The truth behind the biblical stories of the Old Testament.

In his startling book, Gary Greenberg exposes the reality behind the greatest story ever told. Learn about the Egyptian myths and ancient folklore that survive in one of history's most sacred texts, and discover how: King David's bodyguard, not David, killed Goliath Noah's Ark did not land on Mount Ararat Samson did not pull down a Philistine temple There are at least two versions of the Ten Commandments The walls of Jericho were destroyed 300 years before Joshua arrived there Sodom and Gomorrah were mythical cities that never existed The story of Esther had nothing to do with the Jews of Persia And much, much more 101 Myths of the Bible provides a new dimension of biblical studies for believers, historians and anyone who has ever wondered about the facts behind the legends. By looking deeper into history, Greenberg shows that the true story makes the Bible more interesting than ever imagined!

In the 6th century BCE, Jerusalem and Judea were destroyed by the Babylonians. This traumatic event created the need to construct and articulate a comprehensive past that would give meaningful context to the identity of the Israelites. New modes of communal organization and worship during this period formed the foundation of Second Temple Jerusalem and early Christianity. Readers will be able to revisit familiar Bible stories and reach a better understanding of these events through the lens of modern archaeology. Archaeology and the Biblical Record challenges traditional views of the scripture while respecting the religious sensitivities of the reader. This bold text invites both Jewish and Christian biblical scholars to rethink basic assumptions and reformulate their instructional methods. Accessible and concise, this fresh look at Bible history is written for teachers, members of the clergy, and general readers, providing answers to the many historical dilemmas confronted in the course of studying the Bible. Please visit www.factorfictionthebible.com for more information.

What your preacher didnt tell you is this: Christianity was a Medieval invention that contradicts what Jesus taught. He didnt believe that he was divine or that anybody was bound for heaven. Winsor quotes the Bible itself to explain how preachers obfuscate its meaning. Followers are deceived by tricks such as the conflation of terms that are not synonymous. Son of Man referred to mankind in general, not to Jesus. Kingdom of Heaven referred to a future earthly kingdom that Jesus hoped to rule, not to Heaven itself. His own prayer asks Yahweh to establish it and make life "on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). Jesus thought it would come very soon: you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the son of man comes (Matthew 10:23). He expected Yahweh to bring people to the kingdom in clouds with great power and glory (Mark 13:26). Fundamentalists falsely assert that there is no wall of separation between Church and State. They create de facto religious tests and poison our public discourse. Christian dogma conflicts with historical and scientific facts and even with Biblical text. Its interference in politics undermines our ability to seek real-world solutions to real-world problems. Preachers often claim that the Bibles text is too complicated for lay people to understand, but if youre armed with the clues in this book, it is fairly straightforward reading. If you have questions about the Bible, Christianity, and how they relate to modern science and American democracy, youll find real answers here.

A respected Christian apologist thoughtfully pushes back against critics of the faith as well as cultural relativists, arguing that Christianity is morally superior to its competitors and, above all, true.

How should the Word of God be interpreted and applied today? Does our modern culture affect how we read the Bible? Can certain passages be interpreted in different contexts and in different ways, all the while acknowledging that God speaks with a clear and consistent voice? These are the enduring challenges of hermeneutics. In this volume, no less than sixteen Reformed scholars from four different countries join together to tackle the hard questions that often arise when we busy ourselves with the weighty responsibility of interpreting Holy Scripture. As iron sharpens iron, so also these Reformed scholars challenge each other and their readers to ask not only how hermeneutics can be done, but ultimately, how it should be done so that God's Word of Truth may be handled correctly (2 Tim 2:15).

This book is the Second in the Genesis series. It is a resource for biblical students, history buffs or those who like to read. In this single volume grouped together is a Interlinear [Hebrew accompanied by an English equivalent], a translation with notes on the discussion of each verse, and ancient related texts from Egyptian, Sumerian, Akkadian, Chaldean, Ugaritic, Greek and other biblical verses that related to the chapters 4-10 of Genesis. It was our hope to introduce the world, text and discussion on Genesis chapters four through ten to any reader. We have taken into consideration Jewish, Christians and Secular Scholarship in this production. We address issues of the valuing Genesis, life out of the Garden of Eden, genealogies, the table of nations, and Noah's flood.

In the new mega-anthology from best-selling editor Russ Kick, more than fifty writers, reporters, and researchers invade the inner sanctum for an unrestrained look at the wild and wooly world of organized belief. Richard Dawkins shows us the strange, scary properties of religion; Neil Gaiman turns a biblical atrocity story into a comic (that almost sent a publisher to prison); Erik Davis looks at what happens when religion and California collide; Mike Dash eyes stigmatics; Douglas Rushkoff exposes the trouble with Judaism; Paul Krassner reveals his “Confessions of an Atheist”; and best-selling lexicographer Jonathon Green interprets the language of religious prejudice. Among the dozens of other articles and essays, you’ll find: a sweeping look at classical composers and Great American Songbook writers who were unbelievers, such as Irving Berlin, creator of “God Bless America”; the definitive explanation of why America is not a Christian nation; the bizarre, Catholic-fundamentalist books by Mel Gibson’s father; eye-popping photos of bizarre religious objects and ceremonies, including snake-handlers and pot-smoking children; the thinly veiled anti-Semitism in the Left Behind novels; an extract from the rare, suppressed book The Sex Life of Brigham Young; and rarely seen anti-religious writings from Mark Twain and H.G. Wells. Further topics include exorcisms, religious curses, Wicca, the Church of John Coltrane, crimes by clergy, death without God, Christian sex manuals, the “ex-gay” movement, failed prophecies, bizarre theology, religious bowling, atheist rock and roll, “how to be a good Christian,” an entertaining look at the best (and worst) books on religion, and much more.

Through this new translation of d'Holbach's "Christianity Unveiled," and a host of related documents never before translated, the reader will come to an in-depth appreciation of the courageous atheist who criticized sovereigns who pandered to the Church.

Several pre-biblical protagonists appearing in Mesopotamian myths are identified as being fused together and recast as the Garden of Eden's serpent.