How do Christians defend these verses? Are women really that evil?

Question

I took this out of God's personal myspace page. I'd hate to take credit for compiling these so the page is www.myspace.com/ godonmyspace
Visit the page for the whole list...here are a two of many more

Remember, virgins are spoils of war!
The plunder remaining from the spoils that the soldiers took was 675,000 sheep, 72,000 cattle, 61,000 donkeys and 32,000 women who had never slept with a man. (Numbers 32-35)

Taking a wife:

If you notice among the captives a beautiful woman and are attracted to her, you may take her as your wife. Bring her into your home and have her shave her head, trim her nails and put aside the clothes she was wearing when captured. After she has lived in your house and mourned her father and mother for a full month, then you may go to her and be her husband and she shall be your wife. If you are not pleased with her, let her go wherever she wishes. You must not sell her or treat her as a slave, since you have dishonored her. (Deuteronomy 21:11-14)

So why don't we just get rid of the Old Testament? If the common defense is always "It's Old Testament, it doesn't apply anymore" than who needs it? Or is this just a poor excuse?
Did God suddenly decide that he was barbaric and disgusting? Is this why it was changed?
Otherwise, I see no reason why this should have ever been acceptable. I guess the times and people just evolved from their barbaric ways to what they are now, yes?

It seems incredibly unreasonable and ridiculous that Christians can just pick and choose what parts of their religion they want to follow and make excuses for why they don't follow the rest.

Paul W said "Would you say "I don't believe in apples because I don't like red peelings?" No, apples are a reality whether or not you happen to like the skin of an apple."
Absolutely not. Of course i believe in Apples. There is proof, you can see them, touch them, eat them, etc.
Can you do any of these things with God? Of course not. You can prove an apple, not a mythical being.

Answer 1

Christians can only defend these in one of two ways:
1. By admitting that, if and only if, they cling to Fundamentalist interpretations - they believe in an egocentric, totalitarian, patriarchal, and VERY WRATHFUL deity!

2. If they take a more liberal approach, they'll admit that the Bible is a collection of text which have spiritual ideals and concepts. That most of the stories are myths (and please note that myth does not mean "lie"), metaphors, and metaphysical symbology. The patriarchal and other problems therein result from the socio-historical, political and cultural times/places of their authorships.

And by the way, for all those who obviously fall under 1. - There's NO SUCH THING AS "OLD" LAW AND "NEW" LAW-YOU NEED TO ACTUALLY READ WHAT YOU CLAIM TO BELIEVE!!!
Try Matthew 5:17 for starters!!!

Answer 2

God is always the same. God never changes.

Go read the book of Deuteronomy and see what they are talking about and as for Numbers you did not give the chapter but again go read the book. But stop quote mining and read the books before you think you know what is going on.

Also, things were just different back then but God is not the one to blame. Man does things that are not always right but God is never wrong.

You said: “It seems incredibly unreasonable and ridiculous that Christians can just pick and choose what parts of their religion they want to follow and make excuses for why they don't follow the rest.” The Old Testament goes to the Jews and Jesus changed a lot of it. But what you think when we capture people and we see a beautiful woman we should go take her and have her hair shaved and say your mine! Give me a break! The Jews don't even do that anymore let alone any Christian who never did. But you are simply closed minded and won't except our word even though you asked the question how we can defend these verses.

Answer 3

First; women are not any more "evil" than men.

Second; Christians don't need to defend any verse of the Bible nor should they try; especially verses from the Old Testament.

That is not saying that Christians should merely accept the Bible without using logic and reason.

Every verse in the Bible is not something God is speaking for every person in every age or era. Also, every verse is not saying something of which God approves. That is one of the distinctive features of the Bible; it tells of the failures of its characters as well as their successes.

The Old Testament as well as the New Testament clearly allow for cultural differences from one age to another.

Contrary to popular belief, the main purpose of the Bible is not that God gave "rules" for people to follow but rather the Bible is one way in which God has revealed himself to all people and shown how he is involved in the lives of people throughout the ages.

Taken as a whole, the Bible gives us a sufficient and true picture of reality; there is a loving and just God, mankind has a very real problem, God has given a very real solution to that problem.

Would you say "I don't believe in apples because I don't like red peelings?" No, apples are a reality whether or not you happen to like the skin of an apple.

God is a reality whether or not someone "likes" or "dislikes" how they perceive the world is currently operating or how they perceive God is involved.

Can all our questions about God currently be answered? No- anyone who says they have the answers is either a liar or is self-deceived. "Whoever claims to know does not yet know as he should."

Good luck

Answer 4

The standard defence by most Christians is that these are from the Old Testament and so they do not apply to Christians. However, I think that the 10 Commandments do apply to Christians. I guess they pick and choose what portions of the Old Testament they choose to follow.

Christ: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven." --- Matthew 5:17-19

'The best cure for Christianity is reading the Bible.' --Mark Twain--

Answer 5

LOL...God has a Myspace account, does He? You don't suppose that might be some cranky kid taking His Name in vain, do you??
Hmm...could be...
Anyhow, the question is valid, so let's go to an Authority for a real answer.
Let's ask Jesus what He thinks about these old laws....
Ahh yes...and He has an answer for us...
"For the hardness of your hearts God gave you this law..."
Yes, our hearts are hard...what might have happened to these young women, do you suppose, under Stalin? Or suppose they were Christian women captured by Muslim terrorists in Iran?
And there are those who would foolishly try to make us think that mankind has evolved past the need for laws to soften our hearts...
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Answer 6

The scenario painted in this chapter is a theoretical one, that apparently never materialized in ancient Israel. It concerns war by Israel against nations NOT within the promised land. Since Israel was not allowed by God to seek land outside its borders (cf. Deut 2.1-23), such a military campaign could only be made against a foreign power that had attacked Israel in her own territory. By the time these events occurred (e.g. Assyria), Israel's power had been so dissipated through covenant disloyalty that military moves of these sort would have been unthinkable.

Answer 7

So when god ordered moses to kill the children of the town, exactly how was that "better" than the people sacrificing children to a different god (baal), if indeed that was the case? And I'm not sure how any of that explains raping the virgins.

Answer 8

That is old Testament. Therefor not Christians. What makes you think Christian are obligated to defend any part of the bible to you? That is extremely arrogant regardless of what you do or do not believe.

Answer 9

God had to make some provisions for the people they conquored because some were to be completely eliminated and some werent. It was for good reason and it had nothing to do with women themselves, but the gods they brought with them to Israel.

Answer 10

I honestly saw nothing horrible there for women. It's not like he's raping her like most of society does today to people.
Also it's OLD TESTAMENT. We don't abide by it anymore.