A Question for Bronson
errancy@infidels.org errancy@infidels.org
Mon, 31 May 1999 20:34:55 EDT (00928215295, c261ea2a.248484af@aol.com)
In a message dated 5/30/99 1:24:24 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
jftill@midwest.net writes:
>
> At 12:44 AM 5/29/99 EDT, you wrote:
> >In a message dated 5/26/99 1:48:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> >jftill@midwest.net writes:
> >
> >>
> >> TILL
> >> Inscriptions at the entrance of an Assyria temple at Nimrud dates from
> the
> >> 8th century B. C. One of the inscriptions purporting to be by King
> >> Assur-Nasir-Pal claims that this king captured the city of Damdamusa
and
> >> killed 600 of their warriors, burned 3,000 captives with fire, and did
> not
> >> leave a single one of the inhabitants alive. He took Hulai, their
> >governor,
> >> flayed him, and then spread his skin upon the wall of the city.
> >>
> >> Now here is a question for Randy Bronson. If this is a historically
> >> accurate report of what happen, was Assur-Nasir-Pal's conduct
objective
> >> immoral?
> >>
>
> >RANDY
> >
> > Yes.
> >
>
> TILL
> Good, maybe we are making some progress now. Here is more of the
> inscription, which you can find quoted in Crane Brinton's, *A History of
> Western Morals,* Harcourt, Brace, & Co., p. 48:
>
> "An 8th-century B. C. inscription on the pavement slabs of the
> entrance to the temple of Urta at Nimrud, attributed to King
> Assur-Nasir-Pal: "At that time I received tribute of the land of
> Isala--cattle, flocks, and wine. To the mountain of Kahiari I crossed to
> Kinabu, the fortified city of Hulai I drew near. With the masses of my
> troops and by my furious battle onset I stormed, I captured the city; 600
of
> their warriors I put to the sword; 3,000 captives I burned with fire; I did
> not leave a single one among them alive to serve as a hostage. Hulai,
their
> governor, I captured alive. Their corpses I formed into pillars; their
> young men and maidens I burned in the fire. Hulai, their governor, I
> flayed, his skin I spread upon the wall of the city of Damdamusa; the city
I
> destroyed, I wasted with fire....
>
> "And now AT THE COMMAND OF THE GREAT GODS my sovereignty, my
> dominion, my power, are manifesting themselves; I am regal, I am lordly, I
> am exalted, I am mighty, I am honored, I am glorified, I am preeminent, I
am
> powerful, I am valiant, I am lion-brave, and I am heroic. Assur-Nasir-Pal,
> the mighty king, the king of Assyria, CHOSEN OF SIN, FAVORITE OF ANU,
> BELOVED OF ADAD, MIGHTY ONE AMONG THE GODS, I am the merciless weapon that
> strikes down the land of his enemies..." (emphasis added).
> *****************************
>
> Notice that Assur-Nasir-Pal claimed that these deeds were done at the
> "command of the great gods," and that he was "chosen" of these gods to
> "strike down the land of his enemies." So if the gods commanded him to do
> this things, why would it have been objectively wrong for him to obey?
>
> I can't wait to see your answer.
>
RANDY
Neither one of us believe in the existence of the gods to which
Assur-Nasir-Pal
refers. And neither one of us would regard his claim of divine direction as
a moral
justification for his actions. I don't believe I've ever stated otherwise.
I think I'm
missing what you must consider to be the force of your argument.
Randy Bronson
>
>
>
> Farrell Till
> Skepticism, Inc.
> jftill@midwest.net
>