Why are children constantly being murdered by god or for god in the bible, for the "sins" of their parents?

Question

Why punish children? Why kill them? They had nothing to do with what their parents did.

Isn't that just "evil"??


I asked this on the weekend, but didn't get one reasonable reply, so I'm hoping to have better luck with you guys...
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ahee7rOpeu0J4CVF1nHCjmvty6IX?qid=20070715134939AAYFFmn

Wikisidr.....in almost every book of the OT. Children are constantly being murdered, or even ripped from their mother's wombs. Even christians acknowledge this. Don't be so ignorant.

PEOPLE, YOU ARE MISSING THE POINT - WHY DOES YOUR GOD KILL CHILDREN BECAUSE OF WHAT THEIR PARENTS DID??

It doesn't matter that it's in the OT, your god still did it

Answer 1

God is cruel according to the Bible. What kind of god kills babies and children to teach a Pharaoh a lesson? He also drowns many innocent children during the great flood. I am amazed at how people accept these actions and justify it by saying "The parents were wicked". No matter how bad a parent behaves, that in no way makes it okay to kill children. Even worse is when they try to justify it by saying the children will just grow up to be wicked anyway. I guess people must dehumanize an enemy before finding it okay to kill them.

Answer 2

I have been studying the OT and I can tell you that the wrath of God is very apparent throughout the books and yes children were killed as well. I can honestly say that I, being a Christian, do not understand why the children of the Canaanites were killed. . .I simply do not understand it.

And, people will tell you to read the NT, and yes the NT is focused more on the love of God. . .but is not the God of the OT the same God of the NT. Good question, unfortunately it is one of those times when I have to say I simply do not know.

Answer 3

It seemed to be the way it was back then. I also saw in Daniel where his false accusers and all their family were thrown into the lions den after Daniel was removed. This was not under the laws of the house of Israel. So it seems to have been a prevalent practice in the world at that time. Now who do you blame for the death of a family? God or the man who did evil? For this act to occur there had to be evil committed. There was a steep price to pay for a crime against another man or God's command. So once again, choice is involved. God is not evil no matter what you think. God is righteous and more importantly, just. You are living in a time a grace but those days are numbered. You need to worry about yourself.

Answer 4

Hey P,

This time of day is usually top-heavy with fundy's which might explain the responses you're getting. I've also found that when you state a true, but admittedly incendiary statement, such as "god murders innocent children", it helps to provide concrete examples. Most Christians are either sheltered from, or in denial, about the parts of the bible that are in direct conflict with their indoctrination and belief in a "compassionate" God.

"It is difficult, none the less, for the ordinary man to cast off orthodox beliefs, for he is seldom allowed to hear the other side.... Whereas the Christian view is pressed on him day in and day out."
— Margaret Knight

Daniel 6:24
At the king's command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions' den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

Exodus 34:7
"maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation."

Exodus 20:5
"You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,

Exodus 17:16
He said, "For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation."

Genesis 15:16
"In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure."

Numbers 14:18
'The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.'

Deuteronomy 5:9
"You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,

Psalm 85:5
"Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger through all generations?"

Answer 5

I am not a literalist so I may be the wrong one to answer this. The Bible is full of "stories" if we take them literally we would go insane trying to answer these types of questions. As a non-denominational Christian I look at the Bible as a historical account of the times it was written about not a literal interpretation. It is also a guide to serve and love God using analogy and parables to prove a point.

Answer 6

All these answer suck. They're either avoiding the issue or stupid.
You know, if they're going to keep saying "that's the OT, read the NT", why do they have the OT in their bible? And why do they fight to keep the Ten Commandments posted in public places??

The lady above me is right on ! Especially her last sentence

Answer 7

I'm not a Christian but...

Jesus and the disciples are hanging out. The disciples see a blind man and ask Jesus if he's blind because he sinned, or because his father did. Jesus says neither, it's life, and he cures the blind man.

It seems that if there was any concept of children being held accountable for their father's sins, Jesus thew it out the window.

Answer 8

God has nothing to do with this -- or anything else, being a fiction. The natural world is sublimely indifferent to human tribulations, or to put it more bluntly, sh-t happens.

Answer 9

The passage of scripture you are referring to is not to be taken literally. When you research the Hebrew translation it actually means that the curse or sinful activities and consequences of the father is passed on to his children. In other words, children who grow up in broken and/or violent homes in a sinful atmosphere are most likely to perpetuate the same actions in their lives and pass it on to their children. Children never do what is told to them, they do as is demonstrated by their parents or guardians in the home.

Answer 10

This idea was squelched by God in both Jeremiah and Ezekiel

Ezekiel 18
The word of the LORD came to me again, saying, “What do you mean when you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying:

‘ The fathers have eaten sour grapes,
And the children’s teeth are set on edge’?

As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel."