Specifically, how do Christians feel about violence supposedly committed directly by or at the command of God?
Examples would be:
quote:
Genesis 19:24
Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven
God destroys entire cities and all of their inhabitants for sexual immorality.
quote:
Genesis 19:8
Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.
Lot offers up his two virgin daughters for the angels to do with them as they would like.
quote:
Exodus 11:5
And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first born of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.
God kills all of the firstborn of Egypt, after purposefully "hardening the heart" of Pharaoh - He supposedly gave Himself the exuse He used to kill children.
quote:
Exodus 32:27-28
And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.
God orders the slaughter of 3000 men, women, and children because they worshipped an idol.
quote:
Proverbs 16:4
The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Apparently God created bad people for the express reason of being able to punish them for it by sending them to Hell.
How do Christians, or even non-Christians feel about these things? There are more, and according to the Gospels, Jesus Himself wasn't much better (He didn't actually DO any killing or slaughter, He just threatened and warned of God's impending wrath).
Were these actions moral? Does God's Will justify an act otherwise considered reprehensible, like the murder of children? Are these things even remotely compatable with the God who tells commands His followers to "Love thy neighbor as you love yourself?" What do various modern denominations believe about all of the violence perpetrated in God's name?
Obviously, I reccomend this be put in the Faith and Belief forum. I'd also like us to try to remember that not all Christians are going to support or even believe in these actions, so let's try to avoid simple Christian-bashing and stick to the question of whether God's Will could morally justify an otherwise horrible act.
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