Seriously Dangerous Religion - by Iain Provan (Paperback)

About the Book

Its dangers are the bold claims it makes upon its readers.

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

Seriously Dangerous Religion is a major synthetic statement of unparalleled scope, deserving a wide readership. It illuminates and challenges, even as it confirms that rumors of the Old Testament's demise are greatly exaggerated.

--Stephen B. Chapman, Associate Professor of Old Testament in the Divinity School and Director of Graduate Studies of the Graduate Program in Religion at Duke University "Syndicate"

Seriously Dangerous Religion is a seriously helpful book in that it simultaneously offers what is usually called an 'Old Testament theology, ' vindicatesthe Old Testament in the face of its cultured despisers, and demonstrates the diversity among the various world religions all while being written in an engaging manner that should appeal to more than just specialists.

--Nathan Chambers "Journal of Reformed Theology"

[ Seriously Dangerous Religion] will be a particularly helpful read for those heading off to university or entering the workforce, but is broad and deep enough that every reader will find much to profit from and to reflect on.

--Daniel C. Timmer, University of Sudbury "Themelios"

[Provan's] 'thinking outside the box' creates a broad range of uses for the work, whether in university classes in world religions, theology, apologetics, hermeneutics, as well non-professional areas as discussion groups and church or Sunday school classes. Seriously Dangerous Religion is a 'must read' for anyone interested in these issues.

--Randall C. Bailey, Faulkner University "Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society"

At its heart Provan's volume is a book about worldview. For this reason, it offers the reader a unique resource that blends careful and thorough biblical theology and exegesis with cultural analysis.

--William A. Ross, University of Cambridge "Westminster Theological Journal"

Iain Provan, one of evangelicalism's finest Old Testament scholars, has provided a much needed book...

--G. Kyle Essary "Apologetics 315"

In the world in which biblical studies currently exists, projects such as this are worthy of extended time and reflection.

--Richard S. Briggs, St John's College, Durham University "Review of Biblical Literature"

Provan's explanations and insightful exegesis also result in helpful descriptions of family, the relationship of God to humanity, and similar topics.

--Shawn W. Flynn, Saint Mark's College "Pro Ecclesia"

Seriously Dangerous Religion will be helpful to Christians and non-Christians alike who struggle to understand how the Old Testament relates to our modern world.

--Elliot Ritzema "Bible Study Magazine"

About the Author

Iain Provan is the Marshall Sheppard Professor of Biblical Studies, Regent College. He lives in the Vancouver, Canada area.