What IS good, and how do we determine it?

[Catholic_Lady]

To us Catholics, regardless of some of the stories in the OT, the Church most certainly does teach that both slavery and rape are contrary to human dignity and thus immoral. And I think at the end of the day, that's really what matters.

So, your god must then be immoral.  That is acceptable.  How does catholicism justify worshipping an immoral god?

Like I said, the Church is silent on the interpretation of these bible passages (leaving it up for the reader to form their own understanding). The Church also teaches that rape is immoral and that God does not change. Using this information, I personally believe that these stories are allegorical. I do not believe God commanded the men to forcefully marry these virgins.

I can only speak for myself and how I have come to understand this.

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Well for the record, I definitely don't think rape is moral. It is, in fact, one of the things I have listed as inherently immoral.

As for all the bible talk about rape, I will say that the Catholic Church is silent on the proper interpretation of many biblical passages, and Catholics are free to interpret them literally or allegorically. While I see them strictly as didactic fiction, Randy seems to have taken a more literal view. To us Catholics, regardless of some of the stories in the OT, the Church most certainly does teach that both slavery and rape are contrary to human dignity and thus immoral. And I think at the end of the day, that's really what matters. In the grand scheme of things, and as long as Randy and I both adhere to Church teaching, whether or not we interpret these stories in the same way, is just details.

Whether you view the story as allegorical or literal, it still in no way portrays rape as immoral. Just saying that is allegorical does not answer the questions about why its sanctioned by god, it seems like just a way of avoiding the question.

I know that these passages don't portray rape as immoral. I was speaking about the Church. The Church does consider rape immoral, and at the end of the day, that's all that matters.

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Whether you view the story as allegorical or literal, it in no way portrays rape as immoral. Just saying that is allegorical does not answer the questions about why its sanctioned by god, it seems like just a way of avoiding the question.

It's true what she's saying though, I suspect Randy is a former Protestant as I can detect a strong American Evangelical vibe to much of his personal theology. It's not heretical but it's rather different from the more traditional, ethereal/indefinable approach of Catholic_Lady which is more usual amongst "Cradle Catholics".

Thank you for clearing this up for Wizard on my behalf. I appreciate it.