On Thu, 25 Apr 1996 RHutchin@aol.com wrote something regarding those parents whose child died because faith healing did not work:
> RH
> Here, we have an example of what a misunderstanding of the Scriptures can
> produce.
Doug asks:
Oh? There's no scriptural support for the notion that faith can heal the sick?
RH also said:
> I'm glad to see, despite what appears to be a liberal streak, that you also
> oppose abortion.
>
>
Doug says:
I have read many applied ethics papers on the abortion issue. You ought to read a few dozen yourself, RH. Maybe you'd be able to defend an anti-abortion position. I say this because I don't think that you can defend an anti-abortion position based on the bible. There are plenty of places where god either kills babies directly or orders others to kill them. Not just embryos or fetuses, mind you, but little babies and grown children. If the bible is your source of ethics, then apparently there is no prohibition on killing based on age or pre- or post- birth status. Biblical ethics is deplorable.
See Exodus 12:29 where god personally kills all the firstborn of the Egyptians, from that of the Pharoah to that of the prisoner. [And the firstborn of all the livestock as well. Explain that, too, while you're at it.]
Genesis 7: God commits genocide on an epic scale, drowning children and pregnant women. Only Noah and his kin survive. And some animals. Surely there were pregnant women and small children not on the ark! If not, didn't anyone notice that NO ONE had had children anywhere on earth for a few years.
Exodus 32:25-28. As punishment for fooling around with the golden calf and running wild, god tells Moses to call those who are still on his side to his side. They are asked to bring weapons, and then they are told to kill those who did NOT come to his side. They kill about 3,000 people. Did little kids understand the orders and go to Moses' side.
Numbers 31:15. Moses' army kills all the men of the Midianites. Moses is angry with his army for allowing ALL of the women to live. He tells them to, first, kill all the boys and all the women-- except for the virgins, which they can keep for their own use. What morals!
Deuteronomy 20:16. Moses tells his armies that the orders are to not leave alive anything that breathes is the countries which are to be given to them as inheritance. Babies and pregnant women breathe, RH.
Joshua 10:40. Joshua has the same orders. He and his army are to kill everything that breathes. They do. Did they spare embryos and fetuses? No, RH. They didn't even spare little newborns. Orders are orders.
Isaiah 15:3. Samuel quotes to Saul the orders from god [remember, no mistakes!]: "Now go, attack the Amelekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys." Because Saul leaves a few healthy animals alive, however, god sends people to get HIM later.
Isaiah 13:16. The prophesy regrarding Babylon and what will happen if it does not turn from its evil ways and fall prey to the "wrath of the Lord Almighty": "Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses looted and their wives ravished." A few verses later: "Their bows will strike down the young men; they will have no mercy on infants, nor will they look with compassion on children."
Hosea's prophesy regarding the Samarians is just as shocking. Chapter 13, verse 16: "They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to the ground, their pregnant women will be ripped open."
Mr. Krueger says: Anyone who teaches their children to sing: "Jesus loves me, yes, I know. For the bible tells me so..." is either a fool or an illiterate, or both.