently agree and am further appalled by the immorality printed on those onion-skin pages.
This book by Dan Barker is an excellent review of the quote that identify the worst qualities of this particular Supreme Being. As a reference book, this one is outstanding. The chapters organized by quality--from "Jealous and Proud of It" to "Slavemonger"--are impressively comprehensive; in fact, reading this book cover to cover made much easier locating a number of quotes I had lost track of or barely remembered, which is very handy for polishing up and accurately deploying my biblical knowledge.
In addition, since I read the bible a long time ago, I had forgotten some of the quotes that now strike me as exceptionally useful, and I am gratified to have access to them again. I always appreciate a refresher, and I find knowing the bible better than those who use the book merely for thumping a great advantage in educating those who can be educated about the actual horrors of their childhood indoctrination.
I never want to read the bible cover to cover again--although I might--so Dan Barkerʻs book, with commentaries, index, categories, and introduction, will be extremely helpful and useful to me in the days to come. Thanks, Dan.
This book by Dan Barker is an excellent review of the quote that identify the worst qualities of this particular Supreme Being. As a reference book, this one is outstanding. The chapters organized by quality--from "Jealous and Proud of It" to "Slavemonger"--are impressively comprehensive; in fact, reading this book cover to cover made much easier locating a number of quotes I had lost track of or barely remembered, which is very handy for polishing up and accurately deploying my biblical knowledge.
In addition, since I read the bible a long time ago, I had forgotten some of the quotes that now strike me as exceptionally useful, and I am gratified to have access to them again. I always appreciate a refresher, and I find knowing the bible better than those who use the book merely for thumping a great advantage in educating those who can be educated about the actual horrors of their childhood indoctrination.
I never want to read the bible cover to cover again--although I might--so Dan Barkerʻs book, with commentaries, index, categories, and introduction, will be extremely helpful and useful to me in the days to come. Thanks, Dan.
May 3, 2016
This is the greatest book on Abrahamic theology ever written; it yields complete understanding. Best of all, it is assuredly not just the author’s opinion, because more than half of the text directly quotes the sacred scripture of the Abrahamic god. The author’s comments establish the thread clearly, keep it interesting, and are sometimes amusing, as a welcome relief from astonishing quoted scripture. Specific quoted passages from the scripture will be useful in any discussion. Everyone with any interest in Abrahamic religion, for or against, needs this book.
November 21, 2017
An extensive breakdown of the unprecedented villainy and juvenile acts of jealousy that are carried out by the god depicted in The Bible. Being 90 percent biblical recitation and 10 percent author's interjection, this book gets a bit monotonous and all too often repetitive. Nonetheless, the point is driven home and one has to wonder how anyone who has read The Bible can condone the nefarious acts perpetrated by god, much less worship him.
August 29, 2021
An honest biblical account of bible god/Jesus.
Anyone who worships these fictional entities is deficient in many things including morals and critical thinking skills.
No doubt this won't be liked by many bible believers as it exposes them to what the bible actually says and the nasty rotten mythological piece of work they worship.
Anyone who worships these fictional entities is deficient in many things including morals and critical thinking skills.
No doubt this won't be liked by many bible believers as it exposes them to what the bible actually says and the nasty rotten mythological piece of work they worship.
June 26, 2018
I read this book coming into thinking that I would get some interpretation of the scripture. Instead, I got quick blurbs that the beginning of each chapter following a list of scripture to back it up with no explanation Un short if I wanted to read the bible I would have.
Read
May 27, 2016Such high hopes for this book, too bad it became an exercise in list reading.
September 5, 2017
More reference book than just book
December 7, 2019
Having printed out the entire book because it's available online, I have realized that many of the verses that Barker complains about have either: already been addressed and answered, were mentioned by and then explained by Kyle Butt in his debate with him and Kyle responded to them and explained how they aren't what he claims them to be, and yet he still complains about them anyways.
For example, just to gives you a few examples of how much of a flat out liar and dishonest human being Barker is.
Chapter 3: Unjust
Pg.49
He mentions several verses. I will give the list of the verses below, but it will only be the verse.
Deuteronomy 5:8–9, Deuteronomy
24:16; see also 2 Kings 14:6, Jeremiah 31:29–30, Ezekiel 18:20
Exodus 34:6–7
Numbers 14:18
1 Kings 21:28–29
Isaiah 14:21
The articles that I site may not have responses to all of the verses mentioned, but I'm working on them and will post responses to the ones that I don't give responses to, A S.A.P.
https://carm.org/do-sons-bear-the-sin...
https://www.rationalchristianity.net/...
FYI, this article sites the one directly above.
http://www.tektonics.org/lp/paydaddy.php
http://apologeticspress.org/AllegedDi...
https://apologeticspress.org/apconten...
"Babies killed and wives raped to punish pride"
"Isaiah 13:11–16 “I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty. … Their
infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses will be
looted and their wives violated.” NIV"
https://carm.org/bible-difficulties/i...
Pg. 124
Chapter 9: Misogynistic
Barker has a Hissy-fit about the fact that man was created first instead of women.
"(Notice the biological reversal: woman comes
out of man instead of the other way around.)"
What/Where is his basis for saying that Women should have been created first and why on Earth does it even matter? Women were created second. So what?
Pg. 124 and 125
"The national poll counted only males"
"Numbers 1:1–2"
This is a Census that is specifically only counting Males. There is a reason why it isn't including women. There is no reason to be having a Hissy-fit about women not being included in this. If God doesn't want to have women included in this Census, then He is allowed to have then be included. It's not a big deal.
"Women don’t count"
"Numbers 3:15, 28"
Same as above.
Pg. 127
"Female as property. If a man rapes a single woman, he has to pay
her father and marry her."
Deuteronomy 22:28–29 “If a man meets a virgin who is not betrothed, and
seizes her and lies with her, and they are found, then the man who lay with
her shall give to the father of the young woman fifty shekels of silver, and
she shall be his wife, because he has violated her; he may not put her
away all his days.” RSV (You broke it, you buy it.)"
https://www.gotquestions.org/Deuteron...
http://apologeticspress.org/APContent...
https://answersingenesis.org/bible-qu...
https://evidenceforchristianity.org/m...
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.equi...
And where is Barker's Objective Basis for Right and Wrong for which he uses to claim that Rape is even wrong (Objectively Wrong), to begin with. A mere opinion or "Ethical Relativism/Relativism as he says he believes in, in his book "Godless" does not prove that Rape is wrong. Saying that Morality is Relative would basically mean that the Rapist can decide that Rape is perfectly alright for him and the Rape Victim can decide that Rape isn't right for her but, (either way), at the end of the day, it's merely one person's opinion against the other and no one is really right or wrong.
Chapter 14: Filicidal
Pg. 183
Stubborn son publicly executed
Deuteronomy 21:18–21 “If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which
will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that,
when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: Then shall his
father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of
his city, and unto the gate of his place; And they shall say unto the elders of
his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice;
he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him
with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and
all Israel shall hear, and fear.” KJV
https://carm.org/bible-difficulties/g...
https://www.gotquestions.org/stone-re...
"Eat your own children
Leviticus 26:27–29 “And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk
contrary unto me; Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I,
even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. And ye shall eat the
flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.” KJV"
https://www.rationalchristianity.net/...
“You will eat the fruit of your womb”
Deuteronomy 28:53 “And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the
flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the Lord thy God hath given
thee, in the siege, and in the straitness,wherewith thine enemies shall
distress thee.” KJV
https://www.rationalchristianity.net/...
Reciprocal cannibalism
Ezekiel 5:9–10 “And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and
whereunto I will not do any more the like, because of all thine abominations.
Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons
shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments in thee, and the whole
remnant of thee will I scatter into all the winds.” KJV
https://www.rationalchristianity.net/...
Those are just a handful of Barker having hissy -fits about verses that have already been explained. I'll follow up with more some time in the future.
For example, just to gives you a few examples of how much of a flat out liar and dishonest human being Barker is.
Chapter 3: Unjust
Pg.49
He mentions several verses. I will give the list of the verses below, but it will only be the verse.
Deuteronomy 5:8–9, Deuteronomy
24:16; see also 2 Kings 14:6, Jeremiah 31:29–30, Ezekiel 18:20
Exodus 34:6–7
Numbers 14:18
1 Kings 21:28–29
Isaiah 14:21
The articles that I site may not have responses to all of the verses mentioned, but I'm working on them and will post responses to the ones that I don't give responses to, A S.A.P.
https://carm.org/do-sons-bear-the-sin...
https://www.rationalchristianity.net/...
FYI, this article sites the one directly above.
http://www.tektonics.org/lp/paydaddy.php
http://apologeticspress.org/AllegedDi...
https://apologeticspress.org/apconten...
"Babies killed and wives raped to punish pride"
"Isaiah 13:11–16 “I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty. … Their
infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses will be
looted and their wives violated.” NIV"
https://carm.org/bible-difficulties/i...
Pg. 124
Chapter 9: Misogynistic
Barker has a Hissy-fit about the fact that man was created first instead of women.
"(Notice the biological reversal: woman comes
out of man instead of the other way around.)"
What/Where is his basis for saying that Women should have been created first and why on Earth does it even matter? Women were created second. So what?
Pg. 124 and 125
"The national poll counted only males"
"Numbers 1:1–2"
This is a Census that is specifically only counting Males. There is a reason why it isn't including women. There is no reason to be having a Hissy-fit about women not being included in this. If God doesn't want to have women included in this Census, then He is allowed to have then be included. It's not a big deal.
"Women don’t count"
"Numbers 3:15, 28"
Same as above.
Pg. 127
"Female as property. If a man rapes a single woman, he has to pay
her father and marry her."
Deuteronomy 22:28–29 “If a man meets a virgin who is not betrothed, and
seizes her and lies with her, and they are found, then the man who lay with
her shall give to the father of the young woman fifty shekels of silver, and
she shall be his wife, because he has violated her; he may not put her
away all his days.” RSV (You broke it, you buy it.)"
https://www.gotquestions.org/Deuteron...
http://apologeticspress.org/APContent...
https://answersingenesis.org/bible-qu...
https://evidenceforchristianity.org/m...
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.equi...
And where is Barker's Objective Basis for Right and Wrong for which he uses to claim that Rape is even wrong (Objectively Wrong), to begin with. A mere opinion or "Ethical Relativism/Relativism as he says he believes in, in his book "Godless" does not prove that Rape is wrong. Saying that Morality is Relative would basically mean that the Rapist can decide that Rape is perfectly alright for him and the Rape Victim can decide that Rape isn't right for her but, (either way), at the end of the day, it's merely one person's opinion against the other and no one is really right or wrong.
Chapter 14: Filicidal
Pg. 183
Stubborn son publicly executed
Deuteronomy 21:18–21 “If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which
will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that,
when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: Then shall his
father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of
his city, and unto the gate of his place; And they shall say unto the elders of
his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice;
he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him
with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and
all Israel shall hear, and fear.” KJV
https://carm.org/bible-difficulties/g...
https://www.gotquestions.org/stone-re...
"Eat your own children
Leviticus 26:27–29 “And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk
contrary unto me; Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I,
even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. And ye shall eat the
flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.” KJV"
https://www.rationalchristianity.net/...
“You will eat the fruit of your womb”
Deuteronomy 28:53 “And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the
flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the Lord thy God hath given
thee, in the siege, and in the straitness,wherewith thine enemies shall
distress thee.” KJV
https://www.rationalchristianity.net/...
Reciprocal cannibalism
Ezekiel 5:9–10 “And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and
whereunto I will not do any more the like, because of all thine abominations.
Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons
shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments in thee, and the whole
remnant of thee will I scatter into all the winds.” KJV
https://www.rationalchristianity.net/...
Those are just a handful of Barker having hissy -fits about verses that have already been explained. I'll follow up with more some time in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2019
Ahora entiendo por que Nietzsche decía que necesitaba usar guantes para leer este libro. Estoy pensando en hacer lo mismo, no quiero manchar mis manos con tanta sangre y odio. No quiero hablar mucho de este libro. Solo dire que todas las acusaciones expuestas están defendidas por sus respectivas citas.
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