Here is a book for new Christians and non-Christians. But also for Christians like me – long in the tooth and with years of reading and teaching the Bible under their belt. It is clear, brave, and honest. It will stir people to discussion and debate. It will surely accomplish what its author describes as his aim: “to offer a foundation for a far-reaching Jewish and Christian humanism.” It should be stuffed into brief cases, lunch boxes and pockets and read on buses, offices and in the pew.
Leslie Griffiths, Methodist Minister and Member of the House of Lords, UK
Neil Richardson is to be congratulated for his boldness in tackling such a huge subject, and for doing so in a remarkably even-handed way. Would that some of those whose views he challenges were as willing to be so balanced! He doesn’t shirk the hard questions raised by some biblical passages. Rather he encourages his readers to confront them openly and honestly. His suggestion that ‘we can no longer identify the “God” of the text with the real God’ will be challenging to some but profoundly helpful to many. This is a fine example of apologetics!
Adrian Curtis, University of Manchester, UK