A KILLER GOD
(Investigator 141, 2011 November)
"The Christian god is a being of terrible character, cruel, vindictive, capricious, unjust." (Thomas Jefferson one of the founding fathers of America)
"Is god willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? If he is neither able nor willing? Then why call him god?" (Epicurus the Greek philosopher wrote in 300 b.c.)
"The god of the old testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction. Jealous and proud of it, a petty, unjust, unforgiving control freak, a vindictive blood thirsty ethnic cleanser, a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, megalomaniacal, capriciously malevolent bully." (Richard Dawkins)
The above 3 quotes are quite correct. The source of our information about this maniacal, homicidal, mass murderer of a god, is the bible itself. No other reference needed.
• Genesis 6-7 Noah's flood, "I will wipe out mankind whom I have created, from the face of the earth." Approximately 30,000,000
• Genesis 19 Sodom and Gomorrah. Approximately 1,000
• Genesis 41 A world wide famine. Approximately 40,000
• Exodus 7-10 Plagues sent upon the Egyptians. Approximately 30,000
• Exodus 12:12; 29-30 Killing of the Egyptian first born children. Approximately 1,000,000
• Exodus 14 Wipe out of the Egyptian army. Approximately 5,000 to 8,000
• Exodus 17 Killing the Amalekites. Approximately 2,500
• Exodus 17 Killing Israelites who complained. Approximately 500
• Exodus 23 Wipe out all Amorites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Canaanites, and Jebusites, all men women and children. Approximately 28,000,000
• Leviticus 10:1-2 Killing of two priests who offered up the wrong incense to god, he burnt them up with fire.
• Leviticus 20:15-16 If a man or woman have sex with an animal, they must be put to death, including the animal.
• Leviticus 24:10-16 The lord said to Moses "…any blasphemer must be stoned to death."
• Numbers 3:5-10 Except for the priests, anyone who approaches god's sanctuary (Tabernacle) must be put to death.
• Numbers 15:32-36 God tells Moses to kill one of his tribe by stoning¬ for gathering wood on the sabbath.
• Numbers 16:31-34 God opens up the earth to swallow up Korah, his family and his tribe of about 350 for daring to question Moses' leadership — "and the ground underneath them split apart and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them...they went down alive into the grave, with everything they owned."
• The book of Numbers body count. Approximately 15,000-18,000.
• Numbers 15:35 God incinerates Israelites for complaining during their wanderings in the desert. Approximately 250.
• Plagues upon the Israelites for complaining about the food during their wanderings.
• Numbers 21:1-3 God slaughters the Aradites. Approximately 5,000 to 6,000.
• Numbers 21 God sends snakes to bite the Israelites for complaining about the lack of food and water during their wanderings. Approximately 50 to 100.
• Deuteronomy 3:1-7 God helps Moses kill the Bashanites. Approximately 5,000 to 6,000.
I have used only four books of the Old Testament to demonstrate the potential of this killer god. The total body count in the Old Testament is approx 32,000,000 to 33,000,000 killed by this so called ever loving god. The evidence is there for all to read in the bible. Who in their right minds would want to worship a killer like this?
Brian de Kretser
Institute for Research into Religions Darwin, Australia.
GOD IS GOOD
Anonymous
(Investigator 142, 2012 January)
"The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abundant in steadfast love… (Psalm 145)
De Kretser in "A Killer God" (#141) lists Old Testament incidents of God killing or ordering killing.
However, what about the "killer" governments of England, America and other Western countries? These democratic governments are the best governments that ever existed — but do I need to list the hundreds of wars they fought, the millions of criminals they executed or jailed, and the disasters they didn't prevent?
The point is that many people want to live by lawbreaking, piracy, kidnapping, theft, invasion, plunder, enslavement, extortion, rape and murder. But such conduct is incompatible with civilization including peace, technology, freedom, equality in justice, and prosperity.
For civilization to flourish therefore requires significant violent suppression of conduct detrimental to it — in Old Testament times and today.
The Old Testament is crammed with reports of God's care for humans such as saving the Middle East from famine and rescuing a nation out of slavery, and his demanding justice for women, children and the poor.
An important Old Testament theme is God's program to "bring blessing to all the nations of the earth". (Genesis 22:18). By "blessing" we think of such benefits as peace, prosperity, happy children, freedom from oppression, long life, fair justice, etc. (See: The Canaanite Connection #138; Don't Call Mercy "Wickedness" #134)
Former evils now reduced or eliminated include: Religious prostitution; Human sacrifice; Idolatry; Infanticide; Mutilation of children to create effective beggars; Roman amphitheatres; mutilation and buggery of prisoners of war; Using boys for homosexual relationships; Trial by combat; Slavery; Widow burning.
Benefits that have come by applying Bible principles include: Science and technology; Pensions; and thousands of Christian ministries that run orphanages, hospitals and schools, or fight poverty, drunkenness, immorality, gambling, abortion and other life-destroying evils.
And the best is yet to be because: "The LORD is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings." (Psalm 145)