The Stoning of Human Beings

NotforSale · #1 06-14-2010, 01:16 PM

I watched one of the most powerful movies I've ever seen last night. It was called, "The Stoning of Soraya M."

Some films move me, others leave me thinking. But then there's the film that drives the point so deep, I'm left almost speechless. This film did that.

Based off of a true story, the reality of stoning a human being is brought out, leaving the viewer in tears. I'm not sure I've ever cried so hard watching a movie. Reviews say, be prepared to sob if you go to the Theater to see this.

IMO, this movie had more impact than "The Passion of the Christ". It was absolutely gut wrenching to watch the act of an actual portrayal of humans stoning another human, especially when the victim cried out in innocence.

I walked away from this film, pondering if God was ever even responsible for one act of this kind of brutality. We take the Bible as a fact, promoting these past atrocities of savage cruelty, but I sincerely doubt that God ever wanted mankind to stone one another.

Why do we continue to justify something we would never do or allow today, calling such a judgement "Insane" by our current ideals?

pelathais · #2 06-14-2010, 01:32 PM

By coincidence, James Caviezel stars in both films you mentioned.

Michael The Disciple · #3 06-14-2010, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotforSale

I watched one of the most powerful movies I've ever seen last night. It was called, "The Stoning of Soraya M."

Some films move me, others leave me thinking. But then there's the film that drives the point so deep, I'm left almost speechless. This film did that.

Based off of a true story, the reality of stoning a human being is brought out, leaving the viewer in tears. I'm not sure I've ever cried so hard watching a movie. Reviews say, be prepared to sob if you go to the Theater to see this.

IMO, this movie had more impact than "The Passion of the Christ". It was absolutely gut wrenching to watch the act of an actual portrayal of humans stoning another human, especially when the victim cried out in innocence.

I walked away from this film, pondering if God was ever even responsible for one act of this kind of brutality. We take the Bible as a fact, promoting these past atrocities of savage cruelty, but I sincerely doubt that God ever wanted mankind to stone one another.

Why do we continue to justify something we would never do or allow today, calling such a judgement "Insane" by our current ideals?

Some of us DO believe the Bible. Certainly an instance where an innocent person was stoned is terrible. Nonetheless to me it shows the difference how God feels about sin as compared to how man feels about it.

Be advised. God hates sin. He at times will strike out against it very strongly.

NotforSale · #4 06-14-2010, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Some of us DO believe the Bible. Certainly an instance where an innocent person was stoned is terrible. Nonetheless to me it shows the difference how God feels about sin as compared to how man feels about it.

Be advised. God hates sin. He at times will strike out against it very strongly.

Mike, God didn't stone one person.

Also, numerous innocent people have been slaughtered under the name of God via unproven and unseen evidence.

Have you seen the movie? Would you stone someone?

Another point; It appears that Jesus did not support or encourage the act of stoning.

pelathais · #5 06-14-2010, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Some of us DO believe the Bible. Certainly an instance where an innocent person was stoned is terrible. Nonetheless to me it shows the difference how God feels about sin as compared to how man feels about it.

Be advised. God hates sin. He at times will strike out against it very strongly.

For whatever reasons, Jesus Himself seemed to be generally unsupportive of the people's desire to stone an adulterous woman in John 8.

Interestingly, the people also stated that it was "Moses in the law" who commanded the stoning. They did not attribute this penalty to God, for whatever reason.

I'm leaning toward Not4's position on this one, so far.

Sam · #6 06-14-2010, 03:29 PM

Well, if we accept the idea that the Bible is God's Word (inspired by God) then we have to accept the fact that God established a death penalty and stoning was a means of carrying out that penalty. ref Leviticus chapter 20

It is my understanding that the death penalty was instituted by God after Noah and his family came out of the ark to populate the new heavens and the new earth (ref Genesis 9:1-7) as part of what some dispensationalists would call the dispensation of human government. The death penalty was later incorporated into the Mosaic law and that law differentiated between murder and taking a life (ref Matthew 19:80). It is my understanding that Romans 13:1-7 is an acknowledgment in the NT that human government has the right to take a life. Now, all of that is my opinion and the way I understand the Bible.

Michael The Disciple · #7 06-14-2010, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pelathais

For whatever reasons, Jesus Himself seemed to be generally unsupportive of the people's desire to stone an adulterous woman in John 8.

Interestingly, the people also stated that it was "Moses in the law" who commanded the stoning. They did not attribute this penalty to God, for whatever reason.

I'm leaning toward Not4's position on this one, so far.

Jesus wanted to show the woman mercy. God said he will have mercy on whom he will have mercy. Notice tho he did not forbid the stoning just demanded it be done by those without sin.

Sam · #8 06-14-2010, 03:33 PM

I did not see the movie that was referenced and I have never seen anyone executed, by stoning or any other method.

It is my understanding that there had to be at least two witnesses that had to give testimony before anyone would be executed by the Jews. The person was brought to the place of execution and the first witness cast the first stone. If the first stone did not kill the person, then the second witness cast the second stone. If the person was still alive after those first two stones, then others got their turn with stones. I think I read somewhere that the person who was to be stoned was located somewhat below the person doing the stoning so the stones would be coming from above the person to be executed and could hit the head better.

edjen01 · #9 06-14-2010, 03:34 PM

32 While the Israelites were in the desert, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day. 33 Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly, 34 and they kept him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him. 35 Then the LORD said to Moses, "The man must die. The whole assembly must stone him outside the camp." 36 So the assembly took him outside the camp and stoned him to death, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Numbers 15:32-36. NIV

Mirth1981 · #10 06-14-2010, 03:38 PM

Here is another example of God commanding His people to stone someone:

Lev 24:10-16-

Now an Israelite woman’s son, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the people of Israel. And the Israelite woman’s son and a man of Israel fought in the camp, 11and the Israelite woman’s son blasphemed the Name, and cursed. Then they brought him to Moses. His mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan. 12And they put him in custody, till the will of the Lord should be clear to them.

13Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 14“Bring out of the camp the one who cursed, and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him. 15And speak to the people of Israel, saying, Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. 16Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.