Hi Confused
Confused wrote:In Matthew, we aren't promoting violence in response to anything. In Deuteronomy we are promoting punishment for a lie (either the mans or womans). Are either of the messages bad moral teachings, no. I think the distinguishing factor for me is the degree of punishment being used that makes it a bad moral teaching.
The quote from Deuteronomy strikes me as a tad harsh on the poor girl. If the punishment for not being a virgin bride is a stoning then I guess she is going to try and blag her way passed that one - and who could blame her. However as I read the quote she is being punished for the folly of being a harlot. That she is evil or has acted in an evil way because she is not a virgin bride. To be blunt: she's had evil sex. Sex made evil because it is outside of marriage.
Or if hubby is lying when charging her with a shameful deed, he knows that he can do that, because there seems to be a general agreement that sex outside/before marriage is evil.
O boy I'm in trouble!
As I explained to Biker in another thread 51% of children in the UK are now born out of wedlock. This is no longer the moral issue it once was. I don't have a daughter, but if I did I'd think it a bit odd if she married still a virgin. I do have a son (born out of wedlock) who is at the stage where he is beginning to take responsibility for his own life. But the same point applies.
Rather than a moral issue the whole Deuteronomy scenario comes across as one of social control and patriarchy