The Old Testament is often maligned as an outmoded and even dangerous text. Best-selling authors like Richard Dawkins, Karen Armstrong, and Derrick Jensen are prime examples of those who find the Old Testament to be problematic to modern sensibilities. Iain Provan counters that such easy and popular readings misunderstand the Old Testament. He opposes modern misconceptions of the Old Testament by addressing ten fundamental questions that the biblical text should--and according to Provan does--answer: questions such as "Who is God?" and "Why do evil and suffering mark the world?" By focusing on Genesis and drawing on other Old Testament and extra-biblical sources, Seriously Dangerous Religion constructs a more plausible reading. As it turns out, Provan argues, the Old Testament is far more dangerous than modern critics even suppose. Its dangers are the bold claims it makes upon its readers.

1 Of Mice, and Men, and Hobbits

Stories, Art, and Life

2 The Up Quark, the Down Quark, and Other Cool Stuff

What Is the World?

3 Slow to Anger, Abounding in Love, and (Thankfully) Jealous

Who Is God?

4 Of Humus and Humanity

Who Are Man and Woman?

5 It Isn't Natural

Why Do Evil and Suffering Mark the World?

6 On Living in a Blighted World

What Am I to Do about Evil and Suffering?

7 Even the Stork Knows That

How Am I to Relate to God?

8 Love All, Trust a Few, Do Wrong to None

How Am I to Relate to My Neighbor?

9 On Keeping the Earth

How Am I to Relate to the Rest of Creation?

10 I Saw the New Jerusalem

Which Society Should I Be Helping to Build?

11 A Bird Perched in the Soul

What Am I to Hope For?

12 Further Up and Further In

New Dimensions in the Old Story

13 On the Judicious Closing of the Mind

The Question of Truth

14 Risk Assessment

Is the Story Dangerous?

Postscript: Biblical Faith for a New Age

Notes

Bibliography

Scripture Index

Index of Authors

Subject Index