Is God a rapist and a paedophile?
Discuss religious, spiritual, and theological issues concerning Christianity, Judaism, Islam, or any other religion.
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Is God a rapist and a paedophile?
Well first of all, "the virgin Mary" was 12 years old when she was married to Joseph, who was between the age of 50 and 70. Then God goes and makes Mary pregnant a year later, without her knowing. So God is pretty much a rapist and a paedophile - two things that are extremely illegal today.
I know this is quite an outrageous thing to suggest, and I'll probably get a bit of abuse for it, but it's always confused me how this religion - which is supposed to be an example for how you live your life - was initiated in this way.Last edited by Kaaal; 13-06-2012 at 16:53. -
Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..
Oh dear, oh dear...

OK, firstly, what makes you think Joseph is that old? I don't recall his age being recorded anywhere.
Secondly, life expectancy was much shorter in those days, so girls would marry much, much younger than we would now.
Thirdly, Mary wasn't married to Joseph at the time of Jesus' conception. Also, it wasn't without her knowing.
Might want to do a bit more research in future
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Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..(Original post by Kaaal)
Well first of all, "the virgin Mary" was 12 years old when she was married to Joseph, who was between the age of 50 and 70. Then God goes and makes Mary pregnant a year later, without her knowing. So God is pretty much a rapist and a paedophile - two things that are extremely illegal today.
I know this is quite an outrageous thing to suggest, and I'll probably get a bit of abuse for it, but it's always confused me how this religion - which is supposed to be an example for how you live your life - was initiated in this way.
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Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..
This has been done. Different cultural context - in Spain the age of consent is 13, in Germany, Italy and several other EU countries it's 14. Just because here it's 16, that means nothing.
A more valid point, if you want to go down this route - I don't recall god offering Mary a choice. Does that make god a rapist? -
Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..Let's face it, the only research you've done is read the bible. Bit biased and untrustworthy to be honest, seeing as it claims there was a talking snake who tempted adam and eve. The Greeks are well known for for their detailed documents of history - yet there is no evidence of Jesus in them. So excuse me for not finding many places to "research" other than wikipedia, seeing as the bible isn't exactly the most open minded place to look.(Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd)
Oh dear, oh dear...
OK, firstly, what makes you think Joseph is that old? I don't recall his age being recorded anywhere.
Secondly, life expectancy was much shorter in those days, so girls would marry much, much younger than we would now.
Thirdly, Mary wasn't married to Joseph at the time of Jesus' conception. Also, it wasn't without her knowing.
Might want to do a bit more research in future
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Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..Dude, I haven't even read most of the Bible(Original post by Kaaal)
Let's face it, the only research you've done is read the bible. Bit biased and untrustworthy to be honest, seeing as it claims there was a talking snake who tempted adam and eve. The Greeks are well known for for their detailed documents of history - yet there is no evidence of Jesus in them. So excuse me for not finding many places to "research" other than wikipedia, seeing as the bible isn't exactly the most open minded place to look.
Clearly Wikipedia needs some clearing up, if that's all you've been using for your research though. This isn't exactly rocket science
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Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..You dont know how old he actually was, and if your not talking out of your ass (which is very unlikely) then he would have been a paedophile (BY TODAYS STANDARDS)(Original post by Kaaal)
Well first of all, "the virgin Mary" was 12 years old when she was married to Joseph, who was between the age of 50 and 70. Then God goes and makes Mary pregnant a year later, without her knowing. So God is pretty much a rapist and a paedophile - two things that are extremely illegal today.
I know this is quite an outrageous thing to suggest, and I'll probably get a bit of abuse for it, but it's always confused me how this religion - which is supposed to be an example for how you live your life - was initiated in this way. -
Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..(Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd)
Oh dear, oh dear...
OK, firstly, what makes you think Joseph is that old? I don't recall his age being recorded anywhere.
Secondly, life expectancy was much shorter in those days, so girls would marry much, much younger than we would now.
Thirdly, Mary wasn't married to Joseph at the time of Jesus' conception. Also, it wasn't without her knowing.
Might want to do a bit more research in future
If morality is based on cultural context, what's the point of Christianity and the commandments in the first place? Doesn't that mean we should just follow the morals we invented for ourselves rather than those imported from the Middle East?(Original post by mmmpie)
This has been done. Different cultural context - in Spain the age of consent is 13, in Germany, Italy and several other EU countries it's 14. Just because here it's 16, that means nothing.
A more valid point, if you want to go down this route - I don't recall god offering Mary a choice. Does that make god a rapist? -
Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..That's not all - I've watched plenty of documentaries. I'd say the concept of "God" is a lot harder to understand than rocket science to be honest.(Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd)
Dude, I haven't even read most of the Bible
Clearly Wikipedia needs some clearing up, if that's all you've been using for your research though. This isn't exactly rocket science
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Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..No, it's not weird. The age at which people get married and start a family has changed drastically since that time. This is because the average lifespan of a person has increased and science has allowed us to make a more accurate estimate of when somebody is hormonally and physically capable to handle having a baby.(Original post by Kaaal)
Well first of all, "the virgin Mary" was 12 years old when she was married to Joseph, who was between the age of 50 and 70. Then God goes and makes Mary pregnant a year later, without her knowing. So God is pretty much a rapist and a paedophile - two things that are extremely illegal today.
I know this is quite an outrageous thing to suggest, and I'll probably get a bit of abuse for it, but it's always confused me how this religion - which is supposed to be an example for how you live your life - was initiated in this way.
In Mary and Joseph's time, a 12 y/o girl marrying a 50 y/o man was normal. It's the same idea as with Muhammad and his 6(?) year old bride. -
Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..Where did you read this?(Original post by Kaaal)
Well first of all, "the virgin Mary" was 12 years old when she was married to Joseph, who was between the age of 50 and 70. -
Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..People seem to be picking up on the paeodphile part and ignoring the rape... hmmm...(Original post by bammzie)
No, it's not weird. The age at which people get married and start a family has changed drastically since that time. This is because the average lifespan of a person has increased and science has allowed us to make a more accurate estimate of when somebody is hormonally and physically capable to handle having a baby.
In Mary and Joseph's time, a 12 y/o girl marrying a 50 y/o man was normal. It's the same idea as with Muhammad and his 6(?) year old bride. -
Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..I've seen it in a couple of documentaries(Original post by electriic_ink)
Where did you read this? -
Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..Imho (being liberal Catholic) we should follow the good moral values that are laid out in the Bible, which are universal values that have existed throughout and up to our time, as you say.(Original post by najinaji)
If morality is based on cultural context, what's the point of Christianity and the commandments in the first place? Doesn't that mean we should just follow the morals we invented for ourselves rather than those imported from the Middle East?
Christianity is not just some moral code for life. That's just part of it.
The ten commandments are mostly quite sound, so worth following
You've been watching some strange documentaries then that have left out some quite important details, it would seem(Original post by Kaaal)
That's not all - I've watched plenty of documentaries. I'd say the concept of "God" is a lot harder to understand than rocket science to be honest.

