Genocide in the Bible: does this trouble anyone else?

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Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (NAS, Romans 12:17-21)
 
There are no distinctions, no get out clauses.

Interestingly, the definition of just war states…
  • Revenge, revolt, a desire to harm, dominate, or exploit and similar things are not justification for war.
I’m guessing that would include genocide.
 
That is not the current teaching of the Church. See above.
 
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IanAG said:
I refer to my previous quote…What about church teaching, from the Catechism
  1. The fifth commandment forbids the intentional destruction of human life. Because of the evils and injustices that accompany all war, the Church insistently urges everyone to prayer and to action so that the divine Goodness may free us from the ancient bondage of war
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Are you saying you’re against Church teaching?
 
God is perfectly moral,

Therefore, He cannot order something immoral.

So, if God ordered genocide then genocide must be moral.
 
So a suicide bomber who believes that God has ordered him to kill is committing a moral act?
 
Or for that matter any group who claim that God has told them to commit genocide are justified in their actions?
 
IanAG said:
So a suicide bomber who believes that God has ordered him to kill is committing a moral act?
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Since the Catholic Church is the voice of God for us today, we listen and obey what the Church says. If she says there is a just war then we consider it God’s command. If not, well then we can’t go deciding on our own what God has commanded.
 
I think we’re going to have to agree to disagree on this one.

Thank you for your thoughts and views, it’s been an interesting conversation.
 
RhodesianSon said:
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StudentMI:
According to archaeology and historical research the Canaanites were pretty much a typical Near Eastern culture of the time. I haven’t come across any evidence of their ‘wickedness,’
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The sacrificing babies to Baal thing is the first example that comes to my mind.
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wait, you mean the very babies the Israelites slaughtered? Is the killing of children in war wicked or not? Is it more or less wicked than sacrificing them to Baal?
I know I know, God commanded those children to be slaughtered, so it’s acceptable and TRUE. It says so right there in the bible. And there’s a hammered metal dome too. I gotta see that. God’s word made it so.
 
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goout said:
wait, you mean the very babies the Israelites slaughtered? Is the killing of children in war wicked or not?
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You’d have to prove the Israelites killed babies. And those babies can be redeemed by God in death rather than grow to hate Him in life.
 
Marcus_Aurelius1 said:
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goout:
wait, you mean the very babies the Israelites slaughtered? Is the killing of children in war wicked or not?
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You’d have to prove the Israelites killed babies. And those babies can be redeemed by God in death rather than grow to hate Him in life.
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Psalms 137:9
Herem warfare has pretty clear parameters: every man, woman, and child is to die, the livestock will be destroyed, the crops burned, nothing is left to be pillaged.
 
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The gist I’m getting from some of the responses here is that genocide is okay if God orders it. That’s… wow. I’m trying to wrap my head around it.

How does all this square up with the lack of evidence regarding the conquest?
 
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Anesti33 said:
every man, woman, and child is to die, the livestock will be destroyed, the crops burned, nothing is left to be pillaged.
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And child can simply refer to unmarried sons/daughters.

God promised that He’d send a panic upon the people which was what happened in Jericho.

Therefore, you can’t even saw that the Israelites killed all the people of the city because a substantial amount would have left.
 
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