Let's not forget that whole flood thing, or the various rules condoning murder or violence in the old testament, or that whole killing of every first born non-Jewish child in Egypt thing, or the time he toppled an entire tower to teach humans a lesson for being presumptuous, or that whole hell thing he created (which isn't really in the bible anyway), or that whole apocalypse thing...
Yeah... that God was one swell dude. Here's a random passage from the bible condoning slavery from the mouth of The Dude himself:
"The servant will be severely punished, for though he knew his duty, he refused to do it. "But people who are not aware that they are doing wrong will be punished only lightly. Much is required from those to whom much is given, and much more is required from those to whom much more is given."
(Luke 12:47-48 NLT)
Jesus doesn't condone religious violence and martyrdom? Where'dja get that one?
"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. {39} He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. "
Matthew 10:34,39
I could go on but I shan't. You can look up the wailing and gnashing of teeth for yourself. Let's not even get started on the Qu'ran.
Let's take a non-Christian religion. Buddhism. Strictly, expressly anti-violence. Now I sort of approve of buddhism because it's a non impositional spirituality and it's more of a philosophy anyway. But all the same, you can raise the debate about whether or not strict adherence to NOT reacting is really the most positive way to lead a life.
I mean, we'd all agree that the castration of children was a crime for Christianity. I don't see why any life should be castrated in the service of religion.
yr ronin,
joey
