Violence in the scriptures

FAIR Answers—back to home page

Difficult Questions About the Bible

Summary: Several people have become concerned with how to understand ancient practices and stories of the Old and New Testament and their ethical implications. These questions have received a lot of attention from Christian apologists and other biblical scholars for hundreds of years. These articles help address these stories and practices in light of the Restored Gospel.

Jump to details:

• Question: How can one approach reconciling confusing, seemingly disturbing, or otherwise troubling texts from the scriptures?
• Question: What is the best way to understand servitude in the Old and New Testaments?
• Question: Did God endorse rape in the Old Testament?
• Question: Why would Elisha have two she-bears maul 42 children?
• Question: Why are Old Testament penalties for disobedience so harsh?
• JPS Torah Commentary: Deuteronomy: "Filial insubordination is a grave offense because respect and obedience toward parents is regarded as the cornerstone of all order and authority"
• Question: Why would a loving God would kill innocent children in the flood of Noah's day?
• Question: Why would a loving God kill the firstborn of Egypt?
• Elder Jeffery R. Holland: "it is a characteristic of our age that if people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much"
• Question: Why would God send poisonous serpents to kill the Children of Israel?
• Joseph Fielding Smith: "This was also in the similitude of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ"
• Question: Did Nephi commit "cold blooded murder" when he killed Laban?
• Question: Why didn't God simply preserve Nephi's life using divine power instead of requiring him to kill Laban?
• Jeffery R. Holland: "It is wrong to assume that Nephi in any way wished to take Laban’s life"
• Question: Are the scriptures misogynistic/sexist?
• Question: Do the scriptures promote racism?

Difficult Questions About the Bible

Summary: Several people have become concerned with how to understand ancient practices and stories of the Old and New Testament and their ethical implications. These questions have received a lot of attention from Christian apologists and other biblical scholars for hundreds of years. These articles help address these stories and practices in light of the Restored Gospel.

Jump to details:

• Question: How can one approach reconciling confusing, seemingly disturbing, or otherwise troubling texts from the scriptures?
• Question: What is the best way to understand servitude in the Old and New Testaments?
• Question: Did God endorse rape in the Old Testament?
• Question: Why would Elisha have two she-bears maul 42 children?
• Question: Why are Old Testament penalties for disobedience so harsh?
• JPS Torah Commentary: Deuteronomy: "Filial insubordination is a grave offense because respect and obedience toward parents is regarded as the cornerstone of all order and authority"
• Question: Why would a loving God would kill innocent children in the flood of Noah's day?
• Question: Why would a loving God kill the firstborn of Egypt?
• Elder Jeffery R. Holland: "it is a characteristic of our age that if people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much"
• Question: Why would God send poisonous serpents to kill the Children of Israel?
• Joseph Fielding Smith: "This was also in the similitude of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ"
• Question: Did Nephi commit "cold blooded murder" when he killed Laban?
• Question: Why didn't God simply preserve Nephi's life using divine power instead of requiring him to kill Laban?
• Jeffery R. Holland: "It is wrong to assume that Nephi in any way wished to take Laban’s life"
• Question: Are the scriptures misogynistic/sexist?
• Question: Do the scriptures promote racism?

Difficult Questions About the Bible

Summary: Several people have become concerned with how to understand ancient practices and stories of the Old and New Testament and their ethical implications. These questions have received a lot of attention from Christian apologists and other biblical scholars for hundreds of years. These articles help address these stories and practices in light of the Restored Gospel.

Jump to details:

• Question: How can one approach reconciling confusing, seemingly disturbing, or otherwise troubling texts from the scriptures?
• Question: What is the best way to understand servitude in the Old and New Testaments?
• Question: Did God endorse rape in the Old Testament?
• Question: Why would Elisha have two she-bears maul 42 children?
• Question: Why are Old Testament penalties for disobedience so harsh?
• JPS Torah Commentary: Deuteronomy: "Filial insubordination is a grave offense because respect and obedience toward parents is regarded as the cornerstone of all order and authority"
• Question: Why would a loving God would kill innocent children in the flood of Noah's day?
• Question: Why would a loving God kill the firstborn of Egypt?
• Elder Jeffery R. Holland: "it is a characteristic of our age that if people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much"
• Question: Why would God send poisonous serpents to kill the Children of Israel?
• Joseph Fielding Smith: "This was also in the similitude of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ"
• Question: Did Nephi commit "cold blooded murder" when he killed Laban?
• Question: Why didn't God simply preserve Nephi's life using divine power instead of requiring him to kill Laban?
• Jeffery R. Holland: "It is wrong to assume that Nephi in any way wished to take Laban’s life"
• Question: Are the scriptures misogynistic/sexist?
• Question: Do the scriptures promote racism?

Difficult Questions About the Bible

Summary: Several people have become concerned with how to understand ancient practices and stories of the Old and New Testament and their ethical implications. These questions have received a lot of attention from Christian apologists and other biblical scholars for hundreds of years. These articles help address these stories and practices in light of the Restored Gospel.

Jump to details:

• Question: How can one approach reconciling confusing, seemingly disturbing, or otherwise troubling texts from the scriptures?
• Question: What is the best way to understand servitude in the Old and New Testaments?
• Question: Did God endorse rape in the Old Testament?
• Question: Why would Elisha have two she-bears maul 42 children?
• Question: Why are Old Testament penalties for disobedience so harsh?
• JPS Torah Commentary: Deuteronomy: "Filial insubordination is a grave offense because respect and obedience toward parents is regarded as the cornerstone of all order and authority"
• Question: Why would a loving God would kill innocent children in the flood of Noah's day?
• Question: Why would a loving God kill the firstborn of Egypt?
• Elder Jeffery R. Holland: "it is a characteristic of our age that if people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much"
• Question: Why would God send poisonous serpents to kill the Children of Israel?
• Joseph Fielding Smith: "This was also in the similitude of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ"
• Question: Did Nephi commit "cold blooded murder" when he killed Laban?
• Question: Why didn't God simply preserve Nephi's life using divine power instead of requiring him to kill Laban?
• Jeffery R. Holland: "It is wrong to assume that Nephi in any way wished to take Laban’s life"
• Question: Are the scriptures misogynistic/sexist?
• Question: Do the scriptures promote racism?

Difficult Questions About the Bible

Summary: Several people have become concerned with how to understand ancient practices and stories of the Old and New Testament and their ethical implications. These questions have received a lot of attention from Christian apologists and other biblical scholars for hundreds of years. These articles help address these stories and practices in light of the Restored Gospel.

Jump to details:

• Question: How can one approach reconciling confusing, seemingly disturbing, or otherwise troubling texts from the scriptures?
• Question: What is the best way to understand servitude in the Old and New Testaments?
• Question: Did God endorse rape in the Old Testament?
• Question: Why would Elisha have two she-bears maul 42 children?
• Question: Why are Old Testament penalties for disobedience so harsh?
• JPS Torah Commentary: Deuteronomy: "Filial insubordination is a grave offense because respect and obedience toward parents is regarded as the cornerstone of all order and authority"
• Question: Why would a loving God would kill innocent children in the flood of Noah's day?
• Question: Why would a loving God kill the firstborn of Egypt?
• Elder Jeffery R. Holland: "it is a characteristic of our age that if people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much"
• Question: Why would God send poisonous serpents to kill the Children of Israel?
• Joseph Fielding Smith: "This was also in the similitude of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ"
• Question: Did Nephi commit "cold blooded murder" when he killed Laban?
• Question: Why didn't God simply preserve Nephi's life using divine power instead of requiring him to kill Laban?
• Jeffery R. Holland: "It is wrong to assume that Nephi in any way wished to take Laban’s life"
• Question: Are the scriptures misogynistic/sexist?
• Question: Do the scriptures promote racism?

Difficult Questions About the Bible

Summary: Several people have become concerned with how to understand ancient practices and stories of the Old and New Testament and their ethical implications. These questions have received a lot of attention from Christian apologists and other biblical scholars for hundreds of years. These articles help address these stories and practices in light of the Restored Gospel.

Jump to details:

• Question: How can one approach reconciling confusing, seemingly disturbing, or otherwise troubling texts from the scriptures?
• Question: What is the best way to understand servitude in the Old and New Testaments?
• Question: Did God endorse rape in the Old Testament?
• Question: Why would Elisha have two she-bears maul 42 children?
• Question: Why are Old Testament penalties for disobedience so harsh?
• JPS Torah Commentary: Deuteronomy: "Filial insubordination is a grave offense because respect and obedience toward parents is regarded as the cornerstone of all order and authority"
• Question: Why would a loving God would kill innocent children in the flood of Noah's day?
• Question: Why would a loving God kill the firstborn of Egypt?
• Elder Jeffery R. Holland: "it is a characteristic of our age that if people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much"
• Question: Why would God send poisonous serpents to kill the Children of Israel?
• Joseph Fielding Smith: "This was also in the similitude of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ"
• Question: Did Nephi commit "cold blooded murder" when he killed Laban?
• Question: Why didn't God simply preserve Nephi's life using divine power instead of requiring him to kill Laban?
• Jeffery R. Holland: "It is wrong to assume that Nephi in any way wished to take Laban’s life"
• Question: Are the scriptures misogynistic/sexist?
• Question: Do the scriptures promote racism?

Difficult Questions About the Bible

Summary: Several people have become concerned with how to understand ancient practices and stories of the Old and New Testament and their ethical implications. These questions have received a lot of attention from Christian apologists and other biblical scholars for hundreds of years. These articles help address these stories and practices in light of the Restored Gospel.

Jump to details:

• Question: How can one approach reconciling confusing, seemingly disturbing, or otherwise troubling texts from the scriptures?
• Question: What is the best way to understand servitude in the Old and New Testaments?
• Question: Did God endorse rape in the Old Testament?
• Question: Why would Elisha have two she-bears maul 42 children?
• Question: Why are Old Testament penalties for disobedience so harsh?
• JPS Torah Commentary: Deuteronomy: "Filial insubordination is a grave offense because respect and obedience toward parents is regarded as the cornerstone of all order and authority"
• Question: Why would a loving God would kill innocent children in the flood of Noah's day?
• Question: Why would a loving God kill the firstborn of Egypt?
• Elder Jeffery R. Holland: "it is a characteristic of our age that if people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much"
• Question: Why would God send poisonous serpents to kill the Children of Israel?
• Joseph Fielding Smith: "This was also in the similitude of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ"
• Question: Did Nephi commit "cold blooded murder" when he killed Laban?
• Question: Why didn't God simply preserve Nephi's life using divine power instead of requiring him to kill Laban?
• Jeffery R. Holland: "It is wrong to assume that Nephi in any way wished to take Laban’s life"
• Question: Are the scriptures misogynistic/sexist?
• Question: Do the scriptures promote racism?

Difficult Questions About the Bible

Summary: Several people have become concerned with how to understand ancient practices and stories of the Old and New Testament and their ethical implications. These questions have received a lot of attention from Christian apologists and other biblical scholars for hundreds of years. These articles help address these stories and practices in light of the Restored Gospel.

Jump to details:

• Question: How can one approach reconciling confusing, seemingly disturbing, or otherwise troubling texts from the scriptures?
• Question: What is the best way to understand servitude in the Old and New Testaments?
• Question: Did God endorse rape in the Old Testament?
• Question: Why would Elisha have two she-bears maul 42 children?
• Question: Why are Old Testament penalties for disobedience so harsh?
• JPS Torah Commentary: Deuteronomy: "Filial insubordination is a grave offense because respect and obedience toward parents is regarded as the cornerstone of all order and authority"
• Question: Why would a loving God would kill innocent children in the flood of Noah's day?
• Question: Why would a loving God kill the firstborn of Egypt?
• Elder Jeffery R. Holland: "it is a characteristic of our age that if people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much"
• Question: Why would God send poisonous serpents to kill the Children of Israel?
• Joseph Fielding Smith: "This was also in the similitude of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ"
• Question: Did Nephi commit "cold blooded murder" when he killed Laban?
• Question: Why didn't God simply preserve Nephi's life using divine power instead of requiring him to kill Laban?
• Jeffery R. Holland: "It is wrong to assume that Nephi in any way wished to take Laban’s life"
• Question: Are the scriptures misogynistic/sexist?
• Question: Do the scriptures promote racism?

Difficult Questions About the Bible

Summary: Several people have become concerned with how to understand ancient practices and stories of the Old and New Testament and their ethical implications. These questions have received a lot of attention from Christian apologists and other biblical scholars for hundreds of years. These articles help address these stories and practices in light of the Restored Gospel.

Jump to details:

• Question: How can one approach reconciling confusing, seemingly disturbing, or otherwise troubling texts from the scriptures?
• Question: What is the best way to understand servitude in the Old and New Testaments?
• Question: Did God endorse rape in the Old Testament?
• Question: Why would Elisha have two she-bears maul 42 children?
• Question: Why are Old Testament penalties for disobedience so harsh?
• JPS Torah Commentary: Deuteronomy: "Filial insubordination is a grave offense because respect and obedience toward parents is regarded as the cornerstone of all order and authority"
• Question: Why would a loving God would kill innocent children in the flood of Noah's day?
• Question: Why would a loving God kill the firstborn of Egypt?
• Elder Jeffery R. Holland: "it is a characteristic of our age that if people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much"
• Question: Why would God send poisonous serpents to kill the Children of Israel?
• Joseph Fielding Smith: "This was also in the similitude of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ"
• Question: Did Nephi commit "cold blooded murder" when he killed Laban?
• Question: Why didn't God simply preserve Nephi's life using divine power instead of requiring him to kill Laban?
• Jeffery R. Holland: "It is wrong to assume that Nephi in any way wished to take Laban’s life"
• Question: Are the scriptures misogynistic/sexist?
• Question: Do the scriptures promote racism?

Difficult Questions About the Bible

Summary: Several people have become concerned with how to understand ancient practices and stories of the Old and New Testament and their ethical implications. These questions have received a lot of attention from Christian apologists and other biblical scholars for hundreds of years. These articles help address these stories and practices in light of the Restored Gospel.

Jump to details:

• Question: How can one approach reconciling confusing, seemingly disturbing, or otherwise troubling texts from the scriptures?
• Question: What is the best way to understand servitude in the Old and New Testaments?
• Question: Did God endorse rape in the Old Testament?
• Question: Why would Elisha have two she-bears maul 42 children?
• Question: Why are Old Testament penalties for disobedience so harsh?
• JPS Torah Commentary: Deuteronomy: "Filial insubordination is a grave offense because respect and obedience toward parents is regarded as the cornerstone of all order and authority"
• Question: Why would a loving God would kill innocent children in the flood of Noah's day?
• Question: Why would a loving God kill the firstborn of Egypt?
• Elder Jeffery R. Holland: "it is a characteristic of our age that if people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much"
• Question: Why would God send poisonous serpents to kill the Children of Israel?
• Joseph Fielding Smith: "This was also in the similitude of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ"
• Question: Did Nephi commit "cold blooded murder" when he killed Laban?
• Question: Why didn't God simply preserve Nephi's life using divine power instead of requiring him to kill Laban?
• Jeffery R. Holland: "It is wrong to assume that Nephi in any way wished to take Laban’s life"
• Question: Are the scriptures misogynistic/sexist?
• Question: Do the scriptures promote racism?

Difficult Questions About the Bible

Summary: Several people have become concerned with how to understand ancient practices and stories of the Old and New Testament and their ethical implications. These questions have received a lot of attention from Christian apologists and other biblical scholars for hundreds of years. These articles help address these stories and practices in light of the Restored Gospel.

Jump to details:

• Question: How can one approach reconciling confusing, seemingly disturbing, or otherwise troubling texts from the scriptures?
• Question: What is the best way to understand servitude in the Old and New Testaments?
• Question: Did God endorse rape in the Old Testament?
• Question: Why would Elisha have two she-bears maul 42 children?
• Question: Why are Old Testament penalties for disobedience so harsh?
• JPS Torah Commentary: Deuteronomy: "Filial insubordination is a grave offense because respect and obedience toward parents is regarded as the cornerstone of all order and authority"
• Question: Why would a loving God would kill innocent children in the flood of Noah's day?
• Question: Why would a loving God kill the firstborn of Egypt?
• Elder Jeffery R. Holland: "it is a characteristic of our age that if people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much"
• Question: Why would God send poisonous serpents to kill the Children of Israel?
• Joseph Fielding Smith: "This was also in the similitude of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ"
• Question: Did Nephi commit "cold blooded murder" when he killed Laban?
• Question: Why didn't God simply preserve Nephi's life using divine power instead of requiring him to kill Laban?
• Jeffery R. Holland: "It is wrong to assume that Nephi in any way wished to take Laban’s life"
• Question: Are the scriptures misogynistic/sexist?
• Question: Do the scriptures promote racism?

Difficult Questions About the Bible

Summary: Several people have become concerned with how to understand ancient practices and stories of the Old and New Testament and their ethical implications. These questions have received a lot of attention from Christian apologists and other biblical scholars for hundreds of years. These articles help address these stories and practices in light of the Restored Gospel.

Jump to details:

• Question: How can one approach reconciling confusing, seemingly disturbing, or otherwise troubling texts from the scriptures?
• Question: What is the best way to understand servitude in the Old and New Testaments?
• Question: Did God endorse rape in the Old Testament?
• Question: Why would Elisha have two she-bears maul 42 children?
• Question: Why are Old Testament penalties for disobedience so harsh?
• JPS Torah Commentary: Deuteronomy: "Filial insubordination is a grave offense because respect and obedience toward parents is regarded as the cornerstone of all order and authority"
• Question: Why would a loving God would kill innocent children in the flood of Noah's day?
• Question: Why would a loving God kill the firstborn of Egypt?
• Elder Jeffery R. Holland: "it is a characteristic of our age that if people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much"
• Question: Why would God send poisonous serpents to kill the Children of Israel?
• Joseph Fielding Smith: "This was also in the similitude of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ"
• Question: Did Nephi commit "cold blooded murder" when he killed Laban?
• Question: Why didn't God simply preserve Nephi's life using divine power instead of requiring him to kill Laban?
• Jeffery R. Holland: "It is wrong to assume that Nephi in any way wished to take Laban’s life"
• Question: Are the scriptures misogynistic/sexist?
• Question: Do the scriptures promote racism?

Difficult Questions About the Bible

Summary: Several people have become concerned with how to understand ancient practices and stories of the Old and New Testament and their ethical implications. These questions have received a lot of attention from Christian apologists and other biblical scholars for hundreds of years. These articles help address these stories and practices in light of the Restored Gospel.

Jump to details:

• Question: How can one approach reconciling confusing, seemingly disturbing, or otherwise troubling texts from the scriptures?
• Question: What is the best way to understand servitude in the Old and New Testaments?
• Question: Did God endorse rape in the Old Testament?
• Question: Why would Elisha have two she-bears maul 42 children?
• Question: Why are Old Testament penalties for disobedience so harsh?
• JPS Torah Commentary: Deuteronomy: "Filial insubordination is a grave offense because respect and obedience toward parents is regarded as the cornerstone of all order and authority"
• Question: Why would a loving God would kill innocent children in the flood of Noah's day?
• Question: Why would a loving God kill the firstborn of Egypt?
• Elder Jeffery R. Holland: "it is a characteristic of our age that if people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much"
• Question: Why would God send poisonous serpents to kill the Children of Israel?
• Joseph Fielding Smith: "This was also in the similitude of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ"
• Question: Did Nephi commit "cold blooded murder" when he killed Laban?
• Question: Why didn't God simply preserve Nephi's life using divine power instead of requiring him to kill Laban?
• Jeffery R. Holland: "It is wrong to assume that Nephi in any way wished to take Laban’s life"
• Question: Are the scriptures misogynistic/sexist?
• Question: Do the scriptures promote racism?

Difficult Questions About the Bible

Summary: Several people have become concerned with how to understand ancient practices and stories of the Old and New Testament and their ethical implications. These questions have received a lot of attention from Christian apologists and other biblical scholars for hundreds of years. These articles help address these stories and practices in light of the Restored Gospel.

Jump to details:

• Question: How can one approach reconciling confusing, seemingly disturbing, or otherwise troubling texts from the scriptures?
• Question: What is the best way to understand servitude in the Old and New Testaments?
• Question: Did God endorse rape in the Old Testament?
• Question: Why would Elisha have two she-bears maul 42 children?
• Question: Why are Old Testament penalties for disobedience so harsh?
• JPS Torah Commentary: Deuteronomy: "Filial insubordination is a grave offense because respect and obedience toward parents is regarded as the cornerstone of all order and authority"
• Question: Why would a loving God would kill innocent children in the flood of Noah's day?
• Question: Why would a loving God kill the firstborn of Egypt?
• Elder Jeffery R. Holland: "it is a characteristic of our age that if people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much"
• Question: Why would God send poisonous serpents to kill the Children of Israel?
• Joseph Fielding Smith: "This was also in the similitude of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ"
• Question: Did Nephi commit "cold blooded murder" when he killed Laban?
• Question: Why didn't God simply preserve Nephi's life using divine power instead of requiring him to kill Laban?
• Jeffery R. Holland: "It is wrong to assume that Nephi in any way wished to take Laban’s life"
• Question: Are the scriptures misogynistic/sexist?
• Question: Do the scriptures promote racism?

Difficult Questions About the Bible

Summary: Several people have become concerned with how to understand ancient practices and stories of the Old and New Testament and their ethical implications. These questions have received a lot of attention from Christian apologists and other biblical scholars for hundreds of years. These articles help address these stories and practices in light of the Restored Gospel.

Jump to details:

• Question: How can one approach reconciling confusing, seemingly disturbing, or otherwise troubling texts from the scriptures?
• Question: What is the best way to understand servitude in the Old and New Testaments?
• Question: Did God endorse rape in the Old Testament?
• Question: Why would Elisha have two she-bears maul 42 children?
• Question: Why are Old Testament penalties for disobedience so harsh?
• JPS Torah Commentary: Deuteronomy: "Filial insubordination is a grave offense because respect and obedience toward parents is regarded as the cornerstone of all order and authority"
• Question: Why would a loving God would kill innocent children in the flood of Noah's day?
• Question: Why would a loving God kill the firstborn of Egypt?
• Elder Jeffery R. Holland: "it is a characteristic of our age that if people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much"
• Question: Why would God send poisonous serpents to kill the Children of Israel?
• Joseph Fielding Smith: "This was also in the similitude of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ"
• Question: Did Nephi commit "cold blooded murder" when he killed Laban?
• Question: Why didn't God simply preserve Nephi's life using divine power instead of requiring him to kill Laban?
• Jeffery R. Holland: "It is wrong to assume that Nephi in any way wished to take Laban’s life"
• Question: Are the scriptures misogynistic/sexist?
• Question: Do the scriptures promote racism?

Difficult Questions About the Bible

Summary: Several people have become concerned with how to understand ancient practices and stories of the Old and New Testament and their ethical implications. These questions have received a lot of attention from Christian apologists and other biblical scholars for hundreds of years. These articles help address these stories and practices in light of the Restored Gospel.

Jump to details:

• Question: How can one approach reconciling confusing, seemingly disturbing, or otherwise troubling texts from the scriptures?
• Question: What is the best way to understand servitude in the Old and New Testaments?
• Question: Did God endorse rape in the Old Testament?
• Question: Why would Elisha have two she-bears maul 42 children?
• Question: Why are Old Testament penalties for disobedience so harsh?
• JPS Torah Commentary: Deuteronomy: "Filial insubordination is a grave offense because respect and obedience toward parents is regarded as the cornerstone of all order and authority"
• Question: Why would a loving God would kill innocent children in the flood of Noah's day?
• Question: Why would a loving God kill the firstborn of Egypt?
• Elder Jeffery R. Holland: "it is a characteristic of our age that if people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much"
• Question: Why would God send poisonous serpents to kill the Children of Israel?
• Joseph Fielding Smith: "This was also in the similitude of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ"
• Question: Did Nephi commit "cold blooded murder" when he killed Laban?
• Question: Why didn't God simply preserve Nephi's life using divine power instead of requiring him to kill Laban?
• Jeffery R. Holland: "It is wrong to assume that Nephi in any way wished to take Laban’s life"
• Question: Are the scriptures misogynistic/sexist?
• Question: Do the scriptures promote racism?

Difficult Questions About the Bible

Summary: Several people have become concerned with how to understand ancient practices and stories of the Old and New Testament and their ethical implications. These questions have received a lot of attention from Christian apologists and other biblical scholars for hundreds of years. These articles help address these stories and practices in light of the Restored Gospel.

Jump to details:

• Question: How can one approach reconciling confusing, seemingly disturbing, or otherwise troubling texts from the scriptures?
• Question: What is the best way to understand servitude in the Old and New Testaments?
• Question: Did God endorse rape in the Old Testament?
• Question: Why would Elisha have two she-bears maul 42 children?
• Question: Why are Old Testament penalties for disobedience so harsh?
• JPS Torah Commentary: Deuteronomy: "Filial insubordination is a grave offense because respect and obedience toward parents is regarded as the cornerstone of all order and authority"
• Question: Why would a loving God would kill innocent children in the flood of Noah's day?
• Question: Why would a loving God kill the firstborn of Egypt?
• Elder Jeffery R. Holland: "it is a characteristic of our age that if people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much"
• Question: Why would God send poisonous serpents to kill the Children of Israel?
• Joseph Fielding Smith: "This was also in the similitude of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ"
• Question: Did Nephi commit "cold blooded murder" when he killed Laban?
• Question: Why didn't God simply preserve Nephi's life using divine power instead of requiring him to kill Laban?
• Jeffery R. Holland: "It is wrong to assume that Nephi in any way wished to take Laban’s life"
• Question: Are the scriptures misogynistic/sexist?
• Question: Do the scriptures promote racism?

Notes