Gods Don’t Kill People

Gods Don’t Kill People June 25, 2014

Obviously it depends what one means by a “god.” If the universe is divine, then it obviously brings us into being and also brings our lives to an end, in one sense.

It is interesting that one finds in the Bible both the view that people need not defend their gods – if Ba’al is a god, let him defend himself (Judges 6), but also admonitions to fight on behalf of one’s own deity.

And so there is a parallel to the old “guns don’t kill people, people kill people” line. Religion can be a dangerous weapon, especially in the wrong hands. But unlike guns, religions have other legitimate uses. And anything that lets those inclined to do harm do more harm than they would have been able to otherwise needs to be considered closely and legislated carefully.

 


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