Messed up Bible Stories No.3: Burn, Baby Burn!

Today's messed up bible story will show the true cruelty of god. We are reading from Judges eleven, verses twenty-nine through forty.

"At that time the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he went throughout the land of Gilead and Manasseh, including Mizpah in Gilead, and led an army against the Ammonites.  And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD. He said, "If you give me victory over the Ammonites, I will give to the LORD the first thing coming out of my house to greet me when I return in triumph.  I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering." "So Jephthah led his army against the Ammonites, and the LORD gave him victory.  He thoroughly defeated the Ammonites from Aroer to an area near Minnith twenty towns and as far away as Abel-keramim. Thus Israel subdued the Ammonites.  When Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, his daughter his only child ran out to meet him, playing on a tambourine and dancing for joy.  When he saw her, he tore his clothes in anguish.  "My daughter!" he cried out.  "My heart is breaking!  What a tragedy that you came out to greet me. For I have made a vow to the LORD and cannot take it back."  And she said, "Father, you have made a promise to the LORD.  You must do to me what you have promised, for the LORD has given you a great victory over your enemies, the Ammonites.  But first let me go up and roam in the hills and weep with my friends for two months, because I will die a virgin."  "You may go," Jephthah said. And he let her go away for two months.  She and her friends went into the hills and wept because she would never have children.  When she returned home, her father kept his vow, and she died a virgin.  So it has become a custom in Israel for young Israelite women to go away for four days each year to lament the fate of Jephthah's daughter." 
A bit long, but I think you get the point. Jephthah made a promise with the lord to kill the first thing that came out of his house to greet him, and it was his daughter. So he offered her up as a burnt offering to god.
How could a loving god allow this? Would he not foresee this before hand? Why did he do nothing to stop Jephthah? Why would he enter into a vow with him at all?
You can't simply claim ignorance on this one and say "his ways are mysterious," or that "we cannot comprehend the mind of god." This is the most blatant example of an immoral act, and no loving or perfect god would want or allow human sacrifice!
This is rather, the actions of a cruel and bloodthirsty tyrant. An important point to note, is that this is not the only instance of human sacrifice in the bible, as I'm sure I will cover in another video.
How can one read a story like this, and still claim that the bible is the source of their morality? I really don't care much to discuss apologetics on this one, there is absolutely nothing that can justify human sacrifice. Nothing.
If you think otherwise, I challenge you to give me one instance in which human sacrifice is moral.
Cheers.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• atheism
• atheist
• jesus
• god
• religion
• bible
• jephthah
• human sacrifice
• evil
• immoral

[naejimba]

(cont 21) perfect to determine this guy is not perfect. I can't tell you "there is no god," but a critique of a particular god (with the certain characteristics we have mentioned thus far) that stands is a good reason to question some of the claims being made.

[naejimba]

(cont 20) account that a human does not have all knowledge, is not "perfect," and typically can control very little, let alone every force in the universe that allowed such an event to occur. The icing on the cake, is you want me to believe that such a being is perfect, literally the source of all morality, and that I should worship him. Even if I gave you an infinite number of examples of good things that our "boss" did, it only takes ONE such example of something less than (cont 21)

[naejimba]

(cont 19) power to do so AND it does not even effect free will! Why are there volcanos, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, birth defets, cancer, plagues, etc. This "natural evil" is not neccessary, can neither be blamed on man or satan, and really has no effect on free will. If I were "god" I would KNOW all these things would happen, I have the power to change them, and choose not to. Such a lack of action would be deemed immoral if we were talking about a human, even taking into (cont 20)

[naejimba]

(cont 18) What if you are NOT the boss, you didn't design the machines or the product, you can't control anything the boss or the other employees do.. would you STILL not be well within reason to offer a critique, or propose that there was a better way to handle the situation on ALL sides? I don't blame god for evil just because he KNEW it would happen (although that is neccessary) but also that he allows evil to happen even though he can stop it, and ESPECIALLY when it is within his (cont 19)

[naejimba]

(cont 17) his daughter into the press. Now, its a good point to argue that he technically CAN'T push the button without messing with John's free will, but the even more profound point is that he SAID NOTHING even while the event was unfolding before him. You want to define god as being all good, but honestly, after looking at my example would you describe the boss as "perfect?" I certainly would not. (cont 18)

[naejimba]

(cont 16) However, imagine this is NOT how the scenario goes. You choose to say nothing to John. It just so happens you are standing in front of the press on Wednesday at 11:02, and here comes John, him and his daughter weeping, into the factory. You KNOW she will die... it is not something you would want because you actually have morals. The switch is right in front of you. All you have to do is reach out and press the button to stop it. Instead, you watch him throw (cont 17)

[naejimba]

(cont 15) I also know a lot about the competition; why their product will fail because it is missing one neccessary component. In fact, I mentioned it before and hardly anyone listened. It shouldn't be that hard for me to produce evidence of that, as well as evidence that our product is superior, and we could put this whole mess to bed WITHOUT any bloodshed. I can't MAKE the customers buy our product, but I can at least give them a good reason to do so.' (cont 16)

[naejimba]

(cont 14) think I would condone murder, I need to step in and set the record straight. Now, I hired you because I saw potential in you, but this kind of behavior IF ANYTHING, would make me think you are not someone I would want to put in a management position. The whole reason this factory exists is to save lives, why would I want you to kill your family or even the other factory workers? I know a lot about this product, I designed it and every machine in this factory you use. (cont 15)

[naejimba]

(cont 13) do I want you to go kill the other workers. I think it is wrong for you to kill people, and the last thing I want is you to do it because you think this is something I actually want. On the contrary, it would offend me. I actually care what happens to you, and this is unnecessary cruelty to both them and you. Next, I'M the boss, not the other workers. If you really need a promotion all you have to do is come talk to me and ask. If the other workers as well (cont 14)

[naejimba]

(cont 12) put all of my family's names in a hat, pick one at random, bring them to work and throw them into press no. 3, on Wednesday at 11:03, crushing them to death in your honor. It's a promise, and I keep my promises. See you Wednesday!" What would you say to this person? Here is what I would say if I were the boss (god): 'John you are a good worker, but you are scaring the shit out of me. First, I don't want you to throw one of your family members into the press, nor (cont 13)