The Bible is a complicated publication. It blends primitive ideals with undying truths, swings among compassionate love and ruthless violence, and varieties a sympathetic heavenly father from the continues to be of a savage tribal god. What are we to make of it all?

Petri Merenlahti takes an wonderful trip via biblical literature and returns with an unique theology of imperfection. taking a look at the Bible during the lenses of heritage, tradition, literature, and psychology, he calls his readers to enable move of an idealized photo of the Christian Scriptures and include their restricted human nature in its place. this is often very important, he argues, simply because fake idealization and mental splitting are significant assets of non secular fanaticism and violence.

Merenlahti insists that we make a distinction among the smaller God of human mind's eye and the transcendent God that are supposed to stay past it. we'll then be rewarded with knowledge rather than fanaticism, mercy rather than moralism, and peace rather than hatred and guilt.

"Merenlahti has written a truly priceless ebook that may please, educate, reassure, and advice each preacher and individual within the pew. it's a dose of excellent medication in case you, having declared their being non secular yet now not spiritual, are at risk of sliding down the slippery slope right into a pooling of mutual lack of knowledge. . . . This e-book bargains a lot attractive illumination to people who lengthy for a significant stroll with God during this trip of human life."
--J. Harold Ellens, college of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

"Writing from an leading edge hub of biblical scholarship in Finland, Petri Merenlahti deals us a old, literary, cultural, and mental page-turner. Echoing the mid-20th century 'discovery' of the 'humanity of Jesus,' Merenlahti urges a twenty first century 'discovery' of the 'humanity of Scripture.' He calls forth the testimony from rabbinic, Christian, and secular traditions at the shadowy human dimensions of Scripture, yet at the same time at the gentle it presents from and for the soul."
--Wayne G. Rollins, Hartford Seminary, Hartford, CT

Petri Merenlahti is Postdoctoral Researcher on the collage of Helsinki and leader Theological consultant at Finn Church reduction, a humanitarian business enterprise affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. he's the writer of Poetics for the Gospels? Rethinking Narrative Criticism (2002).