Atheists and antitheists frequently accuse God of cruelty, genocide, and religious fanaticism. How much truth is there to these accusations, and how much of it is exaggerated?
Does God endorse religious fanaticism? Alternatively, is He a malevolent entity who sanctions the deaths of thousands, even millions, of people? These are the kinds of questions that some readers of the Bible may ask. The Bible contains numerous stories that can provoke deep unease and may even lead to doubts about God’s inherent goodness. Can a benevolent and merciful God truly be responsible for committing atrocities in the name of distorted ideologies? Was the chosen nation genuinely steeped in fervent fanaticism? Furthermore, are these biblical narratives intended as examples for Christians on how to treat those who hold different beliefs?
There appears to be no shortage of reasons to place ancient Israel, or even God Himself, before some imaginary tribunal. One of the most well-known biblical accounts of God’s destruction of nearly all of humanity is, of course, the Flood.1 Assuming that this is a true account, how many millions, or even billions, of people, including children, did God reportedly destroy? What sins did the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah commit that ultimately led God to rain fire and brimstone upon them?2 Another troubling story is that of the conquest of Canaan by the Israelites, where the entire population of Jericho, including livestock, was slaughtered. There is also the account of King Saul’s extermination of the Amalekites, not to mention some of the laws of Moses, which can seem incomprehensible to modern readers.
The Atrocities of the Canaanites
Perhaps the term ‘incomprehensible’ is appropriate in this context. Let us pause to reflect on this for a moment. The Bible does not provide extensive details about the actions of people before the Flood, or the behaviour of the inhabitants of Sodom, Gomorrah, or Canaan. However, what is written about them can still evoke a sense of unease. God often provides reasoning for His decision to destroy particular nations or cities. For instance, Leviticus chapter 18 presents a rather comprehensive catalogue of Canaanite sins, including incest, paedophilia, and sodomy. While such crimes are found in many cultures, it is possible that some cultures, including the Canaanites, may have indulged in them to an extreme degree. It is also conceivable that the Canaanites lacked legal codes to impose penalties for these practices, allowing them to become widespread.
Furthermore, Deuteronomy 12:31 mentions the offering of children as sacrifices to idols by the peoples of Canaan. Revisionist scholars contend that the depiction of child sacrifice by the Canaanites, along with the other sins mentioned, is mere propaganda used to justify the Israelites’ conquest of Canaan.3 While evidence for the sacrificial practices of the Canaanites is limited, the absence of evidence does not mean that they did not take place. Various archaeological findings suggest that child sacrifice was practiced by the peoples of Canaan. It is well-documented that the Phoenicians, who were closely related to the Canaanites, engaged in such practices. Archaeological discoveries in ancient Carthage, originally a Phoenician colony, provide direct evidence of this.4
The Amalekites
Similar sins were attributed to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, including extreme sexual violence and other abominations. The same is true for the sins of pre-Flood humanity. Another people cursed by God, like the Canaanites, were the Amalekites. They were the first to attack the Israelites when they left Egypt.5 For several hundred years thereafter, the Amalekites, along with other nations, continually harassed the chosen people. Ultimately, in 1 Samuel 15:2-3, God commands King Saul to destroy the Amalekites due to their great sins. While God’s reaction may seem excessive, we know little about the Amalekites and their customs. However, God knew all there was to know about them, and the Israelites must have been familiar with them as well, just as they were with the Canaanites.
Why Were Bears Sent Against Children?
Another instance in which God’s reaction appears to be extreme is when 42 children were killed by two bears. When the prophet Elisha appeared near the city of Bethel, a group of children emerged and began to cruelly mock him. Various translations of 2 Kings 2:23 offer different interpretations of their taunts. The most common rendering is, ‘Go up, you baldhead!’ (e.g., NKJV). However, one of the more intriguing translations reads, ‘Ascend [to heaven], baldhead!’ (e.g., the Jakub Wujek Bible, the Gdańsk Bible). Not long before this incident, Elisha’s mentor, Elijah, had been taken up to heaven by God. News of this event must have spread throughout Israel, likely reaching Bethel as well. In mocking Elisha, these children were not only ridiculing God’s prophet but also His miraculous acts, effectively acting as though they were witnesses to them.
Another accusation levelled against God is that these individuals were ‘small children’. However, the Hebrew phrase na’arim ketanim can also be translated as ‘young boys’. The term na’ar is typically used to describe a youth. It is worth noting that there were dozens of these young men, likely around 50 or more. In contrast, five-year-old children do not typically form gangs of dozens to attack passersby. While we cannot determine the exact age of the boys mentioned in 2 Kings 2:23-24, we know they were mature enough to form large groups.6 Furthermore, Bethel was one of the centres of open idolatry during the time of Elijah and Elisha.7 It is therefore unsurprising that such a gang would confront God’s prophet. We cannot be certain of what might have happened to Elisha had this severe punishment not been carried out.
Conclusion
Stories like the ones mentioned above can be found throughout the Bible, and they can always be interpreted in a way that supports God’s actions. Consider, for instance, the New Testament account of Ananias and Sapphira, whom God struck dead for lying to the Holy Spirit.8 Could God have reacted differently? We cannot know for certain; we do not know the hearts of these two would-be Christians. However, since God reacted in such a manner, we can be confident that His actions were just. Moreover, had deceit infiltrated the newly established Church at such an early stage, it is difficult to say what state the Church would be in today. The current state of the Christian Church, however, is a topic that warrants further discussion elsewhere.
In conclusion, while these biblical stories may appear to describe exaggerated reactions of God towards humanity, we must always consider the context. These events took place during times of widespread lawlessness and brutality. Some civilisations had already established legal codes (e.g., in Babylon under King Hammurabi), while others had not, committing atrocious crimes against their own people and other societies. Therefore, God’s actions were not an expression of fanaticism, but a response to the harsh realities of the time—particularly if the survival of the chosen nation was paramount, as it was from this nation that the Messiah, the Saviour of humanity, was to be born.
The question of whether these troubling events should serve as inspiration for the followers of that Messiah, Jesus Christ, remains unanswered. We will address this issue at another time.
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Footnotes
- The Bible, New King James Version, 1982, Genesis 7-8.
- The Bible, New King James Version, 1982, Genesis 19:1-29.
- Did The Canaanites Really Sacrifice Their Children?, Bible Reading Archaeology, 13 May 2006, https://biblereadingarcheology.com/2016/05/13/did-the-canaanites-sacrifice-their-children/.
- Ibid.
- The Bible, New King James Version, 1982, Exodus 17:8-9.
- McDowell, S. et al., The Apologetics Study Bible for Students (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009), p. 373, footnote to The Bible, New King James Version, 1982, 2 Kings 2:23.
- The Bible, New King James Version, 1982, 1 Kings 12:28-33.
- The Bible, New King James Version, 1982, Acts 5:1-11.
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