Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Vinnie · 10-08-2003, 03:17 AM

I was wondering if we could trade methods?

What instruments does everyone else use when beating their slaves? Which form of punishment have you had the most success with?

Vinnie

Doctor X · 10-08-2003, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Unless the slaughter of Amelkites was a metaphor to symbolize the complete annihilation of a person's identity . . . such as it was for Jonah and the destruction of Ninevah.

No . . . no and no.

Again, you have to read the same book everyone else is commenting on.

--J.D.

Madkins007 · 10-08-2003, 07:56 PM

What was the source of most slaves in the period the verse in question was written about?

sodium · 10-11-2003, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by truelies
In any society some people are going to be subordinate to others whether they or we like it or not. That a slave would have any right of redress at all as shown in this Boble passage was pretty much unique to the Jews in the ancient world. The obvious point of this passage is that even the weak have some rights relative to the strong.

That reminds me of an interview I heard with a professor of Islamic Studies, or some such thing. The interviewer asked him what his opinion was on the passage of the Koran that says we should chop off the hands of thieves. He said that the idea was that this would make it harder for the thief to repeat his crime. In other words, it was an attempt to stop him from being a thief, to rehabilitate him. So we should really think of this passage not so much as advocating amputation specifically, but in its more general point that we should attempt to rehabilitate prisoners. So really, a modern way to carry out the Koran's intent would be to give prisoners instruction in a trade.

All I could think was, now that's what I call interpretation!

Sue Sponte · 10-12-2003, 01:06 AM

Quote:

God couldn't undo the fact that slavery happened (or make a law against it -???-) but made laws to make a bad situation a bit better.

God couldn't do something? Why not?

Perhaps more centrally on point, why didn't the supposed Sacred Text simply state that one shouldn't have slaves at all, let alone define how to beat the hell out of them in a manner acceptable to God?

Doctor X · 10-12-2003, 05:12 PM

Probably because the writers owned slaves or their bosses did. They also probably bought into the "second-class human" that rationalizes the practice.

Religion is political? Heavens to Betsy!

--J.D.

DamagedGoods · 10-12-2003, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SkepticBoyLee
Is he going to send proper molestation instructions to catholic priest because the practice of molesting little boys is too much for him to do anything about??

What a most excellent example. :notworthy I'll have to remember that one.

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10-08-2003, 03:17 AM	#21
Vinnie Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Waterbury, Ct, Usa Posts: 6,523	I was wondering if we could trade methods? What instruments does everyone else use when beating their slaves? Which form of punishment have you had the most success with? Vinnie

10-08-2003, 07:56 PM	#23
Madkins007 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Nebraska Posts: 591	What was the source of most slaves in the period the verse in question was written about?

10-12-2003, 05:12 PM	#26
Doctor X Banned Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: USA Posts: 3,794	Probably because the writers owned slaves or their bosses did. They also probably bought into the "second-class human" that rationalizes the practice. Religion is political? Heavens to Betsy! --J.D.

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