Joshua, Conquest and Jesus

J James Tissot, The Flight of the Spies (Josh. 2:15)

Ok, after leaving the poll open for several days now it seems that the next essay should be the one on reading the Joshua conquest narratives as Christian scripture.

The more I've talked to friends about doing this essay, the more I've discovered that people find Joshua a real sticking point with Christianity. How can a God of love apparently order genocide? How is it possible to have a cosmic God who sends the rain on the 'good' and the 'bad' who simultaneously appears to discriminate on the basis of race? How is it possible to have your ultimate destiny determined by the accident of your birth?

Christianity is stuck with the conquest narratives in Joshua as part of their Holy Scripture. So, are there any ways to read Joshua as 'Christian scripture' in a way that doesn't do a disservice to the text, that recognises the violence in the narrative, but still maintains 'Christian' perspective (however that might be defined!)?

Well, I believe there are, though it's not easy, especially if, like me, you've been steeped in an Evangalical worldview for much of your life. There is much to question and many presumptions to examine and often get rid of in order to work with the narrative.

This Advanced Workshop essay required me to use specifically the hermeneutical tools of Paul Ricoeur, often referred to as the hermeneutics of suspicion and retrieval. The essay title is...

First installment of my essay tomorrow.

In the mean time, what are your personal experiences of reading Joshua? How do you reconcile the conquest narratives within a Christian faith? How have you heard Joshua's conquests being taught in local churches?

Comments and reflections warmly welcomed.