The Courage to Doubt

by Robert Davidson

Overview

The Hebrew Bible is, in part, a history of individuals who, in order to retain faith in God, were led to rebel against and question what was being confidently affirmed about God. Jacob, Moses, Jeremiah, and the authors of many of the Psalms are obvious examples. Robert Davidson tracks this important theme as it emerges in the patriarchal, Mosaic, and prophetic traditions of the Hebrew Bible. He helps the reader see that this theme is particularly relevant today when many, even within the believing community, find themselves forced to question and doubt--and often do so with unnecessarily guilty consciences.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781498223829
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	03/01/2015
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Robert Davidson is Professor of Old Testament in the University of Glasgow, Scotland.

Table of Contents

Preface vii

Introduction ix

1 Worship and Questioning 1

2 Worship and the Search for Enlightenment 18

3 Faith on Pilgrimage - The Patriarchal Traditions 38

4 The Burden of Leadership - The Mosaic Traditions 58

5 The Changing Word - Prophetic Narratives 80

6 Authority and Authenticity - A Prophetic Problem 100

7 Vocational Crisis - The Witness of Jeremiah 121

8 Jerusalem - Symbol or Snare? 140

9 Rewrite or Rethink 169

10 The Radical Conservative 184

11 The Courage to Doubt - The Old Testament Contribution 203

Notes 214

Index of Biblical References 235

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"So many scholars seem to write only for fellow scholars. Professor Davidson writes for the minister and the ordinary man and woman. This is a simply marvelous study. It makes sense of the Old Testament, and it helps make sense of life."
—Expository Times

Editorial Reviews

"So many scholars seem to write only for fellow scholars. Professor Davidson writes for the minister and the ordinary man and woman. This is a simply marvelous study. It makes sense of the Old Testament, and it helps make sense of life."
—Expository Times

From the Publisher