I wrote this response for tumbler user chvnx on his note. The link is here:
http://chvnx.com/post/10817020598/alright-you-need-to-chill-out-i-never-said-i-was#note-container
My reply:
I’m not sure I want to get into this debate directly, but please let me clarify a couple things. The verses to justify that the Bible and God don’t consider younger people/the unborn as legit human beings is simply without merit.
Ex 21. 22-23 is talking about miscarriage. When looking into the Hebrew word that your version renders as “depart” does not mean death. A simple word study would’ve solved this problem. A better translation of this verse can be found in the New American Standard version. This is simply a hang up on a poor translation.
Lev 27.6 Is talking about cultural happenings of the time. The vows taken to these people are worth money and it is not valid to say that these people are thought less in society simply because this case shows different estimates. There could be a range of possibilities that these values might different. Simply saying that vows with men might generally entail more effort, I don’t believe that was always to case, but it seems that most of the time, it was.
Num 3.15-16 Talks about inducting men into the priesthood. This is simply not stating the equality of anyone, rather the qualification of who is inducted in to the priesthood. Does this verse also say that women aren’t considered people too? I think this is case (as with Lev 27.6) where the verse is simply taken out of context and more interpretation is laid upon it.
The rest of the verses, save the last one, talks about the wrath of God. This is not the subject of the post, so I’ll point you to Paul Copan’s book “Is God a Moral Monster” if you want an explanation of how God’s justice works. But since there are no verses justifying that God sees the young/unborn as lesser beings, it is rational to conclude that everywhere else in the Old Testament, the view of these beings are consistent.
As for the last verse (Genesis 38.24), your point “God’s law sometimes requires the execution (by burning to death) of pregnant women.” I don’t believe this verse justifies this statement. I would need to see a verse before this event where God commanded such an act. Also, if you continue with the verse you see that indeed Judah’s daughter was not burnt.
Please understand in our discussions about Theology that I’ve tried to show that what I believe is rational. I feel that I’ve provided sound arguments in this discussions. My beliefs are not followed blindly, and I am often my biggest skeptic. I look forward to more discussions.
