We must therefore murder not only rapists but women whom they rape (Deuteronomy 22:23-24). In fact any violation of the Law of Moses is to be met with stoning (Deuteronomy 17:2-5)
We must accept that brutal, unwilling human sacrifice is the proper treatment for believers of other religions (2 Kings 23:20-25); that "gathering sticks" on Saturday is worthy of death (Numbers 15:32-36); and that genocide, rape, and theft are sometimes condoned by heaven (the book of Joshua among others).
As 2 Timothy 3:16, Matthew 5:17, and Luke 16:17 say, it is easier for the world to end "than for the smallest part of the letter of the law to become invalid."
The New Testament would have us reinstate slavery (1 Timothy 6:1-2), revoke the constitutional rights of women (1 Timothy 2:9-14, 1 Corinthians 14:34-35), consider homosexuals worthy of death (Romans 1:24-32).
Jesus encourages men to make themselves eunuchs (Matthew 19:9-12) and to self-mutilate in other ways (Matthew 5:28-29).
All this and more must be true since the Bible is true because it says it is true, right? (Jesus says in John 5:31, "If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true." Or did he mean the opposite, as he said in John 8:14?)
Regardless of the accuracy of its predictions, we are looking at a book that validates injustice, cruelty, bigotry, and absurdity in absolute terms. This is far from a paragon of moral or rational authority. Anyone who says otherwise is delusional or grossly uninformed.
Justin Toney
Fredericksburg