Old Testament History Matters - Peter S. Williams

Are the historical narratives of the Old Testament invented legends made up by Jews writing during or after the Babylonian exile, as “biblical minimalists” say? How does the Old Testament fare in light of the criticism of atheist Richard Dawkins? What’s the evidence for the historicity of the Old Testament narratives from Genesis to Daniel? Looking at key elements and stories, this Pre-Forum Conference considers internal and external evidence for the sweep of biblical history from the Creation to the return from exile.

This is part 1 in a 5-part series on 'Evidence for Old Testament History'.

Part 1 - Old Testament History Matters
This session introduces the critical debate between biblical minimalism and maximalism, exploring why many modern scholars dismiss Old Testament narratives as non-historical. We engage with key voices on both sides of the debate and lay the groundwork for examining the reliability of the Old Testament's narrative through both internal and external evidence. A response to the criticism of atheist Richard Dawkins will highlight how the Old Testament is treated in Western culture today.

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Peter S. Williams (www.peterswilliams.com) studied philosophy at Cardiff University (BA), Sheffield University (MA) and the University of East Anglia in Norwich (MPhil), and obtained a masters level Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Educational Practice from Bournemouth University in 2024. Peter lives in England, and is Assistant Professor in Communication and Worldviews at NLA University College in Norway. His publications include: Behold the Man: Essays on the Historical Jesus (Wipf and Stock, 2024), An Informed Cosmos: Essays on Intelligent Design Theory (Wipf and Stock, 2023), A Universe From Someone: Essays on Natural Theology (Wipf & Stock, 2022), Apologetics in 3D: Essays on Apologetics and Spirituality (Wipf and Stock, 2021), Outgrowing God? A Beginner’s Guide to Richard Dawkins and the God Debate (Cascade, 2020), Getting at Jesus: A Comprehensive Critique of Neo-Atheist Nonsense About the Jesus of History (Wipf & Stock, 2019) and A Faithful Guide to Philosophy: A Christian Introduction to the Love of Wisdom (Wipf & Stock, 2019).

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