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March 30, 2004

Hey, It Was Good Enough for Isaac

From the World Wide Rant "voices in your head" bureau:

In opening statements Monday, a Texas prosecutor described how a mother smashed the head of her infant son with a rock and then led her two older boys outside and did the same to them, killing the two oldest boys...

[Attorney] Files said Laney believed that God had told her the world was going to end and "she had to get her house in order," which included killing her children.

"The dilemma she faced is a terrible one for a mother," Files said. "Does she follow what she believes to be God's will, or does she turn her back on God?"

Files said he would present witnesses who would corroborate Laney's love of her children as well as her belief "that the word of God was infallible."

"It destroyed her ability to discern the wrongness of her act," he said.

Naturally, the non-murdering Christians among us will proclaim that this was not the voice of God telling her to do this. Unfortunately, they have absolutely no grounds on which to say that other than their sheer distaste for wanton slaughter, a distaste which Yahweh - if you believe the reports from days of old - has never really seemed to share.

If you believe in God, no one bats an eye. If you believe in God and claim he says nice things or impresses upon your heart that you should pet puppy dogs and feed the hungry, some might think you're a bit off, but generally no big deal. However, if you believe in God and go out and do his apparent bidding, which happens to involve bludgeoning children with rocks, suddenly you're a pariah among the religious.

But how do you know it wasn't God telling her to do it? Obviously, as an atheist, I think she's a right looney - but on what rational ground can a Christian say it wasn't the Big Guy Upstairs encouraging her to do this? Disgust won't cut it. Faith? Not much of an argument, at least if we're looking for reason. Morality? If good is whatever God says it is, then killing can be good (and God, as I've said, has shown a penchant for spilling blood).

If it all boils down to "God wouldn't do that," on what basis can one make that claim, particularly about the all-powerful creator of everything? Who are you to judge the Lord your God?

Just askin'.

(yes, I'm in one of those moods - why do you ask?)