Is the Bible really the source of human morality?

Question

I was reading the responses to my question, "Why did God kill all of Egypt's firstborn children in Exodus?", and I saw basically these reasons:

(1) Pharaoh wouldn't give into extortion, so it's really his fault. Sort of a "your head impacted my baseball bat" argument.

(2) The Egyptians did it first, which apparently makes mass slaughter of children morally correct.

(3) God WARNED the Egyptians, so, it's fair game. Did He let the 1 month olds know why they had to die at the hand of an "angel of death"?

(4) Who can question God's motives?

So, given this summary of Biblical morality, can you seriously say that the Bible is a credible source for human morality? When is killing children ever justified? Did God ABORT the would-be firstborn children?

Or perhaps, if we write off this story as weird and ancient mythology, just like the rest of the Bible, we can make moral progress.

So, I ask you, can you credibly say the Bible is the source of any decent system of morality?

Answer 1

Of course not; the bible condones slavery, depicts genocide, calls for killing people who work on the sabbath.. and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/inj/long.html

Answer 2

that's what happens once you examine something like that incredibly. It kinda looks like an analogous element when I heard somebody say freedom of speech does not shop on with to radio or television or the cyber web (they have been making a case for vast censorship to create a greater "ethical" society) contained in the US shape because of the fact the words radio, television, or cyber web weren't in that checklist. The Bible could be a source for morality, although there are some tremendously immoral factors, yet optimistically we've discovered some issues. occasion: Slavery replaced into tolerated in Bible days, yet i do no longer comprehend any (sane) individual who needs to return to that.

Answer 3

Good questions. What would you want done with your enemies, your oppressors? Those who make you make bricks without straw...?

God is sovereign, God is Justice (the Egyptians had killed the Israelites babies when Moses was a baby to cull the numbers of the growing Israelites, and committed abortians of the Isralite women), God is Merciful.

Yes the Bible is a good source for morality, because that is not something we are aloud to do.

Answer 4

"Is the Bible really the source of human morality?"

No. Not possible.

"Human morality" has changed quite a bit in the last 9000 or 10000 years.

But it didn't just pop into existence when that book was compiled.

Answer 5

Well u have to remember that God dident start by killing off the children, there where a alot of plauges before and warnings that he needed to let God's people go.
Its like you stealing my pen, and i warning you 9 times, each time you not giving it back then finaly hitting you. I gave you ample time and proof that i was serious and yet you still dident save yourself from your impending doom. So is it my fault that i hit you?

Answer 6

In order to have morality you must have a moral law giver. Hence the Bible is given us by God.
I Cr 13;8
12-10-6

Answer 7

Bible is source of examples, thought-provoking stories, parallel universe, and historical data. Challenges. It is like a pruner is to a tree--if we were trees. This book shapes us.

Answer 8

Sure = Love your neighbor as yourself.

Answer 9

Nope.

Pass the scotch.

Answer 10

Yes..yes I can.