Numerous supposed immoral mandates and commands by God found in religious texts are introduced and discussed. Such passages are used to construct a logical contradiction contention that is called the moral epistemological argument. It is shown how there is a contradiction in that God is omnibenevolent, God can instruct human beings, and God at times provides us with unethical orders and laws. Given the existence of the contradiction, it is argued that an omnibenevolent God does not exist. Finally, this contention (...) is defended from several objections. (shrink)

The apparent tension between the moral codes of the Old and New Testaments constitutes a perennial problem for Christian ethics. Scholars who have taken this problem seriously have often done so in ways that presume sharp discontinuity between the Testaments. They then proceed to devise a system for identifying what is or is not relevant today, or what pertains to this or that particular social sphere. John Howard Yoder brings fresh perspectives to this perennial problem by refuting the presumption of (...) intratestamental discontinuity. Throughout multiple scattered works on the Old Testament, Yoder offers a coherent and provocative narration that culminates in the way of Christ and establishes the ethical continuity of the entire biblical canon. This essay presents the basic parameters of Yoder's Old Testament narration, suggests points where revision is needed, and highlights several implications for social ethics. (shrink)

Examples of scriptural and historic militancy in Christianity and Islam are frequently compared today without sufficient attention to the complexity of the subject within each tradition. Through an examination of relevant biblical and Qur’anic materials, and of episodes in later history, this article attempts a fresh examination of violence in the two traditions. It argues that the tensions in each tradition related to violence, while similar in some ways, are quite distinct in others. In light of this, thoughts are suggested (...) on how each community may engage its respective tensions in order to work toward peace today. (shrink)

God’s purposeful design is for humanity to flourish. Over the years, one of the greatest problems confronting Nigeria, and indeed Africa, has been poverty. Poverty has denied many the right to enjoy the life God designed for them. It has brought untold misery to many people. Many have been enslaved even in their ancestral lands by the rich because of poverty induced by injustice. Poverty, especially in Nigeria, is not due to lack of human and natural resources but to sheer (...) greed leading to unequal distribution of wealth, imbalanced opportunities for empowerment and corruption. As a result, the scourge of poverty continues to affect people. This article looks at ways of interpreting and using the principles of jubilee in Leviticus 25 to build a new community that transforms humanity. It argues that the principles of jubilee, which include an invitation to partnership with God and humanity, faithful stewardship, equal economic and political opportunities, forgiveness of debts, love and concern for ecology, are germane in addressing the problem of poverty. (shrink)

This paper intends to provide the church with a biblical perspective of work and economics in order for the church to missionally respond to global poverty. For this purpose, the Western Church’s attitude toward work and economics is critically examined in light of how the church’s biblical identity, a holy people, is related to work and economics in Scripture. This paper demonstrates that God’s mission in Scripture always involves redeeming work and economics from the influence of sin. As its main (...) thesis, this paper contends that, from a biblical perspective, the church’s call to be a holy people requires practicing a way of work and economics that embodies and presents the compassionate character of God who envisions human flourishing. In conclusion, this paper suggests that the church, which seeks to missionally respond to global poverty, should participate in God’s mission of redeeming work and economics from the influence of sin. (shrink)