God: The Most Unpleasant Character in All Fiction

Former evangelical minister Dan Barker's provocative monograph systematically examines the moral character of the biblical God through a methodical analysis of scriptural passages. The work takes its title from Richard Dawkins' famous characterization in The God Delusion, where Dawkins describes the Old Testament deity as "arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction." Barker expands this critique into a comprehensive study, organizing his analysis around specific moral accusations against the biblical God.

The author employs a straightforward methodology: he identifies nineteen negative character traits attributed to God by critics, then documents each trait with extensive biblical citations. These traits include jealousy, petty vindictiveness, genocidal tendencies, misogyny, homophobia, racism, infanticide, filicide, pestilence, megalomaniac behavior, sadomasochism, caprice, and malevolence. For each characteristic, Barker provides chapter and verse references, allowing readers to verify his claims directly from biblical sources. This approach transforms what might be dismissed as mere polemic into a documented catalog of morally problematic divine actions and commands.

Barker's work contributes to contemporary atheist literature by shifting focus from philosophical arguments about God's existence to moral arguments about divine character. Unlike traditional theodicy debates that attempt to reconcile suffering with divine benevolence, Barker suggests the biblical texts themselves portray a deity whose moral character falls far below human ethical standards. His analysis challenges believers who claim biblical morality as divinely inspired while selectively ignoring passages depicting divine cruelty.

The monograph engages primarily with liberal and moderate Christians who acknowledge biblical authority while maintaining that God represents perfect goodness. By exhaustively documenting divine commands for genocide, slavery, and various forms of violence, Barker forces readers to confront uncomfortable scriptural content often overlooked in contemporary religious practice. His work also implicitly critiques scholarly approaches that explain away morally troubling passages through historical contextualization or metaphorical interpretation.

While Barker's approach may appear one-sided to theological scholars, his systematic documentation serves an important function in public discourse about religious morality. The work provides a counterweight to apologetic literature that presents selective scriptural quotations supporting divine benevolence. By comprehensively cataloging morally problematic divine actions, Barker challenges readers to either defend these actions as morally justified or acknowledge significant problems with biblical depictions of God.