Question to those who do or do not doubt Christianity

One would think that he would have prescribed a kinder, gentler sufferance-free ethnic cleansing.

According the the Tanakh YHWH ordered the ethnic cleansing of the Amalekites because they attacked the Israelites as they were encroaching on Amalek land. There is no mention there of child sacrifice as being the reason for the ethnic cleansing that YHWH ordered.

Before we lament over the millions, perhaps billions, who have lived in misery and died painful deaths, (and we should lament) we should remind ourselves that these did not suffer by the purpose of Jehovah.

So, the suffering experienced by the Amalekites through JHWH's order of ethnic cleansing was unintended.

One would think that he would have prescribed a kinder, gentler sufferance-free ethnic cleansing.

None of mankind's suffering was intended. All who have ever lived have been 'cleansed' in one way or another. "For he who has died has been acquitted from [his] sin. " (Romans 6:7)

The Bible speaks of a resurrection for righteous and unrighteous, whether they knew of God or not. My brother died a painful death from cancer. In his new life, when he has perfect health, I suspect he will rather praise God for life than curse him for past pain.

Re: InfraBlue (Post 5293777)
You make excellent points, I will admit. But we are reasoning from different axioms.

My basis is that death entered the world of mankind trough the transgression of Adam and Eve.

Are you of the opinion that the dinosaurs did NOT die...or that they did NOT exist?

Of course they didn't die, they all joined the Republican party.

Are you of the opinion that the dinosaurs did NOT die...or that they did NOT exist?

Frank Apisa wrote:

Are you of the opinion that the dinosaurs did NOT die...or that they did NOT exist?

I am of the opinion that dinosaurs are not specifically mentioned in the Bible

Quote:

Re: Frank Apisa (Post 5294123)
Frank Apisa wrote:
Are you of the opinion that the dinosaurs did NOT die...or that they did NOT exist?

I am of the opinion that dinosaurs are not specifically mentioned in the Bible

Quote:

Quote:

Re: Frank Apisa (Post 5294123)
Frank Apisa wrote:
Are you of the opinion that the dinosaurs did NOT die...or that they did NOT exist?

I am of the opinion that dinosaurs are not specifically mentioned in the Bible

No they are not.

So when you said earlier, "My basis is that death entered the world of mankind trough the transgression of Adam and Eve"...you left out the fact that all sorts of things existed and died before your Adam and Eve fable.

So how could death have entered the world through the "transgressions" of Adam and Eve?

Sorry to have confused the issue, Frank. When I said "death entered the world of mankind", I meant humanity. No humans had ever died before the transgression of Adam ans Eve.

And since you now seem to acknowledge that death must have existed prior to the time of Adam and Eve, I suppose you may agree that Adam and Eve knew what it was.

OR, am I wrong again?

Hello, Neo. They could KNOW that death existed...and not think there was anything wrong or evil about it...or that there was anything to fear about it.

They did not have that kind of knowledge, because the myth has them denied that knowledge by the god...who also denied them the knowledge that there was anything wrong with disobeying its silly directive not to eat the fruit of a tree that it put in the center of their existence.

Eve: "Adam! Whatever shall we do? Frank, our pet ferret is dead. He got filched by that foul falcon. Is that bad?"
Adam: "Critters die all the time, Eve. What's your problem?
Eve: "But I miss Frank! He was so funny, the way he frolicked frivolously in the fern garden. . .WAAAH!"
Adam: "It's a good thing we don't die Eve. Stay away from that tree, OK?"

Re: Frank Apisa (Post 5295178)
Don't like ferrets, eh, Frank?
BTW, I posted that first.

Would you rather reason with an evangelical theist...or try to teach quantum mechanics to a ferret.

The latter seemed like a better bet.