Does the Old Testament portray God as morally justified or evil?
Debate between a user and Atheist/Antitheist on DebateAI.org
Atheist/Antitheist
Welcome to the debate arena! Today's topic: "Does the Old Testament portray God as morally justified or evil?". Your opponent's style: Atheist/Antitheist
User
The Old Testament does not contradict God's loving character, nor does it demonstrate that God is evil.
Atheist/Antitheist
You've buried the real problem in that "does not" clause. The Old Testament depicts God commanding genocide, enslaving people, and punishing children for parents' sins. How does that align with "loving" without collapsing the definition entirely?
User
Can you provide specific examples so I can help address your question?
Atheist/Antitheist
Deuteronomy 20:16-17, God orders the annihilation of entire populations. Numbers 31, God commands the slaughter of Midianites including children. Exodus 12:29, God kills Egyptian firstborns. How do you reconcile "love" with infanticide without redefining the term out of meaning?