7 / Christianity
Here is a polemic I picked up from the net … in fact, when I looked up the subject, for a little while (a few minutes) the Wikipedia article on Christianity was preceded by this text:
CHRISTIANITY is a mental disease affecting billions of people. These people pretend that the bible, despite containing any number of false/evil/ridiculous statements, was written by an infinitely intelligent being. No amount of evidence or logical argument was required to convince them of this, and no amount of evidence or logical argument will convince them otherwise. Here are some typical statements from the bible exhibiting God's love and intelligence:
"… however, you may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. You may treat your slaves like this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated this way."
(Leviticus 25:44-46 NLT)
"When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. If, however, the slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the slave is his own property."
(Exodus 21:20-21 NAB)
“Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every women that hath known man by lying with him.”
(Numbers 31:17 - Moses)
"Suppose you hear in one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you that some worthless rabble among you have led their fellow citizens astray by encouraging them to worship foreign gods. In such cases, you must examine the facts carefully. If you find it is true and can prove that such a detestable act has occurred among you, you must attack that town and completely destroy all its inhabitants, as well as all the livestock. Then you must pile all the plunder in the middle of the street and burn it. Put the entire town to the torch as a burnt offering to the LORD your God. That town must remain a ruin forever; it may never be rebuilt. Keep none of the plunder that has been set apart for destruction. Then the LORD will turn from his fierce anger and be merciful to you. He will have compassion on you and make you a great nation, just as he solemnly promised your ancestors. The LORD your God will be merciful only if you obey him and keep all the commands I am giving you today, doing what is pleasing to him."
(Deuteronomy 13:13-19 NLT)
"When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations . . . then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy."
(Deuteronomy 7:1-2 )