Sacred Word, Broken Word: Biblical Authority and the Dark Side of Scripture

The Bible is a religious masterpiece. Its authors cast a profound vision for the healing of humanity through the power of divine love, grace and forgiveness. But the Bible also contains "dark texts" that challenge our ethical imagination. How can one book teach us to love our enemies and also teach us to slaughter Canaanites? Why does a book that preaches the equality of all people — male and female, slave and free, Greek and Jew — also include laws that permit God's people to trade in slav...