No one knows exactly what happened two thousand years ago in the Holy Land. The four Gospel authors proclaimed their versions, and the fathers of the emerging Christian church trumpeted them to be the "Gospel Truth." In The Anatomies of God, the Bible, and Religion, author Donald R. Nuss examines evidence that contravenes what has been accepted for centuries. It asks questions that ministers and priests cannot or will not answer, such as: Is the Bible historically accurate, the word of God, or an amalgam of half truths, myths, and fiction? The result of fifty years of research, The Anatomies of God, the Bible, and Religion serves as a Biblical handbook. Insightful commentary explains how each author of the Old Testament influenced the conduct of the ancient Israelis and how some provided source material for New Testament Gospel authors. Nuss explores the Bible's mystique, reveals its beauty, exposes its blemishes, and analyzes, praises, and criticizes its inconsistencies, contradictions, and mendacity. In this thorough examination, Nuss seeks to explain why religion inspires, elevates, and gives encouragement to many, but incites, irritates, and inflames others.

The Anatomies of God, the Bible, and Religion

Decoding the Old and New TestamentsBy Donald R. Nuss

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2010 Donald R. Nuss
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4502-5012-2

Contents

Dedication........................................................................................vPrologue..........................................................................................viiAcknowledgments...................................................................................xi1. Faith versus Reason............................................................................32. God and the Creation...........................................................................73. Authorship and Origins of the Old Testament....................................................174. Preface to the Old Testament...................................................................215. The Old Testament's Myths and Others...........................................................256. An Evil God....................................................................................387. The Old Testament as Literature................................................................468. Old Testament Miracles.........................................................................589. Genesis: First of the Five Books of Moses......................................................6510. Exodus........................................................................................8111. Leviticus.....................................................................................8712. Numbers.......................................................................................9013. Deuteronomy...................................................................................9314. Joshua: First of the Twelve History Books.....................................................9715. Judges........................................................................................10016. Ruth..........................................................................................10217. 1 Samuel......................................................................................10418. 2 Samuel......................................................................................10719. 1 and 2 Kings.................................................................................11020. 1 and 2 Chronicles............................................................................11821. Ezra..........................................................................................12222. Nehemiah......................................................................................12423. Esther........................................................................................12624. Job: First of the Five Books of Poetry........................................................12825. Psalms........................................................................................13026. Proverbs......................................................................................13327. Ecclesiastes..................................................................................13628. Song of Solomon...............................................................................13929. Isaiah: First of the Five Books of Major Prophets.............................................14130. Jeremiah......................................................................................14531. Lamentations..................................................................................14732. Ezekiel.......................................................................................14933. Daniel........................................................................................15134. Hosea: First of the Twelve Books of the Minor Prophets........................................15435. Joel..........................................................................................15636. Amos..........................................................................................15837. Obadiah.......................................................................................16038. Jonah.........................................................................................16239. Micah.........................................................................................16540. Nahum.........................................................................................16741. Habakkuk......................................................................................16942. Zephaniah.....................................................................................17143. Haggai........................................................................................17344. Zechariah.....................................................................................17445. Malachi.......................................................................................17746. Old Testament Summation and Critique..........................................................17947. Christian Origins.............................................................................18548. Sources.......................................................................................18949. Not One but Two Gods..........................................................................19950. Paul of Tarsus................................................................................20751. Paul's Letter to the Romans...................................................................21052. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians........................................................21253. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians.......................................................21554. Paul's Letter to the Galatians................................................................21755. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians................................................................21956. Paul's The Letter to the Philippians..........................................................22057. Paul's Letter to the Colossians...............................................................22158. Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians......................................................22359. Paul's Second Letter to the Thessalonians.....................................................22460. Paul's 1st and 2nd Letter to Timothy and Letter to Titus......................................22761. Paul's Letter to Philemon.....................................................................22962. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews..................................................................23163. The Letter of James...........................................................................23364. The First Letter of Peter.....................................................................23565. The Second Letter of Peter....................................................................23766. The First Letter of John......................................................................23967. The Second Letter of John.....................................................................24168. The Third Letter of John......................................................................24369. The Letter of Jude............................................................................24570. The Gospel of Q...............................................................................24971. Paul and the Gospel Authors...................................................................26672....