LEVITICUS 31:17? Just what Scripture are you reading from.....one of the 12 books of the "Apocrypha"? I defy you to find ONE passage of scripture that authorizes the RAPE of anyone captured in battle. The fact of killing all offspring and or livestock was done in justification for like actions of that same enemy. Its seems that the Book of Leviticus contains "27" chapters only......But regardless, what you describe is "JUSTICE", an eye for an eye....righteous justice, in fact a from of Justice still practiced today by the majority of the Civilized world, as the Western World derives most of its legal system from that same code of justice presented in the Judeo-Christian faith...whether or not you reconginze HISTORY ACTUAL or not, such indeed is the case, as we have entire passages of both our common law system and US Constitution written almost verbatim from the Blackstone theory of Law. This nation was founded upon these principles, as a Representative Rebuplic....not a Democary. And for a base the Judeo-Christian faith was indeed the chief corner stone....This is a Christain nation, as much as some would like to disregard history and ignore the teachings of our founders in "evolving" toward a social communist nation.....words were placed into our constitution as a "firewall" against such a lazy man's government (Article 4 Section 4, US Constitution) which always leads to "self destruction"....as the mob rules by simple majority.

This can actually be witnessed even in our modern legal system that projects the will of the majority upon the will of minority...every day. One example would be the court "mandated" example of teaching the theory of evolution ( a system that still remains UNPROVEN, and only believed without proof, which is FAITH DEFINED), declared to be the only acceptable theory allowed in our school system....simply based upon a belief..by the majority, thus the MOB rules, not because of proof, but because of popular opinion. Another fascist law would be that of LEGAL ABORTION.....as history proves that if legal precedence would have been followed (some two hundred years worth)....this fascist law allowing life to be mandated as inferior to the presumed personal right of someones PRIVACY would indeed be found ILLEGAL under the precedent used for some two centuries....before WE "EVOLVED" into using the OPINION of other sitting judges as precedence in the 20th century. For the most of two hundred years the SCOTUS used Blackstone's Commentaries on the Law...to establish legal precedence, well into the 20th century. This system was "discarded" by the IVY LEAGUE lawyers in favor of considering the opinion of other judges when OPINING from the bench....and everyone can clearly see just what these OPINIONS have lead to. A runaway SCOTUS that uses the self professed POWER of judicial review to change even the words of the US CONSTITUTION...allowing such laws as the murder of our unborn children that are OPINED as being less than human and personal property....void of ALL rights to live, yet this SAME Government defines life in a state of gestation.....the eggs of certain birds to be an example of life within that species....(The endangered species act of 1973) and protects that gestating life with fines and or imprisonment...its a shame that HUMAN LIFE is not so valued and falls to the personal right of privacy. Secularism and logic...indeed. Ralph

Article Four of the United States Constitution - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

William Blackstone - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Commentaries on the Laws of England - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Death is not something to be cheated. It is through death that we are given new life. That's the problem with most Christians. They see death as something bad. Sure we want to live here is long as possible, since nobody alive really knows what's beyond, but to base your entire life philosophy on what happens after just doesn't make any sense to me.

Don't kid yourself, I want to die ASAP. Seriously, this place sucks. It started out good, but we make it worse everyday. The only reason I'm still here, as well as every other believer, is to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. I hate being here. I want to be in the presence of the Lord, forever, without pain or suffering.

There are two types of death; one physical and the other spiritual. We all die physically, but those who have rejected Christ die spiritually. Jesus said, "I am the truth, the way, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)

You do not only defy me, you defy reality, I know what closed minds are having once been their myself and no one can wake it up if it is closed and refuses to open!

The Avalon Project : Washington's Farewell Address 1796

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/news/20...northwoods.pdf

An Inconvenient Truth

www.bushrecall.org

Nixon White House Tapes

Cactusman, it's sad to me that you wold rather die then live and experience the gift that was given to you. It is when things are the worst, that the opportunity for change is the greatest. Our work as humans is to look after one another, speak out against injustice, and live life every day as if it were our last. There are innumerable wonders to be experienced each and every day that we are alive. And pain and suffering are necessary in order to evolve and gain wisdom and compassion, among other things. No one ever guaranteed that life was easy and joyful. Believe me, I know from my own life that things are usually never easy, and that life can be cruel and excruciatingly painful, and seemingly unfair. But it is still worth living, and worth keeping the golden rule, no matter the circumstances. One person can make a huge impact, even if they never know that they did.

Ralph, the book of Numbers (31) recounts the fall of Midian, after slaying all the adult males, came the instructions from Moses that this was the command of the Lord, to kill every living male among the children, and every woman who knew a man by lying with him, but to keep all the women children who had never known a man for themselves. It is known that they could then be sold as slaves or concubines or kept as wives. That isn't the Apocrypha, and even if it were, it makes no difference.

And then we have in Judges, the father who offers his virgin daughter to a drunken mob, along with his male Levite guest's concubine, in order that drunken rowdies from the tribe of Benjamin would not beat up his guest. So the concubine was given to the crowd, and they knew her and abused all night, until morning. She crawled back to the threshold, and when her lord awoke and opened the door to leave, he told her "Up and let us be going", and finding that she was dead, loaded her body onto his ass, and went home. And the torture, rape and murder of this woman, was committed without fear of punishment or even moral disapproval. I se that this Old testament God only valued the lives of the chosen people, not any other people. That seem very odd to me, and quite disturbing.

When I was a "born again Christian", I was in church one day, and the pastor actually said "the best thing that could happen to any of us right now is for God to call us up to Heaven this instant". I think that's when I started to decide that I actually LIKED living in this world, as imperfect as it is. Do you really believe that Jesus wants you to just chalk this world up as "done" and just look forward to being with him in the next? I don't think that is what he was preaching AT ALL.

[quote=waitingtables;186097]Cactusman, it's sad to me that you wold rather die then live and experience the gift that was given to you. It is when things are the worst, that the opportunity for change is the greatest. Our work as humans is to look after one another, speak out against injustice, and live life every day as if it were our last. There are innumerable wonders to be experienced each and every day that we are alive. And pain and suffering are necessary in order to evolve and gain wisdom and compassion, among other things. No one ever guaranteed that life was easy and joyful. Believe me, I know from my own life that things are usually never easy, and that life can be cruel and excruciatingly painful, and seemingly unfair. But it is still worth living, and worth keeping the golden rule, no matter the circumstances. One person can make a huge impact, even if they never know that they did.

I agree 100%. Live life to the fullest. As a Christian, I live my life in accordance with the Bible. That means to put the needs of others first, and so on. I enjoy helping others; it gives me a sense of accomplishment and honor. I want nothing in return. Also, Christ promised hardship for believers.

I live in CA and love going to see the redwoods, swim in the ocean, and just enjoy the weather. I see God's artwork in nature. It gives me inspiration. This sounds contradicting, but it is man who has tainted this world. Being with God in perfection forever sounds much more appealing.

I speak to you guys for this reason, that change comes during hard times. There is so much negative press on the church and believers, much of which is true; so I attempt to show you that we're not all crazy. My words don't always come out right, as noted, but please understand my point.

I try to make an impact on you guys, even if you don't agree. I don't want you to feel pressured into doing anything, which I have yet to do. Read John 3:17. This is my stance. I don't condemn; only show love. This shows the true state of being for many churches is one that doesn't comply with the Bible.

I look forward to going to heaven someday. I like having conversations with you.

This is why God allows for Israel to be judged and destroyed so many times. Israel is not any better than the other people. God chose Israel because of lineage. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. T