Why you believe what you believe I

Elfhelm · 12-01-2004, 06:42 PM

I have also been told that Joshua gave them the chance to convert or move away before he declared the "ban". The temple prostitution that was practiced in the 13th century BC was typical of the region. The human sacrifice is another issue. There are supposedly (but I don't know the sources) proofs of infant sacrifice to Baal. I can understand people who say this is reprehensible and merits punishment. I can't see that it justifies genocide, though.

I admit that I'm partial to the feminist theory that it was actually Astarte worship (see Solomon) that they were exterminating.

But above all, I am a sucker for that principle of uniformitarianism which when applied here would label these actions ethnic cleansing and I also suspect that Deut 7:2 is an attempt to shirk the responsibility and to blame Yahweh.

So... anyone else want to weigh in on this?

12-01-2004, 06:42 PM	#11
Elfhelm Marshal of the Eastmark Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,412	I have also been told that Joshua gave them the chance to convert or move away before he declared the "ban". The temple prostitution that was practiced in the 13th century BC was typical of the region. The human sacrifice is another issue. There are supposedly (but I don't know the sources) proofs of infant sacrifice to Baal. I can understand people who say this is reprehensible and merits punishment. I can't see that it justifies genocide, though. I admit that I'm partial to the feminist theory that it was actually Astarte worship (see Solomon) that they were exterminating. But above all, I am a sucker for that principle of uniformitarianism which when applied here would label these actions ethnic cleansing and I also suspect that Deut 7:2 is an attempt to shirk the responsibility and to blame Yahweh. So... anyone else want to weigh in on this?