So rape is Okay, so long as I pay her family???

[chelbelle89]

Something I read in Deuteronomy has thrown me off. In Ch. 22 Verses 28-29 the NIV Bible states:

"If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and he rapes her and they are discovered, he shall pay the girl's father fify shekels of silver. He must marry the girl, for he has violated her. he can never divorce her as long as he lives."

So, homosexuals are to be stoned to death, but a man can rape me as long as my family gets compensation? Now, I know what many Christians would say to this: The NT has given new law...etc. But...

1.) what about the Jewish faith? Is there new law for Judaism, or can men still have a clear conscience for doing such a thing, as long as there is compensation?

2.) since most of societies laws are based upon religious virtue, does this mean that the rapists of today are being punished too harshly? What about those who rape children?

[chelbelle89]

Oy! I had to boldface one part of this, because I can't believe that someone thinks this might be what Judaism is about. I'm glad you asked, because I don't want you going through life with an outrageous misunderstanding of what Judaism is like.

But I have to ask you, do you seriously imagine hordes of Jewish men running around raping unmarried women, paying off the dads and marrying the girls afterward? Do you honestly think there's any possibility that Judaism would justify such actions? It ain't so . . . and to think that any 21st century person finds that plausible is terrifying! How can you think so little of Judaism? I mean really, how? Just because you cherry-picked a verse from Deuteronomy, without looking at our commentaries or the Talmud or the long history of Judaism?

I'm equally astonished that no one else here addressed this. What, everyone who read this thread thinks it's perfectly possible that Judaism is ok with rape? Wow. I'm horrified to think that no one knows any better than that. I had no idea people here had such a low opinion of Judaism.

I'm not saying this to be nasty. I know the original question wasn't meant in a nasty way. I'm saying this because I'm genuinely shocked.

I did not "cherry pick" a verse. I read the book, found that odd, and wanted to know about it. Please do not mistake ignorance for lack of intelligence ( see my bolded statement). Unfortunately I may have phrased the question in a way you do not appreciate. I am sorry for that. But, I would appreciate it if you did not respond to my posts in a defensive manner, because I am not trying to offend you or anyone else. In truth I know very little about Judaism, which is why I asked the question.

[Jrosemary]

Oy! I had to boldface one part of this, because I can't believe that someone thinks this might be what Judaism is about. I'm glad you asked, because I don't want you going through life with an outrageous misunderstanding of what Judaism is like.

But I have to ask you, do you seriously imagine hordes of Jewish men running around raping unmarried women, paying off the dads and marrying the girls afterward? Do you honestly think there's any possibility that Judaism would justify such actions? It ain't so . . . and to think that any 21st century person finds that plausible is terrifying! How can you think so little of Judaism? I mean really, how? Just because you cherry-picked a verse from Deuteronomy, without looking at our commentaries or the Talmud or the long history of Judaism?

I'm equally astonished that no one else here addressed this. What, everyone who read this thread thinks it's perfectly possible that Judaism is ok with rape? Wow. I'm horrified to think that no one knows any better than that. I had no idea people here had such a low opinion of Judaism.

I'm not saying this to be nasty. I know the original question wasn't meant in a nasty way. I'm saying this because I'm genuinely shocked.

I did not "cherry pick" a verse. I read the book, found that odd, and wanted to know about it. Please do not mistake ignorance for lack of intelligence ( see my bolded statement). Unfortunately I may have phrased the question in a way you do not appreciate. I am sorry for that. But, I would appreciate it if you did not respond to my posts in a defensive manner, because I am not trying to offend you or anyone else. In truth I know very little about Judaism, which is why I asked the question.

Hi Chelbelle,

I know you asked the question in good faith--and at no point was I saying that you have any lack of intelligence and I apologize that my post came across that way. I was and am disturbed that anyone in the 21st century would find it plausible that Jewish guys could run around raping girls and easing their consciences by paying someone off; however, I'm not directing that just at you--as I pointed out, no one else stepped in to correct that notion or take issue with it.

I did, and do, find such a suggestion extremely offensive, even though you didn't intend it that way. But, again, I did not think then, nor do I think now, that you have any lack of intelligence and I certainly didn't mean to imply such a thing.

I will not promise to rid myself of what you call my 'defensive manner.' Jews have long been the victims of outrageous misunderstandings of their faith and--historically speaking--that's had deadly consequences. I don't expect you or any other non-Jew here to have extensive knowledge on Judaism. But everyone should know that Judaism doesn't condone rape.

Look, it's fine to ask questions. It's good to ask questions. But we all need to be careful about our words. My words gave you the impression that I thought you unintelligent; nothing can be further from the truth, and I apologize. Your words came across as stating that you find it perfectly plausible that Jews condone rape. That left me shocked, thinking you had that low an opinion of Jews and Judaism. That's why I took offense.

And that's why I suggested another way of asking the question: "How does Judaism today deal with this troublesome, even horrifying passage? How has Judaism historically dealt with this passage?" Put like that, it's a perfectly fair and valid question.

[Lioba]

Huhu, JRosemary, so happy to meet you here!