Do you agree that the biblical prohibition on child sacrifices should be a moral imperative, binding on all?

Question

societies today?

Or should it only be binding on believers of the Hebrew and Greek scriptures? If atheists think it immoral to sacrifice chidren (for any reason) could they support this notion in principle (even though we all know it could not be implemented)?

Answer 1

It's been done, it's called the murder statutes...

Answer 2

I know of no jurisdiction that allows child sacrifice.  I know of no place in the Hebrew or Greek scriptures where it demanded us to do it.

Answer 3

So what are you trying to get at? That if there is one precept or prohibition in the bible that atheist agree is morally and ethically sound, that redeems the rest of the bible? I don't think that holds water, logically!

Answer 4

please post a link showing child sacrifices are occuring today

Answer 5

Sure, a child is a distinct, independent, living organism descended from the homo sapiens group with a working brain and central nervous system. In short, we grant children the same rights we grant other humans (as distinct from say, a fetus which has none of the characteristics mentioned earlier) because they are humans. From there we invoke the ethic of reciprocity (which some might know as the golden rule), and Bob's your uncle. Works for adults, too.

Caveat: what I have written is I think appropriate for my time, my society, and myself. I make no claims about future and past societies.

Answer 6

This seems to highlight the problem of postmodern thinking when it comes to morality. It is anathema today for anyone to claim to have the truth. At best, we are told, something can only be true for us. It need not be true for others. That is why we are considered to be evil and judgmental if we pronounce anything to be morally imperative, binding on everyone. This apparent attempt to be non-judgmental falls apart at the seams when it comes to law enforcement in any country, of course! There has to be law, and judges, and punishments, otherwise meyhem will rule. God is Judge and has decreed what is against his laws, including child sacrifices, e.g. 2 Kings 17:16-17 & 21:5-6.

Now, why is it that some people rush to point out that there are virtually universal laws against murder, which would cover child sacrifices? There are laws against murder in the Bible, too, but it also clearly states how wicked child sacrifice is. This is singled out for condemnation. Why? Because in Old Testament times, many pagan nations sacrificed children to their gods, to appease them. Israel was not to do that (but sometimes they did). It has to be singled out because there will always be some people who will argue that it is not murder – it is required by the gods and beneficial to society. Do we find some people arguing today that certain killing is not murder? Yes! It’s not children being sacrificed on any god’s altar, though. It comes in other ways – postmodern ways.

Isn’t it time to challenge the assumption that there are no moral imperatives that should be binding on all societies? Isn’t it time to take the biblical principles and work them out for our day? What are current societal trends with regard to children that allow them to be horrendously abused and even killed? Street children are being shot by police in some countries, just to get them off the streets – or killed so that their organs can be sold. Yet those countries have laws against murder! That doesn’t stop the modern-day child sacrifices, though. Isn’t it our attitude to children that is the underlying problem? And our attitude to moral imperatives? Not all societies consider it wrong to make slaves or prostitutes out of children, or to use abortion as a kind of birth-control. There is far more consistency with Christian morality (that refuses to be compromised by postmodernism) than today's fluid, watered-down versions that are!

Answer 7

I am sure there is lots of moral stipulations in the Bible that atheists would whole heartily be in agreement with.  

Answer 8

Moloch says no...

Answer 9

That depends. How annoying are the children?

Answer 10

I know of no culture which doesn't ban child sacrifice.  Moreover, my answer to your specific question is no.  If there is such a prohibition in the bible (I can't think of one right off hand), it should not be binding on all.  The secular law of the land which prohibits murder should be binding on all in the land.  Simple, eh what?  But keep something in mind.  Child would be defined as having already been born, right?

Answer 11

Should it be? Yes

Will it be? Likely not

I assume that by child sacrifices you mean abortions

Answer 12

So weird that it's convenient for some to take the Bible literally when it suits them, but plea vague ignorance when it tells them something they don't want to hear.

Of course child sacrifice is immoral, on a lesser note, and illegal on a more important and current one.  Man, woman or child, it would be considered "murder" under any legal statute or law.  Wouldn't it be considered a crime against humanity on the world stage if this should actually occur in a society where child sacrifice is, Lord forbid (no pun intended), publicly acceptable?

I think people should read the Bible with a more discerning heart and mind, with an eye to how we function today as a people.  Not all doctrine and/or imperatives in certain scriptures are actually in practice today; some are outright egregiously "anti-society" considering how we live today.  I mean, no one's really going around in America plucking out another person's eye if he/she is offended by the other person staring covetously, right?  I mean, how would that defense hold up in court?

Answer 13

First: Why are you asking this? Your own moral center should be telling you that it's wrong.

Second: It doesn't matter whether they are jews, Athiests or Muslims, as a human being they should feel that it is wrong.

and Thirdly, anyone who doesn't feel that it is immoral to sacrifice a child (OR ANY OTHER HUMAN BEING (or living thing if you want to be specific)) isn't really a human but a monster.

Sacrifice is just a gloryfied way of justifying murder. (my opinion)

Answer 14

in my world murder is frowned upon and they tend to punish people by jail or execution