Monotheism and divine aggression / Collin Cornell.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Cornell, Collin, 1988- author.

Series:

Cambridge elements. Elements in religion and monotheism, 2631-3014.

Cambridge elements. Elements in religion and monotheism, 2631-3014

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bible. Old Testament--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Bible.

God--Wrath--Biblical teaching.

God.

Monotheism.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (65 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2023.

Summary:

The aggression of the biblical God is notorious. The phrase 'Old Testament God' conjures up images of jealousy and wrath, smiting and judging. But is it only an accident that this god became capital-G God, the unique creator and sustainer of three world religions? Or is there a more substantive connection between monotheism and divine aggression? This Element proposes exactly this causal connection. In three case studies, it showcases ways that literarily treating one god alone as god amplifies divine destructiveness. This happens according to two dynamics: God absorbs the destructive power of other divine beings-and God monopolizes divinity such that other beings, even special ones like God's beloved king or the people of God, are rendered vulnerable to divine aggression. The Element also attends to the literary contexts and counterbalances within which the Hebrew Bible imagines divine aggression.

Contents:

Cover

Title page

Copyright page

Monotheism and Divine Aggression

Contents

1 Introduction

Monotheism

Divine Aggression

Therapeutic Aggression?

Argument of the Work

2 World-Destroyer: Flood Stories

The Mesopotamian Flood

The Biblical Flood

Conclusion: Literary Contexts and Counterbalances

3 Regicide: Royal Texts

Royal Inscriptions

Royal Psalms

Psalm 89

4 Jealous God: National Annihilation

The Golden Calf Story

Neo-Assyrian Vassal Treaties and Monotheizing

Conclusions: Literary Contexts and Counterbalances

5 Conclusions, Questions, and Future Directions

Bibliography.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 18 Dec 2023).

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9781009079716

1009079719

9781009079518

1009079514

9781009067171

1009067176

OCLC:

1420152700