what does the bible say about paedophilia?

Question

sunnygirl i ask this question because i think it says quite alot about the validity and credibility of the bible.I personally view paedophilia as heinous and immoral from my own opinion,if the bible speaks of it as 'okay',then i don't see how that could be divinely inspired from god!spirituality is very important to me and i like to research these things not just come out with dimwitted views!so maybe you should be a little more concerned with these particular abstract affairs!it might make you a better person.im not going to follow a book that condones these kind of things!

Answer 1

in the bible, you can only sacrifice your children, not rape them.

Answer 2

I don't know that the Bible says anything specific, but a lot of people "in the know" indicate that due to cultural things girls got married at very young ages. They probably also got raped at very young ages.

From my church school education I never summized that Mary, Jesus mother, could as be young as 14 when she had Jesus. But many Christians here say it is possible. They indicate that culturally 16 year old girls were considered old maids back then.

I personally don't think it's healthy for the girl or the baby if the girl is under 19.

I think the body should be fully developed naturally and total growth stops around 18 or 19.

If you take a look at the pelvic and hips of a 14 or 15 or even 16 year old girl as compared to how she looks when she's 18 or 20 you will see a considerable difference.

I view that as a potentail hazard in birthing.

I am kind of Amazed that God would go along with this young age concept, even though girls techically can get pregnanat as young as 10.

Answer 3

I think that's a good question. Very good question, actually, despite what many others may say. I'll illuminate what the bible says about pedophilia.
Num 31:14 And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, [with] the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came from the battle.
Num 31:15 And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?
Num 31:16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.
Num 31:17 Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.
Num 31:18 But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

Answer 4

Something apt having to do with a stone around the offenders neck and the bottom of the river. Children are and always have been the future of society. Any who damage them in that way deserve worse than what they will get, certainly not protection.

Answer 5

Nothing explicit, as far as I know. However, it does say that, "Whosoever that causes a child to stumble, it would be better for them to have a millstone hung about their neck, and be thrown into the ocean"... implying that doing anything bad to a child (be it sinning against them, or enticing them to sin) is a *really* *really* bad thing. Pedophilia is generally accepted as a harmful thing in our society.

On that note, we as Christians are to follow the laws of the land, as long as that particular law does not conflict with God's laws. God's laws says that fornication (sex prior to marriage) and adultery (sex with someone other than your spouse) are sins. American laws say than a child cannot get married.

Hence, the only way to enact pedophilia would be via fornication... and as such, you would be causing the child to commit fornication (and therefore, 'making them stumble'), and you would be breaking American laws (and therefore violating the command to obey the laws of the land as well).

Your legal mileage may vary, according to what nation you're in.

Answer 6

Sadly, nothing.

It endorses polygamy, however.

Strange, no?

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EDIT: I did a quick Google search for "Beware of those who will hurt the mind of a child", cited by Devoted to Christ. There was no such quote anywhere on the web. I recognize that there could be a slight remembrance of the exact phrase, but I don't recall anything like it in the scriptures from my days as a religion major. I just hope that Devoted didn't simply make it up.

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Answer 7

Noting specific. But, I would say that pedophiles are people who fall under the characteristic of one "without natural affection." (Romans 1:31; 2 Timothy 3:2).

The English phrase "without natural affection" is translated from one Greek word and it means "inhuman, unloving and unsociable" or "one who acts in ways that are against the social norm".

It seems to me that this would certainly describe a pedophile.

Answer 8

Following the last person's comment (which was very good) it is also illegal in the US to touch a child with sexual intent.

Answer 9

Depending on which section of the bible you look it is considered punishable by death, it is not sanctioned by any area of the Judeo-Christian ethic however the age of consent is not specified.

Answer 10

Jesus said "Beware of those who will hurt the mind of a child"

In translation, Stay away from them because their day is coming.

Answer 11

I think the very idea was so monstrous, it never even occured to the Hebrew people that it could happen......