During the recent attacks between Israel and Palestinians innocent children were killed. Israel’s leaders express regret for killing innocent children but contend Hamas situates itself among innocent people, making such causalities unfortunate but necessary.
Alarmingly, in the Bible we read about a God who kills innocent children. God demands the life of David’s newborn son in recompense for Uriah’s life (2 Samuel 12). God also kills the first born of Egypt. (Exodus 11:4-8)
More than ever, the world needs a liberal Christianity which reads the Bible honestly and critically.
What happens to the souls of these innocent children? I want to believe that thier souls end up in the arms of The Father.
Cullen
The problem with the hope or assumption that the innocent are comforted in the afterlife is that this belief removes or lessens the horror of actions that result in the loss of innocent life. In past centuries, suspected witches were killed to prove their innocence. To these witch hunters, the end (comfort in heaven) justifies the means (killing/torturing the innocent).
Yesterday, in my lectionary-based Bible study, I read that part of 2 Samuel again. And yes, the assumption that Bathsheba’s miscarriage was divine punishment for her sin and that of David bothered me. It still does.