>>I vote for #4 &5. BTW, I think humanity is still immature( witness the
Palestine, Kashmir, Bosnia, Rwanda, and 911, not to mention Enron).I see God
as preferring to persuade, rather thjan force(although he will club you from
time to time), so I don't think it denigrates God. I wait with interest the
explanations of those who buy #1. Maybe the women are sinners, and deserve
to be forced into concubinage?(Technically, its not quite rape)>>
The problem with #4, and I will admit#4 is certainly a live option, is that
(1) it says God is too feeble to do any better with the ancients and (2) we
are getting, as a race, more mature. I have difficulty with both these
points. Particularly (2). Up to, say, 1910 or so, there was evidence that
humanity WAS improving. Then the 20th century produced more carnage,
torture, etc. than in any previous century. As the new century dawns, I
don't see us improving. Northern Ireland, India-Pakistan, etc. etc. -- there
are religious wars all over the place, and they are NOT going away.
I don't know what you mean by "technically, its not quite rape." Maybe you
can expand that sentence. I don't agree, of course, but perhaps we can hash
it out.
Thanks
JB
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