Why I'm Atheist, Chapter 1

In this chapter, I'll tackle my problems with the christian bible

The Christian Bible:
Condones Rape:
Judges 21:21 http://biblehub.com/niv/judges/21-21.htm
And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.

Numbers 31:18 http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-18.htm
Only the young girls who are virgins may live; you may keep them for yourselves.
Deuteronomy 20:14 http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/20-14.htm
As for the women, the children, the livestock and everything else in the city, you may take these as plunder for yourselves. And you may use the plunder the LORD your God gives you from your enemies
Zechariah 14:2 http://biblehub.com/zechariah/14-2.htm
I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city.
Exodus 21:7-9 http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-7.htm
"When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are.
If she does not satisfy her owner, he must allow her to be bought back again. But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the contract with her. 

But if the slave's owner arranges for her to marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave but as a daughter.
Condones Pedophilia:
Numbers 31:17-18 http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-17.htm
So kill all the boys and all the women who have had intercourse with a man.
Only the young girls who are virgins may live; you may keep them for yourselves
Condones Polygamy:
Exodus 21:10 http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-10.htm
If that son marries another woman, he must not deprive the first wife of food, clothes, or sex.
2 Samuel 5:13 http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/5-13.htm
And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David.
1 Chronicles 14:3 http://biblehub.com/1_chronicles/14-3.htm
In Jerusalem David took more wives and became the father of more sons and daughters.
1 Kings 11:3 http://biblehub.com/1_kings/11-3.htm
He had 700 wives, princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart.
2 Chronicles 11:21 http://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/11-21.htm
Rehoboam loved Maakah daughter of Absalom more than any of his other wives and concubines. In all, he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.
Deuteronomy 21:15 http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/21-15.htm
If a man has two wives, and he loves one but not the other, and both bear him sons but the firstborn is the son of the wife he does not love,

Condones Slavery:

Epgesians 6:5 http://biblehub.com/ephesians/6-5.htm

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with  sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.

1 Corinthians 7:21-22 http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/7-21.htm

Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you although if you can gain your freedom, do so.

For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord's freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ's slave.

Colossians 3:22 http://biblehub.com/colossians/3-22.htm

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.

1 Peter 2:18 http://biblehub.com/1_peter/2-18.htm

Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.

Titus 2:9 http://biblehub.com/titus/2-9.htm

Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them,

Titus 3:1 http://biblehub.com/titus/3-1.htm

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,

Romans 13:1-5 http://biblehub.com/niv/romans/13-1.htm

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 

Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.

For the one in authority is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God's servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

Leviticus 25:44 http://biblehub.com/leviticus/25-44.htm

"'Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves.

So, why do I hate the Christian text? Because I have morals.

Reviews

[unexpectedsparkle]

hey. The Old Testament can take a lot of explaining - at the very least, you're looking at an extremely different culture. I'm going to try to touch points on everything, but sorry if I miss something.

A lot of these passages you pulled were talking about war- in taking the women for themselves, they weren't supposed to rape them. Yes, they could marry, but rape was wrong. The children would be taken as slaves, and the livestock would be used for their own. (Deut. 20:14) However, at certain points, God would tell his people to kill everything, not to let a single person live. This was both to set an example for other nations, to show that this was sin and wrong, as well as to show that He was God, and He had set His people apart, so to look up to them and the way that they live.

Yes, it seems extreme. Yes, it seems harsh. But God had set in place rules and guidelines that we are to follow. It's sort of difficult to understand, but God is holy, which is without sin at all. Humans were made in His image - so when we resort to sin, it completely shatters a relationship that we could have. This was before God sent His son, Jesus Christ, to save us, and offer us forgiveness and a new life. Then, they could make sacrafices, but they would have to be made again and again- because the sacrifices were still only animals, and not complete and holy.

Slaves back then were a part of the culture-but they were also treated very differently. It was like a servant-they received food, good health, they could have their families, and they could also gain their freedom if they wished. You would often become a slave if a)your nation was overtaken by another or b) you owed money to a family and couldn't repay your debt, or c)you wanted to, by need of money, or what have you. Slavery we look upon negatively now due to how it was abused, when back then, slavery was just like lower class. They were still well treated, just not rich or free.

I don't see what you find wrong with Titus 3:1-respecting the government is usually a pretty good choice, or at least trying to work with them. If you balk and fight at everything, you're just going to start a rebellion, and nothing's going to get fixed unless you win. So why don't you agree with working with them?

I understand you're probably thinking, what about those governments which kill Christians/Jews/whites/blacks/ect., why would I listen to them? Well, God also commands you to live by His commandments, and the rulers are no exceptions. And this is the ruler we are commanded to respect. However, in the later books, God begins revealing about the end times, which are in progress, and sort of gives us a heads up on what to expect and sort of a general guideline on how to respond.

I know that I'm not answering everything, but I'm not sure what specific questions you have. This basically covers this, but if you want me to answer anything else, I'd be glad too.

[Brandon Langley]

Well:
1: Were the women who were taken for marriage consenting? If the children were taken as slaves, were THEY consenting to be slaves? If they used the livestock as their own, isn't that stealing? And assuming that you will say that it's okay because god commanded them to, does it make it okay to do something bad if someone in power tells you to? Therefore, is it okay to murder, rape, enslave, torture, or commit genocide if some deity tells us to? By commanding us to commit sin, does that not make god a sinner as well? Also, if we command someone to sin, does that take the blame from us?
2: I'm not sure how you DON'T see anything wrong with Titus 3:1, most of the rulers, viceroys, kings, and etc. were corrupt, and there were often rebellions that led to the shaping of the modern, free world. Also, I feel that it talks of slavery and that the rulers and authorities are just the rich.

[unexpectedsparkle]

1- no, they were not. They were prisoners of war, an example to other nations. No-winner takes all. That's how it was in war back then, a part of the culture. It wasn't just the nation of Israel-it was how all of them rolled.

No- as I mentioned before, there are the commandments that God has given each of us, as a people-the appointed ruler is to be an example in following God. When they begin going against that, however, then that's where trouble begins. I don't feel it's right to murder, rape, torture, ect. just because of some 'deity' as you say. However, in the 10 commandments, 1 was, "Have no other gods before me", or idols in another version, and that also includes people-people are not to be worshiped or followed whole heartedly either. That is for God alone.

Also in the ten commandments are do not steal, commit adultery, or covet.(want something

[Brandon Langley]

Well, just so you know, there were 400+ rapes in the bible.

So you're saying that god set up these rules that no one can violate, unless he tells them to?
Your use of the phrase "winner takes all" contradicts yourself. You say that you can not steal due to the ten commandments, but if god wants them to go pillage some town, then they can steal and commit adultery all willy nilly?

If god is an omniscient being, then why could he not make rules that would apply for a society that he wanted, or does he want us to devolve back to heathens who pillage towns, take wives without their consent, steal livestock, and force children into slavery?