The concept of original sin came up. A number of y'all wrote that babies are not born with sin, but sin after birth--that original sin does not exist. You are left with an issue there.
God destroyed the world you say (Noah) --Soddom and Gommorah etc. In an age without birth control pregnant women were either drowned or immolated destroying the innocent fetus as well. So by destroying the world with pregnant women in it either God does not mind killing the innocent--or else the fetus was not considered to be a human being. which of these is correct, im confused.
2007-10-09 05:42:55 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Don't forget about Jericho. The same was done there too...
Joshua 6:21 & 24
21 "They devoted the city to the LORD and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys."
24 "Then they burned the whole city and everything in it, but they put the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of the LORD's house."
Amazing that they saved the rich stuff. Things that make you go.....Hmmmmm??
2007-10-09 05:50:29 · answer #1 · answered by Blue girl in a red state 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
When we read the Genesis account of the flood of Noah, several things stick out. 1. There was violence everywhere. 2. The 'sons of God' (fallen angels) had gone into the 'daughters of men' (human women) and had children with them. This made the human race tainted with half-breeds, fallen angels/humans. 3. Noah and his family were the only family on the earth whose bloodline was still pure.
The flood happened because the abominations, or nephilim, offspring of fallen angels and humans, had to be destroyed. So any fetuses that women were carrying at the time of the flood, were not human to begin with, and thus were not 'innocent' but abominations.
As for Sodom & Gommorah, this city was destroyed because the people were doing sins that cried out to heaven, sins that were considered an abomination in the sight of God. So much so that the city had to be destroyed with fire from heaven. There may have been innocent children that died in Sodom, but it was because of the sins of the adults that the children had to die. Had they all lived, the sin would have continued and the evil would have spread.
I hope this has helped you.
2007-10-09 05:58:42 · answer #2 · answered by beauty4ashes 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow, what a confusing question.. I will try my best to give you what I believe.
Original sin includes babies too, but they are "innocent" in that they don't yet understand the difference between right and wrong. I believe that there is an age of accountability when the conscience is developed to the point that a person understands that he/she is a sinner and it is at the point that God holds an individual person accountable for his/her sin.
It's for that reason that our denomination (Baptist) doesn't baptize infants, but practices believers' baptism after someone makes a profession of faith. Hope that makes sense--if not, ask another specific ? & I will try to respond.
The world as a whole is "fallen" or full of sin since Adam & Eve broke the rules God set forth in the Garden of Eden and brought about the curse, but most Christians believe (and the Bible teaches) that God foreknew that this would happen and had His plan for grace through faith in His Son Jesus Christ from before the world began.
So in the global sense, all of the world's disasters, even when it is God's direct judgment are the result of man's sin, and the consequences of this sin almost always brings damage to both those who commit it as well as "innocent bystanders"--sometimes it is just more widespread and far-reaching.
Any truly innocent children (or believers for that matter) past, present, or future that suffer, die, or are destroyed by a disaster,etc. that is allowed or willed by God to happen will go to heaven and have eternal life, either because they believe in Jesus or because they haven't yet reached the age of accountability.
Go back to the account of Noah, and you will see that it wasn't because Noah was "good" or earned the chance to survive, it was because "Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord". All believers are saved the same way, through the grace of God that He gives through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Christ. I have been taught, and it is my belief, that those who have accepted Christ as their Savior and those too young to understand yet (babies/children under the age of accountability) are all "under grace". A fetus is a person, and God has a plan for everyone He has created. We may never fully understand His purpose/plan until we get to heaven.
Hope that somewhat answered your question.
If you are truly seeking the truth, keep studying the Bible & keep asking questions & I pray that it will be revealed to you.
2007-10-09 06:05:50 · answer #3 · answered by arklatexrat 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jesus said to not restrict the children from coming to Him. I believe I can make a scriptural case that all of those who are unable to decide for themselves will go to heaven.
This means that all of the fetuses destroyed by the flood are in heaven. I suppose the mercy in the flood is that God took home everyone who was not of age when the world was destroyed.
Also consider this...with only a few exceptions, the infant and child mortality rate is much higher in the non-christian countries of the world. I guess God has a way to take home all who would believe if given the chance. This may seem course on its face but eternity is a long time. Is it merciful to take someone to eternity in paradise when eternity in hell is the alternative.
For the kooks out there...please remember...only God can judge things like this...please don't go running into your philisophical corners kicking and screaming. Thanks in advance.
agapefromnc
2007-10-10 12:49:19 · answer #4 · answered by harry killwater 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no matter how hard you try, no one will ever convince me that abortion is not murder. God destroyed the world in the time of Noah, because of disobedience, and yes, unborn babies were most likely destroyed as well, however that does not give a woman the right to destroy her child. God knows each of us by name before we are conceived, long before the foundation of the world, and when a woman decides to abort she is taking a life that was thought of and planned out by God before the world came into being- think about it- God is the giver and taker of us, we aren't. PERIOD
2007-10-09 05:59:28 · answer #5 · answered by AdoreHim 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God says, he knew us in the womb. So it is a living body with a soul. And the scripture is VERY clear that all are born with original sin...babies when they are born already have the sinful nature. Do you ever notice that you don't have to teach babies, children, toddlers, etc to do wrong? It pretty much comes naturally.
2007-10-09 05:59:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
God destroyed the world before because of sin and
unbelief and he will destroy this one because of the same
reason,people just can't understand what sin and
unbelief cause,s so they will see the truth one day to late.
2007-10-09 05:57:36 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have no idea.
I suppose a clump of cells has enough "soul" to make it a sin to kill them, even if it means the government forcing a woman to stay pregnant against her will.
But a feeling, sentient animal has no soul and thus can be tortured and eaten with no consequence.
christian morality at its finest!!
2007-10-09 19:37:34 · answer #8 · answered by Elizabeth J 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Exactly. You are confused. You read the bible and got confused. No wonder! You must be using your brain AND reading to have gotten confused. Don't worry. Not a lot of people do that.
Keep reading...keep questioning!!
2007-10-09 06:35:03 · answer #9 · answered by tellme.lies 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a topic best left to the individual and her priest, rabbi, minister (whatever).
Each theology teaches a different version of when a soul enters into either a fetus or newborn.
2007-10-09 05:54:20 · answer #10 · answered by docscholl 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋