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A Smaller God: On the Divinely Human Nature of Biblical Literature

Paperback |English |1625644108 | 9781625644107

A Smaller God: On the Divinely Human Nature of Biblical Literature

Paperback |English |1625644108 | 9781625644107
Overview

The Bible is a perplexing book. It blends primitive beliefs with timeless truths, swings between compassionate love and ruthless violence, and forms a sympathetic heavenly father from the remains of a savage tribal god. What are we to make of it all? Petri Merenlahti takes an entertaining journey through biblical literature and returns with an original theology of imperfection. Looking at the Bible through the lenses of history, culture, literature, and psychology, he calls his readers to let go of an idealized image of the Christian Scriptures and embrace their limited human nature instead. This is vital, he argues, because false idealization and psychological splitting are major sources of religious fanaticism and violence. Merenlahti insists that we make a difference between the smaller God of human imagination and the transcendent God that should remain beyond it. We will then be rewarded with wisdom instead of fanaticism, mercy instead of moralism, and peace instead of hatred and guilt. ""Merenlahti has written a very useful book that will please, instruct, reassure, and counsel every preacher and person in the pew. It is a dose of good medicine for those who, having declared their being spiritual but no longer religious, are in danger of sliding down the slippery slope into a pooling of mutual ignorance. . . . This book offers much enticing illumination to those who long for a meaningful walk with God in this journey of human life."" --J. Harold Ellens, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI ""Writing from an innovative hub of biblical scholarship in Finland, Petri Merenlahti offers us a historical, literary, cultural, and psychological page-turner. Echoing the mid-20th century 'discovery' of the 'humanity of Jesus, ' Merenlahti urges a 21st century 'discovery' of the 'humanity of Scripture.' He calls forth the testimony from rabbinic, Christian, and secular traditions on the shadowy human dimensions of Scripture, but simultaneously on the light it provides from and for the soul."" --Wayne G. Rollins, Hartford Seminary, Hartford, CT Petri Merenlahti is Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Helsinki and Chief Theological Advisor at Finn Church Aid, a humanitarian agency affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. He is the author of Poetics for the Gospels? Rethinking Narrative Criticism (2002).
ISBN: 1625644108
ISBN13: 9781625644107
Author: Petri Merenlahti
Publisher: Cascade Books
Format: Paperback
PublicationDate: 2014-12-16
Language: English
PageCount: 134
Dimensions: 6.0 x 0.34 x 9.0 inches
Weight: 7.2 ounces

The Bible is a perplexing book. It blends primitive beliefs with timeless truths, swings between compassionate love and ruthless violence, and forms a sympathetic heavenly father from the remains of a savage tribal god. What are we to make of it all? Petri Merenlahti takes an entertaining journey through biblical literature and returns with an original theology of imperfection. Looking at the Bible through the lenses of history, culture, literature, and psychology, he calls his readers to let go of an idealized image of the Christian Scriptures and embrace their limited human nature instead. This is vital, he argues, because false idealization and psychological splitting are major sources of religious fanaticism and violence. Merenlahti insists that we make a difference between the smaller God of human imagination and the transcendent God that should remain beyond it. We will then be rewarded with wisdom instead of fanaticism, mercy instead of moralism, and peace instead of hatred and guilt. ""Merenlahti has written a very useful book that will please, instruct, reassure, and counsel every preacher and person in the pew. It is a dose of good medicine for those who, having declared their being spiritual but no longer religious, are in danger of sliding down the slippery slope into a pooling of mutual ignorance. . . . This book offers much enticing illumination to those who long for a meaningful walk with God in this journey of human life."" --J. Harold Ellens, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI ""Writing from an innovative hub of biblical scholarship in Finland, Petri Merenlahti offers us a historical, literary, cultural, and psychological page-turner. Echoing the mid-20th century 'discovery' of the 'humanity of Jesus, ' Merenlahti urges a 21st century 'discovery' of the 'humanity of Scripture.' He calls forth the testimony from rabbinic, Christian, and secular traditions on the shadowy human dimensions of Scripture, but simultaneously on the light it provides from and for the soul."" --Wayne G. Rollins, Hartford Seminary, Hartford, CT Petri Merenlahti is Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Helsinki and Chief Theological Advisor at Finn Church Aid, a humanitarian agency affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. He is the author of Poetics for the Gospels? Rethinking Narrative Criticism (2002).

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  • Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
  • Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.

Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.

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The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.

Estimated delivery times:

  • Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
  • Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days

Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.  

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All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times. 

Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.). 

If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.

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To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.

Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.

Additional non-returnable items:

  • Gift cards
  • Downloadable software products
  • Some health and personal care items

To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)

  • Book with obvious signs of use
  • CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
  • Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
  • Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery

Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.

Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.

If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:

  • Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
  • Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
  • Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).

If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.


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We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.

Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.

If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.

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Overview

The Bible is a perplexing book. It blends primitive beliefs with timeless truths, swings between compassionate love and ruthless violence, and forms a sympathetic heavenly father from the remains of a savage tribal god. What are we to make of it all? Petri Merenlahti takes an entertaining journey through biblical literature and returns with an original theology of imperfection. Looking at the Bible through the lenses of history, culture, literature, and psychology, he calls his readers to let go of an idealized image of the Christian Scriptures and embrace their limited human nature instead. This is vital, he argues, because false idealization and psychological splitting are major sources of religious fanaticism and violence. Merenlahti insists that we make a difference between the smaller God of human imagination and the transcendent God that should remain beyond it. We will then be rewarded with wisdom instead of fanaticism, mercy instead of moralism, and peace instead of hatred and guilt. ""Merenlahti has written a very useful book that will please, instruct, reassure, and counsel every preacher and person in the pew. It is a dose of good medicine for those who, having declared their being spiritual but no longer religious, are in danger of sliding down the slippery slope into a pooling of mutual ignorance. . . . This book offers much enticing illumination to those who long for a meaningful walk with God in this journey of human life."" --J. Harold Ellens, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI ""Writing from an innovative hub of biblical scholarship in Finland, Petri Merenlahti offers us a historical, literary, cultural, and psychological page-turner. Echoing the mid-20th century 'discovery' of the 'humanity of Jesus, ' Merenlahti urges a 21st century 'discovery' of the 'humanity of Scripture.' He calls forth the testimony from rabbinic, Christian, and secular traditions on the shadowy human dimensions of Scripture, but simultaneously on the light it provides from and for the soul."" --Wayne G. Rollins, Hartford Seminary, Hartford, CT Petri Merenlahti is Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Helsinki and Chief Theological Advisor at Finn Church Aid, a humanitarian agency affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. He is the author of Poetics for the Gospels? Rethinking Narrative Criticism (2002).
ISBN: 1625644108
ISBN13: 9781625644107
Author: Petri Merenlahti
Publisher: Cascade Books
Format: Paperback
PublicationDate: 2014-12-16
Language: English
PageCount: 134
Dimensions: 6.0 x 0.34 x 9.0 inches
Weight: 7.2 ounces

The Bible is a perplexing book. It blends primitive beliefs with timeless truths, swings between compassionate love and ruthless violence, and forms a sympathetic heavenly father from the remains of a savage tribal god. What are we to make of it all? Petri Merenlahti takes an entertaining journey through biblical literature and returns with an original theology of imperfection. Looking at the Bible through the lenses of history, culture, literature, and psychology, he calls his readers to let go of an idealized image of the Christian Scriptures and embrace their limited human nature instead. This is vital, he argues, because false idealization and psychological splitting are major sources of religious fanaticism and violence. Merenlahti insists that we make a difference between the smaller God of human imagination and the transcendent God that should remain beyond it. We will then be rewarded with wisdom instead of fanaticism, mercy instead of moralism, and peace instead of hatred and guilt. ""Merenlahti has written a very useful book that will please, instruct, reassure, and counsel every preacher and person in the pew. It is a dose of good medicine for those who, having declared their being spiritual but no longer religious, are in danger of sliding down the slippery slope into a pooling of mutual ignorance. . . . This book offers much enticing illumination to those who long for a meaningful walk with God in this journey of human life."" --J. Harold Ellens, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI ""Writing from an innovative hub of biblical scholarship in Finland, Petri Merenlahti offers us a historical, literary, cultural, and psychological page-turner. Echoing the mid-20th century 'discovery' of the 'humanity of Jesus, ' Merenlahti urges a 21st century 'discovery' of the 'humanity of Scripture.' He calls forth the testimony from rabbinic, Christian, and secular traditions on the shadowy human dimensions of Scripture, but simultaneously on the light it provides from and for the soul."" --Wayne G. Rollins, Hartford Seminary, Hartford, CT Petri Merenlahti is Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Helsinki and Chief Theological Advisor at Finn Church Aid, a humanitarian agency affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. He is the author of Poetics for the Gospels? Rethinking Narrative Criticism (2002).

Books - New and Used

The following guidelines apply to books:

  • New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
  • Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
  • Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.

Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.

Shipping Fees

  • Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
  • Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
  • No additional fees and charges.

Delivery Times

The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.

Estimated delivery times:

  • Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
  • Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days

Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.  

Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times. 

Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.). 

If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.

You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.

To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.

Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.

Additional non-returnable items:

  • Gift cards
  • Downloadable software products
  • Some health and personal care items

To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)

  • Book with obvious signs of use
  • CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
  • Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
  • Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery

Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.

Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.

If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:

  • Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
  • Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
  • Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).

If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.


Shipping Cost


We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.

Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.

If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.

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