Why is belief in a higher power required?

[Esquilax]

@ Esquilax, You are looking at all this through a narrow tube, picking at things without looking at the total picture, I've explained this over and over and yet you ignore the facts from scripture. I can not see carrying this on since you ignore the reasons I've shown through scripture, it seems you only desire to tear down scripture and will ignore the facts to do so.

Yes, you've explained the total picture in your eyes, and I've explained to you that I find that justification entirely lacking, given the actions we're talking about. You say it was for the greater good, that it was in fulfillment of god's will, you've even given the greater context of what bad blood there was between the groups.

And I don't care.

Mostly, your actual justification amounts to "it was in accordance with god's will, and is therefore justified." That's not a justification at all; it's just the excuse you're willing to swallow for the amoral ravings in the bible. You might be willing to accept the things you've said as something truthful and worthy of consideration, but don't you dare pretend that the reason I don't agree with you is because I don't know the whole story. The truth is, you've given nothing to agree with; you've just said that what the book represents is what the book represents, and hence you take it as true and right.

I don't. But then, I'm not looking at it with a presupposition that every word of it is divine truth. I'm looking at it with my feet planted on the ground.