Theological dirty laundry

Christians insist that their religion preaches nothing but love. Unfortunately, their holy book, given an impartial reading, reveals itself unmistakably to have been written by worshippers of an angry, vengeful tribal war god. And, funnily enough, the behavior of the most strident members of this religion belies their belief in a god of war, not a god of love.

They also insist that their holy book is divinely authored and infallible, that every word in it came directly from their god. Which begs the question: if your god is really a god of love, why did he put such hateful and violent instructions in your scriptures?

• Exodus 22:18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
• Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
• Matthew 27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, His [Jesus'] blood be on us [the Jews], and on our children.
• Luke 19:27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

These verses, taken to heart, have caused the death of countless thousands of innocent women, gays, Jews, and non-Christians. Why would a benevolent, loving god do something like that?

Why does he include stuff like this?:

• Deuteronomy 21: 18-21 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
• Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Some family values, huh?

Why would an all-powerful, all-benevolent god make his instructions so unclear? It’s almost as if he wants to confuse people…

• Mark 4: 11-12 And he [Jesus] said unto them [the disciples], Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

And just to prove that point about the tribal war god, one of the more memorable passages from the Old Testament, a large portion of which is dedicated to the ancient Hebrews’ various genocidal escapades:

• Numbers 31: 14-18 And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, with the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came from the battle. And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive? Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD. Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, 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.

God of love? Really?

Tags: Atheism, Christianity