God does not determine right and wrong

[LadyForCamus]

I found this in A Universe from Nothing by Lawrence Krauss.

To religious people: If god declared that rape and murder were morally acceptable, would that make them so? 

Most of you would probably say that god would not say such a thing. But why not? Presumably because god would have some reason for not making such a declaration. But this means that there is some reason for finding rape and murder to be morally wrong. In which case, why can't we appeal to reason directly and remove god from the discussion?

Because that would be too fucking easy.  

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"Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass." (I Samuel 15:2-3)
God is something of a scumbag if you ask me.

So an army which sneaks up behind an innocent wandering nation of vagabonds and ex slaves, to kill the elderly and vulnerable families at the rear of the procession, is nice and should be patted by God?

Woe.

So...ordering babies murdered in retaliation is okay then?  You’re right. Our depraved, barbaric society really should be turning to the Bible for moral salvation. 😏