Test of Faith. 2 Chronicles
God helped
A. heal all the sick children in Egypt
B. slaughter half a million Israelites
God and his army
A. fought for truth and justice
B. attacked shepherds and stole their sheep
God had the king of Babylonia
A. memorize bible verses
B. murder men and women, young and old
2 Ch 13:13-18, 14:12-15, 36:17
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
thought of the day.255
Gems from The Simpsons Library of Wisdom
“Pride goeth before prejudice, and I before Ye except after Thee.”
Isayso 16:18
“But if you break my covenant I will chastise you seven times more for your sins, and then I will bring on you seven times more plagues, plus I will punish you another seven times more just for the hell of it.”
Reverberations 6:8
“The Lord neither giveth slack nor taketh any up.”
Luke and Matthew Perry 3:19
“Thus was said to Peter, Paul, and Mary: “Taketh the blasphemer and let Ye stone him unto death, and let he who pitched last season’s shutout game cast the first stone.”
Hey Jude 24:16
~ Flanders’ Book of Faith
“Pride goeth before prejudice, and I before Ye except after Thee.”
Isayso 16:18
“But if you break my covenant I will chastise you seven times more for your sins, and then I will bring on you seven times more plagues, plus I will punish you another seven times more just for the hell of it.”
Reverberations 6:8
“The Lord neither giveth slack nor taketh any up.”
Luke and Matthew Perry 3:19
“Thus was said to Peter, Paul, and Mary: “Taketh the blasphemer and let Ye stone him unto death, and let he who pitched last season’s shutout game cast the first stone.”
Hey Jude 24:16
~ Flanders’ Book of Faith
Friday, March 27, 2009
thought of the day.254
Dear Bishop Spong,
I’ve been a big fan of yours for several years. I applaud you for leading people out of the narrow confines of a literal interpretation of the bible, but am writing to voice my growing disenchantment.
You write, “Our experience has rendered the religious answers of yesterday to be inoperative....The God of yesterday dies as we struggle to view the birth of the God of tomorrow.”
“God of tomorrow”? Please, no more God talk! Hasn’t the world had its fill of Gods and the suffering that inevitably accompanies such notions? Isn’t it time we stop speaking of our relation to “God” (which only confuses communication) and instead speak of our relation to reality. Isn’t reality remarkable enough? It seems to me you’ve had one foot out of the atheist-closet for some time. Why not come all of the way out and continue your extraordinary journey unencumbered by the language of theology?
I’ve been a big fan of yours for several years. I applaud you for leading people out of the narrow confines of a literal interpretation of the bible, but am writing to voice my growing disenchantment.
You write, “Our experience has rendered the religious answers of yesterday to be inoperative....The God of yesterday dies as we struggle to view the birth of the God of tomorrow.”
“God of tomorrow”? Please, no more God talk! Hasn’t the world had its fill of Gods and the suffering that inevitably accompanies such notions? Isn’t it time we stop speaking of our relation to “God” (which only confuses communication) and instead speak of our relation to reality. Isn’t reality remarkable enough? It seems to me you’ve had one foot out of the atheist-closet for some time. Why not come all of the way out and continue your extraordinary journey unencumbered by the language of theology?
Thursday, March 26, 2009
thought of the day.253
Some Mistakes of Jesus
Jesus has long been proclaimed as Perfect. Sinless. The Prince of Peace. God in the flesh! But Jesus wasn’t perfect, sinless, a promoter of peace, nor a deity come to earth. Jesus was a mythological character—and a very flawed one at that.
1. Jesus committed an unforgivable sin by never once condemning slavery. This failure shows he wasn’t divine, nor even as enlightened as other men of his time who did condemn it. He should have made it clear that it was profoundly evil to own humans as property. Jesus’ silence on this fundamental matter of morality allowed the slave trade to flourish at the hands of Christians and made the lives of countless men, women and children a living hell.
2. Jesus initially refused to heal a little girl and referred to her and her non-Jewish mother as “dogs” because they were outside his small circle of concern. (Mt 15:22-28, Mk 7:25-30) He only healed a handful of people with his supernatural powers. Why so damn stingy? Besides healing this child he should have given the world tips on preventing diseases like the Black Death that killed over 75 million.
3. Jesus killed an out of season fig tree because he was hungry and it had no fruit. (Mt 21:18-22 Mk 11:12-14, 19-25) This was a ridiculously senseless and selfish act which denied food and shelter for human and creature alike. If Jesus had any common sense he would have known it wasn’t fig season and that searching the tree was pointless. He should have “blessed” the tree with fruit rather than “curse” it with death and explained that it’s evil to kill things just because they disappoint us.
4. Jesus sent demons into 2,000 pigs causing them to run into the sea and drown. (Mk 5:1-17) St. Augustine explained that this act was intended to teach us that we have no responsibilities for the welfare of animals. St. Thomas Aquinas agreed and thought there was nothing wrong in itself with making animals suffer. Pete Singer explains that as late as the middle of the nineteenth century “Pope Pius IX refused permission for the founding of a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Rome, on the grounds that to grant permission would imply that human beings have duties to the lower creatures.” How differently animals would have been treated if Jesus had said a few words about treating all life—even pigs— with reverence instead of sending them to a watery grave.
5. Jesus promised that believers could pick up venomous snakes and drink poison without being harmed (Mk 16:17-18) leading to thousands of bites, deformities and nearly a hundred documented deaths in the last century alone. I’m not sure who is more irresponsible and stupid—Jesus or those that believed him. He should have encouraged people to ignore “teachers” who spouted such harmful nonsense.
6. Jesus proclaimed that he didn’t come to bring peace to the world but “division.” (Lk 12:49-53) He promised that because of him families would be divided—fathers against sons, mothers against daughters, and daughters-in-law against mothers-in-law. He said “a man’s worst enemies will be members of his own family.” (Mt 10:36) He should have worked to unite the family, communities, countries and world.
7. Jesus demonized unbelieving Jews, calling them “evil,” “serpents,” and children of the “devil” leading to 2,000 years of Jewish persecution. He should have explained how immoral and destructive it is to dehumanize people.
8. Jesus said he hadn’t come to do away with the Law of Moses (which includes commands to chop off wives’ hands (Dt 25:11-12), burn daughters (Lv 21:9) and stone sons (Dt 21:18)) but to make the teachings come true. In fact, he warned that obeying the Law was necessary to enter the Kingdom of heaven. (Mt 5:17-20) He should have condemned the Law of Moses as the work of manipulative and power hungry men and explained that the Kingdom of heaven was not a place to go after death but a state of mind to be achieved here and now.
9. Jesus said he didn’t come to bring peace but a sword (Mt 10:34) and told his followers if they didn’t own a sword to sell their coat and buy one (Luke 22:36). He told violent parables about a vineyard owner slaying his tenants; a master slicing up his slave; a king commanding his enemies be executed in front of him; a stone symbolizing himself, upon which people are broken to pieces and under which others are crushed; and threatened to throw Jezebel and her adulturous partners on a bed where he would make them “suffer terribly” and “kill her children.” (Rev 2:22-23) He should have explained that violence only begets violence.
10. Jesus was the most intolerant character ever as he promised eternal torture for those who didn’t agree with him. This evil idea has caused more suffering than any concept in history. His description of sinners being gathered and cast into the fiery furnace led to the burning of hundreds of thousands if not millions of people as heretics and witches and his threats of torture still cause mental anguish and divisiveness today. He should have said there was no more wicked idea than hell and that it was merely that, an idea used to control people.
Jesus has long been proclaimed as Perfect. Sinless. The Prince of Peace. God in the flesh! But Jesus wasn’t perfect, sinless, a promoter of peace, nor a deity come to earth. Jesus was a mythological character—and a very flawed one at that.
1. Jesus committed an unforgivable sin by never once condemning slavery. This failure shows he wasn’t divine, nor even as enlightened as other men of his time who did condemn it. He should have made it clear that it was profoundly evil to own humans as property. Jesus’ silence on this fundamental matter of morality allowed the slave trade to flourish at the hands of Christians and made the lives of countless men, women and children a living hell.
2. Jesus initially refused to heal a little girl and referred to her and her non-Jewish mother as “dogs” because they were outside his small circle of concern. (Mt 15:22-28, Mk 7:25-30) He only healed a handful of people with his supernatural powers. Why so damn stingy? Besides healing this child he should have given the world tips on preventing diseases like the Black Death that killed over 75 million.
3. Jesus killed an out of season fig tree because he was hungry and it had no fruit. (Mt 21:18-22 Mk 11:12-14, 19-25) This was a ridiculously senseless and selfish act which denied food and shelter for human and creature alike. If Jesus had any common sense he would have known it wasn’t fig season and that searching the tree was pointless. He should have “blessed” the tree with fruit rather than “curse” it with death and explained that it’s evil to kill things just because they disappoint us.
4. Jesus sent demons into 2,000 pigs causing them to run into the sea and drown. (Mk 5:1-17) St. Augustine explained that this act was intended to teach us that we have no responsibilities for the welfare of animals. St. Thomas Aquinas agreed and thought there was nothing wrong in itself with making animals suffer. Pete Singer explains that as late as the middle of the nineteenth century “Pope Pius IX refused permission for the founding of a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Rome, on the grounds that to grant permission would imply that human beings have duties to the lower creatures.” How differently animals would have been treated if Jesus had said a few words about treating all life—even pigs— with reverence instead of sending them to a watery grave.
5. Jesus promised that believers could pick up venomous snakes and drink poison without being harmed (Mk 16:17-18) leading to thousands of bites, deformities and nearly a hundred documented deaths in the last century alone. I’m not sure who is more irresponsible and stupid—Jesus or those that believed him. He should have encouraged people to ignore “teachers” who spouted such harmful nonsense.
6. Jesus proclaimed that he didn’t come to bring peace to the world but “division.” (Lk 12:49-53) He promised that because of him families would be divided—fathers against sons, mothers against daughters, and daughters-in-law against mothers-in-law. He said “a man’s worst enemies will be members of his own family.” (Mt 10:36) He should have worked to unite the family, communities, countries and world.
7. Jesus demonized unbelieving Jews, calling them “evil,” “serpents,” and children of the “devil” leading to 2,000 years of Jewish persecution. He should have explained how immoral and destructive it is to dehumanize people.
8. Jesus said he hadn’t come to do away with the Law of Moses (which includes commands to chop off wives’ hands (Dt 25:11-12), burn daughters (Lv 21:9) and stone sons (Dt 21:18)) but to make the teachings come true. In fact, he warned that obeying the Law was necessary to enter the Kingdom of heaven. (Mt 5:17-20) He should have condemned the Law of Moses as the work of manipulative and power hungry men and explained that the Kingdom of heaven was not a place to go after death but a state of mind to be achieved here and now.
9. Jesus said he didn’t come to bring peace but a sword (Mt 10:34) and told his followers if they didn’t own a sword to sell their coat and buy one (Luke 22:36). He told violent parables about a vineyard owner slaying his tenants; a master slicing up his slave; a king commanding his enemies be executed in front of him; a stone symbolizing himself, upon which people are broken to pieces and under which others are crushed; and threatened to throw Jezebel and her adulturous partners on a bed where he would make them “suffer terribly” and “kill her children.” (Rev 2:22-23) He should have explained that violence only begets violence.
10. Jesus was the most intolerant character ever as he promised eternal torture for those who didn’t agree with him. This evil idea has caused more suffering than any concept in history. His description of sinners being gathered and cast into the fiery furnace led to the burning of hundreds of thousands if not millions of people as heretics and witches and his threats of torture still cause mental anguish and divisiveness today. He should have said there was no more wicked idea than hell and that it was merely that, an idea used to control people.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
thought of the day.252
“If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?”
~Alexander Solzhenitsyn
~Alexander Solzhenitsyn
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
thought of the day.251
Top 10 Blood Baths of the Bible or Over a Billion Reasons Not to be a Christian
10. GOD SLAUGHTERS OVER 50,000 PEOPLE OF BETHSHEMESH
And [the LORD] smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter. (1 S 6:19)
9. GOD SLAUGHTERS 70,000 ISRAELITES
So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men. (2 S 24:15)
8. GOD LEADS GIDEON IN SLAUGHTER OF 120,000 MIDIANITES
...the LORD said unto [Gideon], ...I have delivered [the Midianites] into thine hand. ...and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow...And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.... there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword. (Jg 7:9, 22-25, 8:10)
7. GOD LEADS SLAUGHTER OF 120,000 JUDEANS
Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter. For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.... And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters... (2 Ch 28:5-8)
6. GOD’S ANGEL SLAUGHTERS 185,000 ASSYRIANS
And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. (2 K 19:35)
5. GOD LEADS SLAUGHTER OF 500,000 ISRAELITES
...and they cried unto the LORD, and ...it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand. And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men. Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon the LORD God of their fathers. (2 Ch 13:14-18)
4. GOD LEADS MOSES IN SLAUGHTER OF COUNTLESS MIDIANITES
And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males....And ...took all the women of Midian captives, and their little ones...And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?...Now therefore kill every male among the little ones (children), and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him....But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves. (Nu 31:7-18)
3. GOD SLAUGHTERS COUNTLESS EGYPTIANS
The LORD turned streams to blood and killed the Egyptians firstborn: And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink. He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them. He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust. He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost. He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts. He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them. He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence; And smote all the firstborn in Egypt... (Ps 78:44-51)
2. GOD SLAUGHTERS EVERY THING THAT BREATHS ON EARTH
And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air....And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. (Gn 6:7, 7:23)
1. JESUS TO BRING BLOOD BATH OF ALL BLOOD BATHS
And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men (Would mean a slaughter of over 2 Billion people if Jesus returned today). And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand...and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. (Rev 9:15-18)
Thankfully, these accounts are myths. The God of the bible is not a supernatural being but a product of the imagination of violent men. The Book of Exodus describes this character as a war Lord: “The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name” (Ex 15:3). Such “a man of war” will always provide any nation that calls on him—that glorifies him—divine justification for violence on a massive scale. There is no hope for peace as long as “a man of war” is worshipped which makes all the Abrahamic religions enemies of humanity.
10. GOD SLAUGHTERS OVER 50,000 PEOPLE OF BETHSHEMESH
And [the LORD] smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter. (1 S 6:19)
9. GOD SLAUGHTERS 70,000 ISRAELITES
So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men. (2 S 24:15)
8. GOD LEADS GIDEON IN SLAUGHTER OF 120,000 MIDIANITES
...the LORD said unto [Gideon], ...I have delivered [the Midianites] into thine hand. ...and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow...And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.... there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword. (Jg 7:9, 22-25, 8:10)
7. GOD LEADS SLAUGHTER OF 120,000 JUDEANS
Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter. For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.... And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters... (2 Ch 28:5-8)
6. GOD’S ANGEL SLAUGHTERS 185,000 ASSYRIANS
And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. (2 K 19:35)
5. GOD LEADS SLAUGHTER OF 500,000 ISRAELITES
...and they cried unto the LORD, and ...it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand. And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men. Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon the LORD God of their fathers. (2 Ch 13:14-18)
4. GOD LEADS MOSES IN SLAUGHTER OF COUNTLESS MIDIANITES
And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males....And ...took all the women of Midian captives, and their little ones...And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?...Now therefore kill every male among the little ones (children), and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him....But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves. (Nu 31:7-18)
3. GOD SLAUGHTERS COUNTLESS EGYPTIANS
The LORD turned streams to blood and killed the Egyptians firstborn: And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink. He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them. He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust. He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost. He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts. He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them. He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence; And smote all the firstborn in Egypt... (Ps 78:44-51)
2. GOD SLAUGHTERS EVERY THING THAT BREATHS ON EARTH
And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air....And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. (Gn 6:7, 7:23)
1. JESUS TO BRING BLOOD BATH OF ALL BLOOD BATHS
And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men (Would mean a slaughter of over 2 Billion people if Jesus returned today). And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand...and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. (Rev 9:15-18)
Thankfully, these accounts are myths. The God of the bible is not a supernatural being but a product of the imagination of violent men. The Book of Exodus describes this character as a war Lord: “The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name” (Ex 15:3). Such “a man of war” will always provide any nation that calls on him—that glorifies him—divine justification for violence on a massive scale. There is no hope for peace as long as “a man of war” is worshipped which makes all the Abrahamic religions enemies of humanity.
Monday, March 23, 2009
thought of the day.250
A christian and atheist discuss the bible
One of the most despicable stories in all of literature can be found in that holiest of all books—the Bible. Chapter 31 of the Book of Numbers tells of a “Holy” War fought by God’s people against the people of Midian. It begins with the LORD telling Moses to, "Take vengeance on the Midianites.” So they fought against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses, and “killed every man.” The Israelites captured the Midianite women and children and took all the Midianite herds, flocks and goods as plunder. They burned all the towns to the ground. Moses was furious that anyone was left alive and commanded the officers of the army to “kill all the boys” and “kill every woman who has slept with a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.”
Now to the discussion. The participants are Mike the Christian who is an author, teacher, speaker and Christian apologist. John the Atheist is an ex-Christian.
John the Atheist:
This story alone should lead any ethical person to reject the God of the Bible as morally abhorent. It is evil to kill captured and cowering little boys and mothers; evil to kill a young girl’s mother, father, brother and friends and then give her to the soldier that slaughtered them; and despicable to defend such behavior.
Mike the Christian:
An Israelite was permitted to marry women from the captives of a particular battle. If an Israelite soldier genuinely desired one of the captives he could have her only through marriage. This helped protect the dignity of the women captives and the purity of the Israelite soldiers. Israelites were not to rape, plunder, or otherwise mistreat captives as other armies of the ancient Near East did.
John the Atheist:
I find your choice of words about the soldiers and captives disturbing: “genuinely,” “protect,” “dignity,” “purity.” The reality of this young girl’s situation is that she has just witnessed an attack on her town and watched as her mother and father were hacked to pieces with swords, her older brothers, grandfather and all the males in her town have been likewise slaughtered. Her little brothers along with tens of thousand of other little boys were chased down, rounded up, brought before Moses and then murdered. All of the girl friends of this captive have been taken away by soldiers who must have been dripping with the blood of her family and friends to undoubtedly be raped repeatedly. Can you put yourself in the place of this young girl? Can you imagine your daughters in such a situation? Do you really feel it’s honest to speak of the soldier’s “purity” or the girl’s protection of “dignity”? Again you have used words to paint a noble picture of utter atrocity and shifted the focus to the armies of the Near East, who you say, are the ones who rape and plunder. Yet the Israelites’ plunder from this battle alone included nearly a million animals and 32,000 virgins!
Mike the Christian:
A soldier’s marriage to a foreign captive could not take place immediately. The prospective wife was first prepared psychologically for her new life as an Israelite. She was actually integrated into the Jewish culture as family. This was accomplished by her shaving her head, trimming her nails, having a change of clothes, and mourning for her parents for one month. The full month allowed the captive woman a proper amount of time for mourning, (Jews only mourn for 7 days) and it also gave the prospective husband opportunity to reflect on his initial decision to take her as his wife. For with a shaved head she would be less attractive. The phrase, If you are not pleased with her may refer not to some trivial problem in their relationship, but rather to the new wife’s refusal to accept her husband’s spiritual values. In this case the husband could dissolve the marriage only by giving up all rights over her. Clearly he is forbidden from treating her as a slave if she leaves and he was expected to treat her as a wife if she stayed. This law underscored the value of human life; it contrasted with the terrible treatment of war captives common throughout the ancient Near East.
John the Atheist:
Again, I find your choice of words to be dishonest. “Prepared psychologically,” “integrated into the Jewish culture as family”?These people just covered an entire town with entrails and dismembered limbs. They are barbarians of the worst kind, killing the old men and women, the blind, the crippled, mothers and the babies at their breast, fathers, teenagers—boys just like our sons. Is it truly honest to say that the fiends that did these things to these girls’ families and friends are now concerned about gently preparing them psychologically? That the man is going to reflect on his decision of a wife? You make it sound like these are Harvard educated, contemplative and sensitive men. You speak of the law that underscored the value of human life— PLEASE! And again, you say it is not the Israelites who are barbaric but the people of the Near East!
Mike the Christian:
As for the killing of the children, several things should be noted. (1) Given the immoral state of the society into which they were born, they had no chance to avoid its fatal pollution and subsequent eternal consequences. (2) Children who die before the age of accountability go to heaven. This was an act of God’s mercy to take them into His holy presence from such an unholy environment. (3) God is sovereign over life and can order its end according to His will and in view of the creature’s ultimate good. As for the virgins, they were spared (only by Moses concession) because they obviously had had no role in the Baal of Peor incident nor could they by themselves perpetuate the Midianite peoples. The purpose for utterly destroying the Midianites was to protect the Israelites from further deception and harm by completely removing the Midianite people from the earth.
John the Atheist:
Murdering children is actually an act of God’s mercy? Mike, you scare me-is this how badly you must twist your thinking to reconcile the despicable evil attributed to the God of the Bible? Your argument makes no sense, if it was so merciful to have male children slaughtered so that they could enter His holy presence as you say, why not the female children? Is it conceivable that the truth is that this story reflects ancient soldiers lusting after young virgins rather than a God who demanded the murder of countless people?
Mike the Christian:
It was common practice for women to serve as “staff” in the Temple. (1 Sam 2:22) These women were given to Temple service and would have been under the direct authority and care of the priests. These women were still protected by the law given in Deuteronomy and thus they would not have been raped, summarily killed, or used as “human sacrifices.”
John the Atheist:
The Bible says that 16,000 virgins were given to the soldiers, 320 were given to the Levites, and 15,680 were given to the men of the community leaving 32 girls who were given to Eleazar the priest as a “tax for the LORD.” Everything else that was given as a “tax for the LORD” was sacrificed but you say they became Temple “staff.” You make it sound like a great career move — do they get Christmas bonuses? When you say these girls were under the “care” of the priests, and “protected” by the law you make it sound like they won the lottery and were blessed to be in such a warm environment. It must have been spiritually fulfilling for them to work in the Temple of the God responsible for commanding the murders of their family and friends and sexually fulfilling satisfying the lusts of godly men. If they weren’t sacrificed, they probably wished they were.
The only thing more disturbing than the slaughter of the Midianites is listening to Christians try to defend it.
One of the most despicable stories in all of literature can be found in that holiest of all books—the Bible. Chapter 31 of the Book of Numbers tells of a “Holy” War fought by God’s people against the people of Midian. It begins with the LORD telling Moses to, "Take vengeance on the Midianites.” So they fought against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses, and “killed every man.” The Israelites captured the Midianite women and children and took all the Midianite herds, flocks and goods as plunder. They burned all the towns to the ground. Moses was furious that anyone was left alive and commanded the officers of the army to “kill all the boys” and “kill every woman who has slept with a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.”
Now to the discussion. The participants are Mike the Christian who is an author, teacher, speaker and Christian apologist. John the Atheist is an ex-Christian.
John the Atheist:
This story alone should lead any ethical person to reject the God of the Bible as morally abhorent. It is evil to kill captured and cowering little boys and mothers; evil to kill a young girl’s mother, father, brother and friends and then give her to the soldier that slaughtered them; and despicable to defend such behavior.
Mike the Christian:
An Israelite was permitted to marry women from the captives of a particular battle. If an Israelite soldier genuinely desired one of the captives he could have her only through marriage. This helped protect the dignity of the women captives and the purity of the Israelite soldiers. Israelites were not to rape, plunder, or otherwise mistreat captives as other armies of the ancient Near East did.
John the Atheist:
I find your choice of words about the soldiers and captives disturbing: “genuinely,” “protect,” “dignity,” “purity.” The reality of this young girl’s situation is that she has just witnessed an attack on her town and watched as her mother and father were hacked to pieces with swords, her older brothers, grandfather and all the males in her town have been likewise slaughtered. Her little brothers along with tens of thousand of other little boys were chased down, rounded up, brought before Moses and then murdered. All of the girl friends of this captive have been taken away by soldiers who must have been dripping with the blood of her family and friends to undoubtedly be raped repeatedly. Can you put yourself in the place of this young girl? Can you imagine your daughters in such a situation? Do you really feel it’s honest to speak of the soldier’s “purity” or the girl’s protection of “dignity”? Again you have used words to paint a noble picture of utter atrocity and shifted the focus to the armies of the Near East, who you say, are the ones who rape and plunder. Yet the Israelites’ plunder from this battle alone included nearly a million animals and 32,000 virgins!
Mike the Christian:
A soldier’s marriage to a foreign captive could not take place immediately. The prospective wife was first prepared psychologically for her new life as an Israelite. She was actually integrated into the Jewish culture as family. This was accomplished by her shaving her head, trimming her nails, having a change of clothes, and mourning for her parents for one month. The full month allowed the captive woman a proper amount of time for mourning, (Jews only mourn for 7 days) and it also gave the prospective husband opportunity to reflect on his initial decision to take her as his wife. For with a shaved head she would be less attractive. The phrase, If you are not pleased with her may refer not to some trivial problem in their relationship, but rather to the new wife’s refusal to accept her husband’s spiritual values. In this case the husband could dissolve the marriage only by giving up all rights over her. Clearly he is forbidden from treating her as a slave if she leaves and he was expected to treat her as a wife if she stayed. This law underscored the value of human life; it contrasted with the terrible treatment of war captives common throughout the ancient Near East.
John the Atheist:
Again, I find your choice of words to be dishonest. “Prepared psychologically,” “integrated into the Jewish culture as family”?These people just covered an entire town with entrails and dismembered limbs. They are barbarians of the worst kind, killing the old men and women, the blind, the crippled, mothers and the babies at their breast, fathers, teenagers—boys just like our sons. Is it truly honest to say that the fiends that did these things to these girls’ families and friends are now concerned about gently preparing them psychologically? That the man is going to reflect on his decision of a wife? You make it sound like these are Harvard educated, contemplative and sensitive men. You speak of the law that underscored the value of human life— PLEASE! And again, you say it is not the Israelites who are barbaric but the people of the Near East!
Mike the Christian:
As for the killing of the children, several things should be noted. (1) Given the immoral state of the society into which they were born, they had no chance to avoid its fatal pollution and subsequent eternal consequences. (2) Children who die before the age of accountability go to heaven. This was an act of God’s mercy to take them into His holy presence from such an unholy environment. (3) God is sovereign over life and can order its end according to His will and in view of the creature’s ultimate good. As for the virgins, they were spared (only by Moses concession) because they obviously had had no role in the Baal of Peor incident nor could they by themselves perpetuate the Midianite peoples. The purpose for utterly destroying the Midianites was to protect the Israelites from further deception and harm by completely removing the Midianite people from the earth.
John the Atheist:
Murdering children is actually an act of God’s mercy? Mike, you scare me-is this how badly you must twist your thinking to reconcile the despicable evil attributed to the God of the Bible? Your argument makes no sense, if it was so merciful to have male children slaughtered so that they could enter His holy presence as you say, why not the female children? Is it conceivable that the truth is that this story reflects ancient soldiers lusting after young virgins rather than a God who demanded the murder of countless people?
Mike the Christian:
It was common practice for women to serve as “staff” in the Temple. (1 Sam 2:22) These women were given to Temple service and would have been under the direct authority and care of the priests. These women were still protected by the law given in Deuteronomy and thus they would not have been raped, summarily killed, or used as “human sacrifices.”
John the Atheist:
The Bible says that 16,000 virgins were given to the soldiers, 320 were given to the Levites, and 15,680 were given to the men of the community leaving 32 girls who were given to Eleazar the priest as a “tax for the LORD.” Everything else that was given as a “tax for the LORD” was sacrificed but you say they became Temple “staff.” You make it sound like a great career move — do they get Christmas bonuses? When you say these girls were under the “care” of the priests, and “protected” by the law you make it sound like they won the lottery and were blessed to be in such a warm environment. It must have been spiritually fulfilling for them to work in the Temple of the God responsible for commanding the murders of their family and friends and sexually fulfilling satisfying the lusts of godly men. If they weren’t sacrificed, they probably wished they were.
The only thing more disturbing than the slaughter of the Midianites is listening to Christians try to defend it.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
thought of the day.249
Putting all propositions on a probability scale leads to confidence but never certainty. And far better to be confident than certain, for certainty breeds intolerance; and doubt, compassion.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
thought of the day.248
“The Christian ...can exult over his own salvation while seeing others going to destruction. This is a fiendish happiness, a devilish joy. For one to be happy while knowing that a brother or sister is lost shows a hard, selfish, cruel heart.
“Think of the Christian mother being happy for having been rescued from her burning home in whose fatal flames her children all perished! Think of the Christian father filled with joy at his escape from the sinking ship in which his wife and babe sailed to the port of death! Think of a Christian man or woman exulting over their good fortune in not having a disease which took away those who were nearest and dearest! Such joy, such happiness, as this is not human, it is brutish.
“The Christian is welcome to all the happiness his heartless religion affords him. I want none of it. Such a religion would drive me mad. The loving heart is happiest in the joy of those it loves; it is happy in seeing others happy, but there could be no joy for it to be saved while those it loved were lost. Christianity is a heartless religion, a cruel faith, a selfish scheme...”
~ Lemuel K. Washburn, Is The Bible Worth Reading?, 1911
“Think of the Christian mother being happy for having been rescued from her burning home in whose fatal flames her children all perished! Think of the Christian father filled with joy at his escape from the sinking ship in which his wife and babe sailed to the port of death! Think of a Christian man or woman exulting over their good fortune in not having a disease which took away those who were nearest and dearest! Such joy, such happiness, as this is not human, it is brutish.
“The Christian is welcome to all the happiness his heartless religion affords him. I want none of it. Such a religion would drive me mad. The loving heart is happiest in the joy of those it loves; it is happy in seeing others happy, but there could be no joy for it to be saved while those it loved were lost. Christianity is a heartless religion, a cruel faith, a selfish scheme...”
~ Lemuel K. Washburn, Is The Bible Worth Reading?, 1911
Friday, March 20, 2009
thought of the day.247
Test of Faith.Lamentations
Who invited enemies to murder beloved children?
A. Satan
B. God
Who angrily pursues people and kills without mercy?
A. Satan
B. God
Who brought such starvation that mothers ate children?
A. Satan
B. God
Lm 2:22, 3:43, 4:10
Who invited enemies to murder beloved children?
A. Satan
B. God
Who angrily pursues people and kills without mercy?
A. Satan
B. God
Who brought such starvation that mothers ate children?
A. Satan
B. God
Lm 2:22, 3:43, 4:10
Thursday, March 19, 2009
thought of the day.246
New Book Attacks Evolution Supporters as ‘Atheists,’ ‘Monsters’ and ‘Morons’
Preceding a critical vote on science curriculum, the chairman of the Texas State Board of Education endorsed a new book that portrays parents who want their children to learn about evolution as “monsters,” and pastors who accept the science of evolution as “morons.”
Christianity strikes again.
Preceding a critical vote on science curriculum, the chairman of the Texas State Board of Education endorsed a new book that portrays parents who want their children to learn about evolution as “monsters,” and pastors who accept the science of evolution as “morons.”
Christianity strikes again.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
thought of the day.245
O.C.I.C.B.W.
It seems a good phrase to write upon our heart, tattoo across our forehead, and perhaps wear in bright-colored rubber bracelet form around our wrist, would be...“Of course, I could be wrong.”
It seems a good phrase to write upon our heart, tattoo across our forehead, and perhaps wear in bright-colored rubber bracelet form around our wrist, would be...“Of course, I could be wrong.”
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
thought of the day.244
Was a spectacularly pretty day today—blue skies and perfect temperature. I talked a little religion with an old friend and a new one; was treated to a delicious lunch by a much appreciated client; had a nice walk in the park with my wife and threw bread to swooping seagulls; held a beautiful 2 week old baby while eating pizza and drinking beer; experienced a weird mixture of pride and horror as my 16 year old son nearly whipped me in a playful wrestling match; and we topped off the day with popcorn, candy and sodas while watching a movie. It’s spring break and we’re taking the train to the zoo tomorrow—life is sweet.
Postscript: 11:58 pm. 18 year old daughter is on the phone—crying. Seems to have a flat tire. Oh, and seems to have some body damage. I stumble out of bed. The formerly near mint condition 94 Celica has been split open along the side with what looks like a giant can opener. Fire hydrants will do that. But she’s o.k. Sadly, her bank account won’t be. Maybe next time she comes home after working all day (like her mom suggested) instead of driving to the boyfriend’s house. Tow truck will be called in the morning. Life is still sweet.
Postscript: 11:58 pm. 18 year old daughter is on the phone—crying. Seems to have a flat tire. Oh, and seems to have some body damage. I stumble out of bed. The formerly near mint condition 94 Celica has been split open along the side with what looks like a giant can opener. Fire hydrants will do that. But she’s o.k. Sadly, her bank account won’t be. Maybe next time she comes home after working all day (like her mom suggested) instead of driving to the boyfriend’s house. Tow truck will be called in the morning. Life is still sweet.
Monday, March 16, 2009
thought of the day.243
Reason or the bible?
Reason says people can’t live to be nearly a thousand years old.
The bible says they can.
Reason says men can’t turn sticks into snakes and rivers into blood.
The bible says they can.
Reason says snakes, donkeys and burning bushes can’t talk.
The bible says they can.
Reason says the sun can’t be stopped in the sky.
The bible says it can.
Reason says hordes of rotted people can’t walk out of their graves.
The bible says they can.
Reason says there are no witches.
The bible says there are—and to kill them.
Knowing this, shouldn’t we teach our children to listen to reason
rather than the bible and its preachers?
Reason says people can’t live to be nearly a thousand years old.
The bible says they can.
Reason says men can’t turn sticks into snakes and rivers into blood.
The bible says they can.
Reason says snakes, donkeys and burning bushes can’t talk.
The bible says they can.
Reason says the sun can’t be stopped in the sky.
The bible says it can.
Reason says hordes of rotted people can’t walk out of their graves.
The bible says they can.
Reason says there are no witches.
The bible says there are—and to kill them.
Knowing this, shouldn’t we teach our children to listen to reason
rather than the bible and its preachers?
Sunday, March 15, 2009
thought of the day.242
“Happiness is not an individual matter. When you are able to bring relief, or bring back the smile to one person, not only that person profits, but you also profit. The deepest happiness you can have comes from that capacity to help relieve the suffering of others. So if we have the habit of being peace, then there is a natural tendency for us to go in the direction of service. Nothing compels us, except the joy of sharing peace, the joy of sharing freedom from afflictions, freedom from worries, freedom from craving, which are the true foundations for happiness...
“And once we have the condition of peace and joy in us, we can afford to be in any situation. Even in the situation of hell, we will be able to contribute our peace and serenity. The most important thing is for each of us to have some freedom in our heart, some stability in our heart, some peace in our heart. Only then will we be able to relieve the suffering around us.”
~Thich Nhat Hanh, Inquiring Mind Magazine, Spring 1996
“And once we have the condition of peace and joy in us, we can afford to be in any situation. Even in the situation of hell, we will be able to contribute our peace and serenity. The most important thing is for each of us to have some freedom in our heart, some stability in our heart, some peace in our heart. Only then will we be able to relieve the suffering around us.”
~Thich Nhat Hanh, Inquiring Mind Magazine, Spring 1996
Saturday, March 14, 2009
thought of the day.241
“The only thing that makes life endurable in this world is human love, and yet, according to Christianity...We are to be so taken up
with Jesus and angels, that we shall care nothing about our brothers and sisters that have been damned. We shall be so carried away with the music of the harp that we shall not even hear the wail of father and mother. Such a religion is a disgrace to human nature.”
~ Robert G. Ingersoll
with Jesus and angels, that we shall care nothing about our brothers and sisters that have been damned. We shall be so carried away with the music of the harp that we shall not even hear the wail of father and mother. Such a religion is a disgrace to human nature.”
~ Robert G. Ingersoll
Friday, March 13, 2009
thought of the day.240
A Few Good, Devoted, Spirit-Filled, Zealous Men of God
Elijah proved he was a “man of God” not by loving people, but incinerating them. Likewise, Jehu proved his devotion to the LORD not through acts of kindness, but mass murder. Phinehas’ zealous killing didn’t anger God, but pleased him. Each time “the Spirit of the LORD” came upon Samson, he didn’t become more generous, but more violent, spilling more and more blood. And no hands were more blood-stained than those of our bible “heroes” Moses and David, the former ordering untold numbers of helpless, captured little boys and their mothers to be systematically murdered, and the latter, said to be a man after God’s own heart who cut the hands, feet, and heads off of people and slaughtered tens of thousands in the name of the LORD.
Yet countless Christians—either oblivious to the mind-numbing atrocities in their “holy” scriptures, or perhaps because of them—pray for such godly men to rise up and lead our country. In The Bible Unmasked, Joseph Lewis writes, “When ministers plead for another David perhaps they want another Savage Commander. Surely the proper place for the Bible is in the War Colleges of belligerent nations...Killing and murder are related with so little compunction that a continued reading of the Bible cannot help but make one callous to the value of human life. No wonder the Christian countries at war use the Bible as the basis of their national religion and give each soldier a copy while engaged in battle.”
2K 1:10-12, 2K 10:16-17, Nu 25:1-13, Jg 14:6-16:30, Nu 31:17, 1 S 18:6-9
Elijah proved he was a “man of God” not by loving people, but incinerating them. Likewise, Jehu proved his devotion to the LORD not through acts of kindness, but mass murder. Phinehas’ zealous killing didn’t anger God, but pleased him. Each time “the Spirit of the LORD” came upon Samson, he didn’t become more generous, but more violent, spilling more and more blood. And no hands were more blood-stained than those of our bible “heroes” Moses and David, the former ordering untold numbers of helpless, captured little boys and their mothers to be systematically murdered, and the latter, said to be a man after God’s own heart who cut the hands, feet, and heads off of people and slaughtered tens of thousands in the name of the LORD.
Yet countless Christians—either oblivious to the mind-numbing atrocities in their “holy” scriptures, or perhaps because of them—pray for such godly men to rise up and lead our country. In The Bible Unmasked, Joseph Lewis writes, “When ministers plead for another David perhaps they want another Savage Commander. Surely the proper place for the Bible is in the War Colleges of belligerent nations...Killing and murder are related with so little compunction that a continued reading of the Bible cannot help but make one callous to the value of human life. No wonder the Christian countries at war use the Bible as the basis of their national religion and give each soldier a copy while engaged in battle.”
2K 1:10-12, 2K 10:16-17, Nu 25:1-13, Jg 14:6-16:30, Nu 31:17, 1 S 18:6-9
Thursday, March 12, 2009
thought of the day.239
Test of Faith.Leviticus
Children who curse a parent must be
A. prayed for
B. killed
Children
A. are most precious to God
B. may be enslaved for life
Everyone “unconditionally dedicated” to the LORD
A. is blessed
B. must be killed
Leviticus 20:9, 25:44-46, 27:28-29
Children who curse a parent must be
A. prayed for
B. killed
Children
A. are most precious to God
B. may be enslaved for life
Everyone “unconditionally dedicated” to the LORD
A. is blessed
B. must be killed
Leviticus 20:9, 25:44-46, 27:28-29
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
thought of the day.238
Not only does “objective morality” not exist, it cannot exist. Morality is but meaning we give to behavior, and as all meaning is subjective, all morality must necessarily be as well.
But where one might interpret this as “anything goes,” our social ties means it does not. The fact that morality is subjective is indeed liberating—where obedience to the ghost of an objective or revealed morality is confining—but with freedom comes responsibility.
But where one might interpret this as “anything goes,” our social ties means it does not. The fact that morality is subjective is indeed liberating—where obedience to the ghost of an objective or revealed morality is confining—but with freedom comes responsibility.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
thought of the day.237
Our “carbon footprint” is but one in our trail of “suffering footprints.” One giant step toward reducing suffering is simply eating less meat.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
