Isaac and Jacob are a real couple of bungling wanderers. They lie, cheat, steal and seem completely without moral character. Isaac is the son of Abraham that was offered up to God in sacrifice – an episode that likely freaked him out and led to perpetual trust issues. He married Rebekah and settled in Gerar, [...]

Abraham is recognized as the father of three of the world’s largest religions. He is also a contemptible ass-kisser and a loathsome coward. He is a terrible husband and a horrible father. But – like Noah, he did whatever God commanded of him, no questions asked.
In my view, following God’s commands does not make you [...]

After his failed experiment in the garden of Eden, God removed himself from the world for a while. Like a spurned lover, He waited – hopeful that humans would find their way back to him. He had seen the results of his displays of power and was trying the other extreme – patience and distance. [...]

Although Adam and Eve – and through them the entire human project – has not gone as planned, God continues to observe and interact with humans, hoping to establish a relationship with them.
Adam and Eve have two sons, Cain and Able. Able was a shepherd and kept flocks, while Cain tilled the soil. When Cain [...]

After the fiasco with Satan, God became more cautious. He knew he’d found something incredible – a created being with the ability to think for itself. But how much intelligence does it take to make free will? And how much freedom could he give before his creatures turned against him?
Satan’s rebellion had swept like a [...]

Although those who haven’t actually read the Bible might assume it is full of dust-grovelling men and women of faith, nothing could be farther from the truth. Over and over again, the Bible shows us independent, free-thinkers whose natural impulse towards self-preservation conflicts with God’s omnipotence. Hoping to trace the development of this phenomenon, I [...]