IX Foreword
X Preface
XII Acknowledgments
1 Introduction
The Point and the Premise / Exclusive Focus on the Jewish Scriptures / Mesorah, the Integral Nature of the Oral Tradition / Not All Violence in Scripture Is Endorsed by the Divine / The Importance of Acknowledging a Spiritual Reality / The Verses Covered Are Comprehensive,
but Not Totally Exhaustive / An In-Depth Explanation of the Concepts of Peace and Mercy / Explanations and Reasons—a Limited Endeavor
15 Chapter One: Do the Scriptures Support Unwarranted Violence?
I: National Violence / II: Individual Violence / III: The Death Penalty and Other Punishments / Summary
59 Chapter Two: Violence Carried Out or Ordered by God
I: The Nature of God / II: God Punishing the Jewish People as a Nation for Disobedience / III: Violence Not Related to Punishment of the Jewish People / Summary
81 Chapter Three: Does Scripture Encourage Barbaric and Backward Practices?
I: Animals / II: Women’s Issues / III: Slavery / IV: The Chosen People / Summary
144 Chapter 4: The Superiority of a Biblically Based Morality
I: Natural Law according to Judaism / II: Scientific Naturalism/Materialism / III: Individual
(Personal) Advantages to Divine Morality / IV: Societal Advantages to Divine Morality /
V: Holiness—beyond Ethics / VI: Religious Motivation for Ethics / VII: Conclusion/Summary
193 Epilogue
195 Appendix A: A Critical Examination of Arguments Offered by Gay Activists
203 Appendix B: Philosophical Advantages to Divine-Based Morality
I: The Euthyphro Dilemma / II: Other Philosophical Objections to Divine Command Theory (DCT) / III: Secular Attempts at Objective Morality Independent of God
249 Appendix C: Loose Ends
Why Non-Biblical Justifications for Violence Are Irrelevant in This Book / A Justification for Biblical Violence, not a Promotion for Post-Biblical Violence / Many Interpretations to Choose From, but Who Has the Advantage? / Is Belief in God Escapism?