Atheists & Agnostics

FiveGoodMen

(20,018 posts) Tue Oct 9, 2012, 02:17 PM Oct 2012

Xpost from GD where nobody found this interesting

Genesis 25:29-34

Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary.

And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom.

But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.”

And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?”

Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.”
So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.

And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

So...

Did Esau make a good decision?

Did he get a good deal?

Substitute some politician who wants to sell our parks, our roads, our mountain tops, our water, our energy plants, etc for a one-time bit of cash leaving us without these things forevermore...

...and you've got the exact same story.

You'd think a nation raised on Bible stories would see this one coming wouldn't you?

4 replies

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Xpost from GD where nobody found this interesting (Original Post) FiveGoodMen Oct 2012 OP

Actually that's debateable dmallind Oct 2012 #1

Well, on that topic (bad act that results in "good" outcome) FiveGoodMen Oct 2012 #2

But I still say Esau got screwed. AlbertCat Oct 2012 #3

Would've been the proper response if you ask me. FiveGoodMen Oct 2012 #4

dmallind

(10,437 posts)

1. Actually that's debateable

Reply to FiveGoodMen (Original post)

Tue Oct 9, 2012, 03:30 PM

Oct 2012

Purely from a biblical point of view we have to answer the following questions:

What good would his birthright have been to Esau had he starved to death?

What kind of brother would make his elder's inheritance the price for NOT letting him starve to death; what does that say about Jacob's morality?

Taking the long view, what would have happened to the Jews had Esau been the patriarch rather than Jacob? Where then the twelve tribes and especially the all-important Benjaminites (David, and so Jesus, were both of this tribe)?

The last especially makes an easy biblical argument against your case. From a case of temporarily-constrained bargain selling and from the predatory response to it by a relative plutocrat, there eventually sprang the chosen people's greatest hero and the Savior of mankind.

FiveGoodMen

(20,018 posts)

2. Well, on that topic (bad act that results in "good" outcome)

Reply to dmallind (Reply #1)

Tue Oct 9, 2012, 03:38 PM

Oct 2012

You've put your finger on one of the things I hate most about religion: That gawd's ways are above ours and if he says "kill your son" -- or whatever -- you should just run out and do it; that's the righteous thing!

Ugh.

But I still say Esau got screwed. And so are we.

AlbertCat

(17,505 posts)

3. But I still say Esau got screwed.

Reply to FiveGoodMen (Reply #2)

Tue Oct 9, 2012, 09:25 PM

Oct 2012

Yeah...
Why didn't he just kick that ass Jacob in the nuts and have some lentils?

FiveGoodMen

(20,018 posts)

4. Would've been the proper response if you ask me.

Reply to AlbertCat (Reply #3)

Wed Oct 10, 2012, 12:14 AM

Oct 2012

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