If the god of the Bible exists as described in the Bible, then he has commited child abuse.

I do admit I would have preferred a theist over a fellow atheist. On the other hand it seems KroneckerDelta has indicated that he enjoys correcting people when they are wrong. I do as well. Perhaps one of us will have a different view at the end of this debate. I would like to start by addressing con's assumptions. I see no reason to limit con's evidence to just the bible as long as the hypothetical remains as considered true. As for the second assumption, con is mostly right. I would ask the voters put themself on the jury. If the voter is biased against me I ask them to consider if I would have done the acts I am about to put forth would I be guilty? So what makes God a caretaker to us all? There are many passages where God is called heavenly father [2] or some derivative of this. There are also other passages where God is depicted in metaphors as a shepherd tending his flock. 1 pet 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. John 10:25-30 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all[a]; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one. ” 1Kings 8:15-16 Then he said: “Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his own hand has fulfilled what he promised with his own mouth to my father David. For he said, 16 ‘Since the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built so that my Name might be there, but I have chosen David to rule my people Israel. ’ I feel that between the bible calling God father and shepherd and the passages noted that I have established god as a caretaker. Now on to the actions, While there are many cases where God orders the deaths of children there are 3 that come to mind where God does the work himself. I will list them in order from weakest case to strongest case. Noah’s flood: God drowned an unknown number of kids Gen. 6:13 So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. The first born of Egypt: The Bible indicates God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. And then kills all the first born that are not marked with blood on their doors. God’s actions lead to countless deaths of children that in no way are involved in the conflict. Exodus 11:4-6 So Moses said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. 5 Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the female slave, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well. 6 There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt—worse than there has ever been or ever will be again. The son of David and Bathsheba: God makes the child ill for seven days making it die on the 7th day. 2 Sam 12 15 & 18 After Nathan had gone home, the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. 18 On the seventh day the child died. David’s attendants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, “While the child was still living, he wouldn’t listen to us when we spoke to him. How can we now tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate. ” All 3 of these cases God causes the death of children. In one he causes suffering beforehand. If I were to drown kids that are under my care, I hope I would be found guilty. If I would kill a child because their parent is a slave at the mill and has nothing to do with the affairs of the pharaoh, I hope I would be found guilty. If I would make a child suffer in illness for 7 days leading to its death because I am mad at the father, I hope I would be found guilty. "Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation" I have established that God meets the definition of caretaker. I have presented 3 cases where God’s direct actions has resulted in death of children. There are other cases as well where God’s actions in the form of orders has caused the death of even more children. 1 Sam 15:3 Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy[a] all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys. ” Does con wish to entertain the deaths of children by God’s orders also? The bible quotes are short due to post limits. I ask if you need more detail please read the chapters the verses come from. once again I thank con for accepting and look forward to the challenge [2]. http://www.biblegateway.com...