Andrew Silow-Carroll praises Jonathan Kirsch's new book, God against the Gods.
"Kirsch is a writer of gently iconoclastic religious books, including studies of biblical sex and a biography of King David."
I have read all of Kirsch’s (who is the Jewish Journal’s pro bono lawyer for defamation) books but this one.
Kirsch's iconoclasticism only runs in one direction - towards debunking Orthodox Judaism and fundamentalist Christianity. Kirsch popularizes current academic research and shapes it into making his arguments against religion which believes in itself. Kirsch has a fundamental hatred of Western religion as it has historically understood itself.
I enjoy his writings but I understand his clear polemical position (something that seems to completely escape Andy, who most likely shares Kirsch's views).
I understand why the Jonathan Kirsches of the world want to deny belief in the one true God who holds people accountable for their actions. This way, the Kirsches of the world can do what they like. There is no universal moral code, no objective system of right and wrong, in Kirsch's worldview. He, and those who view the world as he does, are free to do whatever they can get away with. I don't trust them.
