The Shocking Violence of Greg Boyd's Non Violent God

Greg Boyd's book "The Crucifixion of the Warrior God" has been widely praised for offering a provocative non-violent account of biblical violence. But a closer look reveals the book actually attributes surprisingly violent actions and intentions to God.

[annoyingdude]

I get your point but when reading Boyd's book I got the impression that God's ''non-violent'' plan for the Canaanites meant that God didn't want the Israelites to use violence but rather God would use ''other means'' (yes, hornets and so on) which means (as we notes in many places in his book) that God would permit these events (hornets and desolate land) to happen, but not cause them directly, which is the whole point of the book as far as I can see

[bamremix]

In your book, do you make a case against all the violence in the OT or only the canaanite genocide?

[samsmith]

Would it be accurate in your view to not only argue that these OT passages are metaphorical but also point to Christ? I am still confused as to why these passages are in the Bible even if they are indeed just metaphors for Christ and not historical events.

[callums]

Do you argue against just war theory in the book or just how just war theorists apply it to events like canaanite genocide?

[abranchinthevine]

God's wrath is giving sinners over to the consequences of the sinful desires of their hearts, if he keeps preventing the consequences it would be against free will. So maybe he gave up the Israelites to their sin which punished the sin of the Canaanites? also their is a principle some call " the dominion of the earth" like when earth started producing thorns and thistles for mankind, so earth reflects the sin of mankind, maybe that's related to hornets? just thinking out loud