(November 14, 2017 at 8:27 pm)Astreja Wrote: Yes, I disagree, on two counts. First of all, I believe that your god is a fictional being incapable of sending anyone anywhere.
I believe that about Zeus. That's why I don't waste my time on discussions of Zeus.
Quote:Secondly, I believe that the bad reputation of the Canaanite people -- The Phoenicians, in the northeast Mediterranean -- was largely fabricated to provide the pretext for an invasion.
Your opinion is noted, but the fact is that several sources - not just the Bible - said that child sacrifice was going on, and cemeteries with burnt remains of infants have been found. You can argue that the charges were fabricated and the remains were just cremations of infants who died naturally, but it seems pretty coincidental and conspiratorial.
Quote:See above. The only "law" in effect seemed to be "Don't enslave people from your own tribe. Everyone else is fair game."
In Exodus, the law prohibits kidnapping people and putting them into slavery, and it doesn't specify that it only applies to fellow Israelites.
Quote:Yes, I disagree. I think the so-called "judgment" was just an excuse the priests gave the people to explain their defeat and capture. They were overrun by superior forces and their god didn't bail them out; therefore, reasoned the priests, their god must be angry with them.
Just excuses for the inexcusable.
OK, you agree that the Bible says it was judgment. Going back and forth between discussing the Bible's contents when you find that convenient, and saying you don't believe in god anyway when the text is inconvenient, is intellectually dishonest. Go one way or the other.
