How do I answer the accusation that God kills in the OT?

[Cathy]

I just finished arguing for an hour and a half with my 20-something son, who claims God killed millions in the OT and the devil killed only 10? (We’ve gone over this ground many times before.) An additional help would be something that answers atheist arguments. He is so quick to answer all my arguments for the Faith that I am hopeful that after his conversion he may become a Catholic apologist.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

Of course, God takes human life. He does it all the time. As the creator of human life, he has the right to take it! Your son doesn’t realize that God is not just a bigger version of him. He is not God’s equal. We can’t pass judgment on God because He is infinitely more intelligent than we are. Sadly, your son doesn’t know Him. When reading any part of Scripture, one must know the context of the passage (which isn’t always easily ascertained) in order to understand it.

When Job questioned God, God then had some questions for Job. Soon Job foundthat God’s questions were fare better than his and so he suddenly didn’t have any more questions (Job 38).

When we anthropomorphize God as God, we find ourselves talking to ourselves.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.