Adult Themes Inappropriate for the Young
Linus Shentu, News Editor
Coming from a background of Chinese religion I have always come to admire the Bible as a great book of wisdom, righteousness and foundation for morality and truth. Many of the principles in Confucianism and Chinese Buddhism are morally congruent to the teachings of the Bible.
In addition to those virtues, I and other PCC students are aware of the Bible containing many adult themes like murder, sodomy and rape.
These strange stories do perhaps have an esoteric meaning for those who have an intimate understanding of the Bible, but reading these stories at face value from an outsider’s perspective can be perplexing.
As someone from an eastern tradition of principles similar to Christianity, it is puzzling that the most revered piece of literature includes such strange and brutal stories. The Bible, which is suppose to lay the moral groundwork for a society based on moral principles, is also a book that contains very violent, if not strange subject matter which should not be available to children.
One story comes from the older Catholic version of the Bible (Latin Vulgate) in the fourth book of Kings (2:23-24) about Elijah. In the Old Testament, the revered Elijah could raise the dead, bring down fire from the sky and could cruise to heaven in a chariot. He apparently could not cure his baldness. As the story goes, Elijah was taking a stroll to Bethel and encountered a gang of children who taunted him with names like “baldy.” These children clearly angered Elijah to the point that he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Immediately after, two bears jumped out from the woods and mauled the 42 children to death.
While this story could be seen as a lesson for children to not make fun of bald people, it is a little bit extreme for the reasonable person. Sure don’t make fun of bald people, but letting children be violently killed by bears is just too much.
In another story, God commands his people to remove their foreskins (Genesis 17:10). Those who did not do so were cursed.
In the modern world, God is not actively known to curse those who are not circumcised, but back then, God would annihilate those who did otherwise.
In the book of Exodus (4:24-26), God thinks Moses should die because his son’s foreskin hasn’t been removed. When God tries to kill Moses, his wife Zipporah steps in and chops off his son’s foreskin and lets it fall to Moses’ feet. “A bloody husband thou art!” screams Zipporah, still carrying both the child and knife. In the end, Moses is saved by his wife’s heroic but strange actions.
Discussing foreskins to children and killing someone over it is definitely not appropriate for those in their youth.
While the Bible has a fascination for all things foreskin, here is a story full of love, romance and trading foreskins for a wife.
The lotharios of yesteryear like Casanova, Don Juan, and Bill Clinton are all worthy of praise. But before them was David. In the first book of Samuel (18:25-27), the young David is determined to marry Saul’s daughter. David will do absolutely anything that Saul wants.
What does Saul, the ruler of the Kingdom of Israel want? Land? Women? Gold? Apparently he wants foreskins, one hundred of them. David is confused about the offer, but he still kills 200 men, pulls all of their trousers down, goes to work and brings back a satchel of foreskins. He brings double the amount and Saul has no other option but to lend his daughter in marriage.
Marriage and love might be acceptable content for children but killing people to retrieve their foreskins is definitely not.
Inside the Bible, there are some stories that are just so shocking that it is difficult to fathom what God’s purpose was.
In the book of Judges (19:22-30), a man and his mistress roam the streets looking for shelter and end up finding a nice homeowner to let them stay.
During the night, a group of men show up and start banging at the door and insist to see the man to sodomize him. The homeowner doesn’t want the man to be raped and asks them if they want his virgin daughter. The men refuse and instead take the man’s mistress. They rape this woman all night until morning and then let her bleed to death.
One would think that things were over, but then the man cuts her up and sends her body parts to each of the 12 tribes of Israel.
It is ironic how social conservatives condemn Hollywood films for its infatuation with sex and violence, while this kind of content is in the very same book they use as a pillar to denounce these movies.
Finally, from a story that must have been important enough for God to mention it twice in the New Testament, Matthew (21:19) and Mark (11:13-14), Jesus tries to make a tree produce fruit.
One day Jesus is walking from Bethany and he has the munchies. He stumbles upon a fruit tree, but to his misfortune the tree bears no fruit. Jesus is irritated and orders the tree to produce some fruit. When the tree becomes indifferent, Jesus, in a strange fit of wrath, curses the fig tree to eternal damnation in front of his disciples.
This story is strange because it offers a glimpse of Jesus as spiteful and unlike the one we are so familiar with in the Gospels.
The Jesus we know is one that turns his cheek, not one that contributes to global warming.
All right, he is hungry, but don’t kill the fig tree. It is a plant of peace.
18 responses so far ↓
1 redwood846 // May 14, 2008 at 1:05 am
My friend:
“I thought the people who commented or even wrote the article don’t even know what they are talking about. Yet there are those events in the bible… well a few of them. But they take it out of context, they take it out of context completely!!! seriously.
THe bible is for everyone, even children because of one thing, God wrote it as well as this, it has good morals… It is also historically correct and accurate. How many other religions are that? umm none from my count. They are all twisted lies with truth.
THis is also why i believe the bible to be for everyone… see how crazy Atheists at PCC are, even at any school campus!!! There is something missing and that something is God. Why is it missing? how do i know? remember what i said about the fruit of the world and the fruit of the world? it applies… there is no self control, no discipline, no correction. Let us blame the subjective post-modernism people of this age. There is absolutes otherwise math would be for dummies… logic would be illogical and history would be just a bunch of lies no one would take as true. Yet we see math as absolute logic is logical and absolute, and dummies fail math with 0/100 and history is true. therefore God must be real and absolutely true.”
2 redwood846 // May 14, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Mr./Ms. Shentu, you’re putting the Bible out of context. READ THE BIBLE
3 GodisLove // May 16, 2008 at 5:25 pm
God is love. God would never put those things in the Bible if there was not a grand purpose for them. back then sodomy was normal. local men would go around town looking for other men to sodomize them to prove their manhood, and to show them where they come from
4 AS-PCC-VP4PR-A.Kratt // Jun 2, 2008 at 8:21 pm
As I read this article. I am forced to agree with Mr. Shentu.
Much of the Bible is inapropriate for children to read.
There are sections of it as when the Israelites commit genocide against the Philistines.
Or the part where Lot has incestuous relationships with his daughters.
Lets not forget the part which suggest that child abuse is okay.. you know.. “spare the rod spoil the child” or where it says to stone a child who disobeys his parents.
Must we also forget of the story where King David had his fellow soldier killed so he could sleep with the soldier wife.
shouldn’t we also look at the mysogeny of the Bible where it tells a women to be silent and to listen to her husband
or the fact that the Bible allows for the turning of humans into slaves.
Must we forget the murder of innocent children in Egypt.
As a Jew and as a Religious Studies Major, I have to admit the Bible is a book full of violence and oppression. It is not appropriate for minors.
We force “R” ratings on movies, video games, magazines and in music for inappropriate content why should the Bible be held to a less standard of decency.
I believe the Bible should have a warning label placed on it which states “Warning: This book contains incidents of violence, rape, genocide, and sexual behaviors which may be offensive to others” I would also support an “R” rating and restrictions to possession and puchase by those under the age of 18.
5 redwood846 // Jun 5, 2008 at 6:25 pm
The Bible is supposed to teach spiritual and more issues making examples of people who disobey God’s word and show what we should not do as well as what we should do in regards to worship, interaction with others and the spreading of the word of God.
6 AS-PCC-VP4PR-A.Kratt // Jun 6, 2008 at 11:32 am
So a book which promotes Genocide, Murder, Child Abuse, Slavery, Adultry and Incest some how these things teach you to be a more moral person?
Please explain to me how the Israelites killing all of the Philistines teaches me about morality?
How does Lot having sex with his daughters teach me about Morality?
How does beating my children with a rod make me more moral?
How does Abraham giving Sarah away to save his own rear end teach me about morals?
How does King David sending his fellow soldier off to die so he can have sexual relations with the soldiers wife teach me about morals?
I mean lets be honest. There are some great stories in the Bible. it is a literary great. But much of it is NOT appropriate for Children. Should children be exposed to incest or adultry… thingk not. Should children be exposed to genocide and murder.. I think not.
I mean if we are going to restrict who can watch a movie or listen to music.. I think it is only prudent and moral to keep them away from such deviant stuff that is in the Bible
7 redwood846 // Jun 9, 2008 at 8:40 pm
learn how to put the Bible IN CONTEXT, y’all. If you read stuff and take stuff out of context, you might be a redneck.
8 AS-PCC-VP4PR-A.Kratt // Jun 9, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Let’s be honest Redwood. Bush used the Bible to go to war in Iraq. Christians have used the Bible to murder Jews and Muslims. Christians have used the Bible to keep African Americans in slavery. Christianity has caused most of the suffering that Europe and America has experienced in the last 2000 years
9 LAX-SFOtraveler // Jun 9, 2008 at 11:59 pm
It appears Mr. Kratt is also taking the Bible out of context. I do have a pet-peeve for those who take the Bible out of context. READ THE BIBLE AND “THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE” (JOHN 8:32)
10 LAX-SFOtraveler // Jun 10, 2008 at 12:05 am
why the heck would you use the Bible as the key to the Iraq War, Mr. Kratt? LEARN HOW TO TAKE THE BIBLE IN CONTEXT!!!
11 AS-PCC-VP4PR-A.Kratt // Jun 10, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Why would I use the Bible in the context of the Iraq war Becayuse George “Dumbya” Bush said that God made him President of the United States (even though it was really the U.S. Supreme Court that stopped the counting of the votes and allowed “Dumbya” to steal the election. Also Bush’s so-called war on Terrorism is nothing more the a state sponsored Christian Crusade against the Moslems. Iraq had Nothing to do with 9/11 (Bush’s long term business partners the Bin Laden family did though). It was Iraqis who flew the planes into the Twin Towers, they were all Saudis (oh thats right, friends of Bush again.) Why isn’t Bush going after Christian Terrorist like the Klu Klux Klan, Michigan Militia, Aryan Nation, Irish Republican Guard and other Christian Terrorist groups?. Istead he attacked Iraq who had dismandled their WMD program years before Bush’s Crusade!!. And the UN Weapons Inspectors told him. The CIA and DIA had that information. Bush Ignored it. And I doubt God had anything to do with that idiot being elected president.
The Bible has been used for destruction for 2000 years. The Bible has been used by Christian groups to Murder Jews, Muslims, Blacks, and Gays in Europe and in America.
It is in Context….
The Bible says to use a rod on your child or you will spoil them. The Bible says a child who disobeys his parents should be taken an killed. The Bible calls for women to submit to their husbands as if they are property of man. How can you take that in any other context. When David sent mistresses husband out to get killed so he could continue to be with her?? When Abraham tells 3 different kings that they couyld have his ’sister’ Sarah (his wife) for sex and when Lot had sex with his daughter.. and then his daughters gave birth to their fathers children….. I mean is this the stuff we should be teaching to our kids… adultry, incest, prostitution of wives and child abuse? I see the context all to well.
And when a child reads this what will they see. Children should not be exposed to the Bible until they old enough to use critical thinking skills to understand what it means for them. I would say high school age or older. definatly young children under 13 should not be infected or brainwashed with this disgusting pornographic book
12 AS-PCC-VP4PR-A.Kratt // Jun 10, 2008 at 1:07 pm
And iflySWA I am sure that I have a better understanding of the Bible then you might think. I grew up in an observant religious Jewish family. I went to Hebrew School as a child and attended Synagogue on a regular basis as a child, as a teenager and sporadically as an adult. I have taken Adult lifecycle Classes at different shuls In California, Missouri and New Jersey.
But of course most Christians can’t seem to take the Bible into contect. how many Christians have remarried after divorce.. the Bible is pretty clear how it feels about remarriage.. it is Adultry
Matthew 5:32
But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.
Matthew 19:9
I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
Mark 10:11
He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her.
Mark 10:12
And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery
Luke 16:18
“Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Corinthians 7:11
But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
1 Corinthians 7:12
To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.
1 Corinthians 7:13
And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.
How many Christians and Ministers at that are living an adulterous life?
13 LAX-SFOtraveler // Jun 10, 2008 at 11:38 pm
man, what is up with people taking the Bible out of context??? Linus is definitely taking it out of context. He must’ve had a bad Sunday School teacher
14 AS-PCC-VP4PR-A.Kratt // Jun 11, 2008 at 2:36 pm
I do not think it is the case that Linus has taken it out of context. I believe it is Linus’ arguement that children should not be exposed to it because those children might not have the critical thinking and or rational thought abilities.
And I believe Linus also presents a truth. many Christians have different contextual understanding. So when Christians disagree and can not come to a consensus on the context of many versus how can we expose our children to a book riddled with inconsistancies and contradictions and expext them to beable to understand it, when there are over 200 different christian sects including Mormons, Catholics, Baptists, Calvinist and many more. There are like 5 different types of Catholics, 3 different types of Mormons, even the Baptist have 5 or 6 different sects…
15 redwood846 // Jun 15, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Kratt, are you a scholar? If not, how do you know Mr. Shentu’s NOT taking the Bible out of context?
16 AS-PCC-VP4PR-A.Kratt // Jun 17, 2008 at 10:31 am
CanyonBlue, a scholar I am not. I come from the Jewish perspective that to understand the Scripture does not require scholarship in Scripture.
But in my defense, Jewishly, I did attend Hebrew School, Did complete an adult education course in the Torah and Talmud. I am currently studying Kabbalah.
Biblically as a whole I have completed numerous Bible Studies from Set Free Ministries, several Bible Studies from Wolrd Christianship Ministries and several Bible Studies from World Christianship Ministires.
Additionally I have taken here at Pasadena City College Religious Studies 1, Relifious Studies 2, Religious Studies 3, Philosphy 37 (religion), Anthropology 4 (Religion)
And in closing I have taken courses at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles.
So while I am not a scholar perse. I have extensive familiarity and knowledge of the Bible and of Religion.
And lastly.. Judaism, and I believe Christianity also, does not believe nor teach that someone needs to be a scholar to be able to understand nor interpret the scriptures.
I have
17 AS-PCC-VP4PR-A.Kratt // Jun 17, 2008 at 10:40 am
CanyonBlue, I have also completed many courses offered through the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches. I have served on the Board of Directors for City of Angels Metropolitan Community Church. And was at one point studying with the Old Roman Catholic Church in Canada, under the late Metropolitan Archbishop David Francis Milne.
Addtitonally, although I am not active I am an ordained minister.
There is much in the Bible that is innapropriate for children. We have seen the church itself pervert much which is in the Bible. How much so can a child misunderstand or misapply the Bible. The Bible should be resrved for those with mature thought process and those who have a developed critical mind.
Even the most ardent Christian must be able to admit the Bible does have material in it that if it was a popular movie would have many Christians screaming and complaining that their kids saw it.
Personally when I saw parents taking their children in to see “Passion of the Christ” I was horrified. In my Opinion those parents should have been investigated for child abuse.
18 redwood846 // Jun 18, 2008 at 12:41 am
I would just want a scholar to look at the Bible and see how Mr. Shentu is out of context.
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