post for 3/6/15

                This week we discussed domestic violence and the Bible.  We read several passages from the Bible that seem to suggest that Domestic violence is approved by God.  In this context it is hard to say that the Bible is authoritative, which makes it hard to say God is authoritative.  Domestic Violence is a terrible crime and should be stopped, but it is also clear that in ancient times, and even in more recent times domestic violence was acceptable and perhaps even favored or the law.

                The Bible seems to justify the crime of domestic violence, and has been used to justify domestic violence in the past. This idea all can be tied to the idea that women are the property of their husbands. A property owner has the right to do as he pleases with his property. Also, women must be submissive, if a wife is not submissive and does not follow the laws the husband must punish her. Therefore, it is a husband’s duty almost to beat his wife into submission.

                Also, we must look at cultural context of the Bible, as we have done for every other topic we have examined. In this particular context domestic violence was approved, accepted and even advocated. However, times have changed. Domestic violence is no longer an acceptable form of interaction. This class has examined the cultural context of the Bible several times and has determined that certain rules are not really applicable any more. This is also true for the laws found in the book of Deuteronomy. Domestic violence is no longer acceptable, though it may have been acceptable then. Also, some scholars have argued that many laws, including those found in Deuteronomy are descriptive of the ancient Israelite culture, they are not necessarily prescriptive for future generations. I think that it is safe to assume that these passages in Deuteronomy are descriptive and are not prescriptive.

                Domestic violence is a terrible terrible crime. There should be safe havens for both men and women to escape the harms of domestic abuse. No one should use the Bible to justify this horrible crime. Also, many parts of the bible are descriptive, they are not prescriptive. Many passages that seemingly justify violence towards a significant other (especially women) , are just that. We must examine the culture that surrounded the writing of the Bible, that culture justified domestic violence largely because it valued women as being nothing more than property. Our culture, recognizes that all people have important value and must be treated with dignity and respect, therefore domestic violence is longer acceptable.