Karin Lundin’s Reviews > What Is the Bible?: How an Ancient Library of Poems, Letters, and Stories Can Transform the Way You Think and Feel About Everything > Status Update

“The violence isn’t that surprising. What’s surprising is that among all that violence are new ideas about serving and blessing and non-violence.

Here’s what I mean: do you find it primitive and barbaric to care for widows, orphans, and refugees? That’s commanded in the book of Deuteronomy. Do you find it cruel and violent to leave a corner of your field unharvested so the poor can have something to eat? That’s commanded in the book of Leviticus. Do you think people should be set free from slavery? That’s the story of the book of Exodus. Do you think it’s good to love your neighbor? That’s commanded in the book of Leviticus.

What you find in the bible are stories accurately reflecting the dominant consciousness of the day, and yet, right in, among, and sometimes within those very same violent stories you find radically new ideas about freedom, equality, justice, compassion, and love. New ideas sit side by side with old ideas. Vicious violence is right there next to new understandings of peace and Justice. Kind of like now.”