Ok, I see. What do you make of the numerous contradictions that are all throughout the bible? Also about the horrible deeds that god commanded (rape, murder, genocide, slavery)?
Excellent questions. In my experience, any contradictions that appear are not really contradictions when taken in context with the whole passage. Just to give a secular example: "Harry Potter is evil because it has witchcraft and Draco means dragon. The dragon is the beast!" This argument is a deduction using facts that, while present, are out of context. The same argument could be made of the Bible
"It talks of demons and Satan, therefore it is evil." Obviously both of these deductions are falsehoods.
So let us take these tactics to the contradictions in the Bible. I have read many lists of contradictions, found on atheist or naturalist sites. And while some of the lists are exhaustive, they always pick and choose single verses. Not passages. Many of these verses are being used to illustrate a point or story. Now of one made the claim that passages contradicted each other, that would be worrisome. (No exact examples are coming to my mind,
If you provide one, I would be happy to demonstrate)
Now onto the horrible deeds that God commanded. At no point does God command rape, murder, or slavery. Genocide, by definition, he did not command, however I will assume you intend it to mean the wiping out of an entire group of people (as opposed to one's own people). This God did do. There is no way to deny that. However, in every instance of this, the group being wiped out was an enemy bent on destruction. For example, let us look at the time in Kings when all the worshippers and priests of Baal were killed. For ages, they had been told to turn from that worship or that they would be destroyed for doing evil. (At this point, one must acknowledge that an evil act, committed against fully good merits death. I know this opens a whole new topic, but a clarity on that is required to understand the punishment of death dealt out in this case) Apply this circumstance to today. If judicials say "don't join a cult. They often lead to murder and rape. If this cult persists, all those involved will be charged for their crimes." That seems fair, no? That is parallel to what happened in Kings. Baal worshippers often committed acts of rape and murder, because it appeased Baal. A worthy punishment for that is severe in itself. But add to that the warning of God's prophets, compiled with the fact that they were in opposition to the wholly good. Hence, a severe punishment of annihilation.
In all cases such as that, one must understand that God must be Eternally Just. Many Christians like to gloss over this and sugar coat such things, or say that God's mercy trumps His Justice. But Justice and Mercy must go hand in hand, otherwise mercy is pointless as is Justice.
Feel free to give me examples that you would like me to attempt to explain. I enjoy a challenge. And if I cannot adequately explain it, I will admit to it.
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