(April 1, 2012 at 9:09 am)adam c Wrote: "How could a loving God command the Israelites to commit genocide?".Because God's actions are not based in our "morality." God acts according to His own righteousness.
righteousness is God's perfect standard or Expressed will free from sin.
Morality is man's attempt to acheive His level of righteousness, but also incorperates the sin man is will to live with, or can reason/justify commiting into that standard.
For example God's Righteousness proclaims that it is always a sin to lie.
Morality can justify a lie to save a life. (from their the sliding scale degrades)
While it is good to save a life lying is still a sin.
That makes Morality based in a form of righteousness found apart from God. Often times it is founded with in our own sense of right and wrong. or a strong/governing sense of conscience if you will. Christ referrs to this type of righteousness as "Self righteousness." The pharasees were big on this. This personal form of righteousness is what allows a person to judge the actions of God and feel justified in doing so. Because they believe that thier sense of right and wrong trumps that of God. They pay omage to the idea of "rightness" over the one who has founded it in his expressed will.
Why Can God call for the genocide of a race? Because it is in His will to do so.
Killing/death is not a sin. Murder is. Murder is the unsanctioned taking of life.(unsanctioned by God) If God wishes someone to die then that death is sanctioned therefore not murder. If God wishes to wipe out an entire race of people then glory to God for doing so.
Remember philosphies the sorround concepts like "good and evil" do not have the intrinsic value those of this world place on them. What makes something "good" is because God wills it. What makes something evil is the condition of the heart that seeks to be outside of the expressed will of God. Good and evil are not forces that everything is measured (including God) Good is God, and everything in his expressed will. evil is a malcious intent to be outside of His expressed will.
In short God is the standard, not the pop cultures 'feelings' on what good and evil are.
Quote:The Bible commands us to always be ready to give an answer for the things we believe.Actually we are merely to give a reason for the "hope" that we have with in us.
I spent some time teaching collage age singles group myself, it was one of the most enjoyable things I have done. Be true to the calling, be faithful to what you have been given, follow the word where ever it takes you, and you will do fine.
I have only been on this site about a week, and can say there are some people who have really good questions and can provide some simulating challenges. However there are those who would like to see you crash and burn as well. They will bait you into breaking the rules if you are not careful, just to have you suspended. My suggestion is read the rules and be careful about what you say lest it be considered "preaching." If you stay on topic and stay true to the subject matter the mods will act honorably.
Welcome to Atheist forums and good luck!
