Questions about the God of the Old Testament

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_Stormy Waters

Questions about the God of the Old Testament

Post by _Stormy Waters »

For the Mormon and Christians readers, I have to ask, does the behavior of the Old Testament God bother you?

Let me cite a few examples:
  • "Thus saith the Lord, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn 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." Exodus 11:4 - 5
    Do you believe that the best way for God to free the hebrew people was to kill the children of the Egyptians?
  • "Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass." 1 Samuel 15:3
    Why did the infants need to die? What purpose did it serve?
  • To punish David for his affair with Bathsheba and for Killing Uriah "The Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick. And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died." 2 Samuel 12:15 - 18.
    Is it just to kill a child to punish a parent?
  • "And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins. I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children" Leviticus 26:21 - 22
  • "And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me; Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat." Leviticus 26:28-29

When pondering these verses does it ever make you doubt? Does the slaughter of infants bother you? Does threatening the life of children to keep the adults obedient bother you? Does taking the life of a child to punish a parent bother you?

I think that it's odd that if I were to say "God caused 9/11 as punishment" that I would be viewed as an extremist, but if I say, "God killed the children of Egyptians as punishment" that is acceptable. What is the difference? The passage of time?

How do you reconcile these actions with a just and loving God?
_Buffalo
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Re: Questions about the God of the Old Testament

Post by _Buffalo »

This was one of my most troubling issues as a believer.
Parley P. Pratt wrote:We must lie to support brother Joseph, it is our duty to do so.

B.R. McConkie, © Intellectual Reserve wrote:There are those who say that revealed religion and organic evolution can be harmonized. This is both false and devilish.
_just me
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Re: Questions about the God of the Old Testament

Post by _just me »

It's what made me realize the scriptures couldn't be literally true.
~Those who benefit from the status quo always attribute inequities to the choices of the underdog.~Ann Crittenden
~The Goddess is not separate from the world-She is the world and all things in it.~
_Melchett
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Re: Questions about the God of the Old Testament

Post by _Melchett »

Kick-ass God was a bit of a character.
_stemelbow
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Re: Questions about the God of the Old Testament

Post by _stemelbow »

I think its quite possible that the people of a distant era attribute to God things that weren't really Him.
Love ya tons,
Stem


I ain't nuttin'. don't get all worked up on account of me.
_Buffalo
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Re: Questions about the God of the Old Testament

Post by _Buffalo »

stemelbow wrote:I think its quite possible that the people of a distant era attribute to God things that weren't really Him.


It's quite possible that's the story of all religion, from bear, ancestor & fire worshippers to present.
Parley P. Pratt wrote:We must lie to support brother Joseph, it is our duty to do so.

B.R. McConkie, © Intellectual Reserve wrote:There are those who say that revealed religion and organic evolution can be harmonized. This is both false and devilish.
_Hoops
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Re: Questions about the God of the Old Testament

Post by _Hoops »

I am absolutely blinded by all this enlightenment.
_Buffalo
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Re: Questions about the God of the Old Testament

Post by _Buffalo »

Hoops wrote:I am absolutely blinded by all this enlightenment.


Hush now, adults are talking.
Parley P. Pratt wrote:We must lie to support brother Joseph, it is our duty to do so.

B.R. McConkie, © Intellectual Reserve wrote:There are those who say that revealed religion and organic evolution can be harmonized. This is both false and devilish.
_Stormy Waters

Re: Questions about the God of the Old Testament

Post by _Stormy Waters »

stemelbow wrote:I think its quite possible that the people of a distant era attribute to God things that weren't really Him.


To believe this you'd have to be that the Bible is riddled with mistakes. Then what value would it have? How would we know which parts are true, and which parts or false?
_emilysmith
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Re: Questions about the God of the Old Testament

Post by _emilysmith »

By investigating each claim individually.
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