Elijah Kills the Prophets of Baal

How does this picture make you feel? In the background there is a burning fort and a bunch of people (I presume Israel, with its king) praying to their God for victory.

In the foreground, a very angry and zealous prophet takes a sword and chops down the prophets of Baal, who flee for their lives, cringing and begging and – in some cases – bleeding to death.

Who are the good guys in this picture? Well, if you’re religious, then Elijah is. Baal, in the Old Testament, is never called a false idol or illusion. Baal is another God, a competitor, who the Israelites turned back to again and again. We don’t know exactly what he offered that Yahweh did not (peace, understanding?) but he was tempting enough to steal Israelites away over and over. Most of the Old Testament prophets like Elijah are testament to the fact that Israel was often and openly worshipping other gods, including Attis, Cybille, Baal and others.

Elijah, being the most holy and most loyal, simply did what any conservative religious person of faith would do when threatened with extinction in the face of other, more popular religous movements: kill all trespassers. Israel was being punished by God because Israelites were worshipping Baal. Solution? Kill the priests of Baal. Burn their temples, destroy (or steal and put in Christian churches) their artifacts. This pattern is repeated throughout the history of the Jews and the Christians, who often did the same thing to Pagan counterparts. But look at the picture more closely – who is holding the sword? Who is angry? Who is wearing laurel wreaths, symbols of peace? Who, in other words, has the real ethical upper-hand?

I’ve said it before and I’ll stress it here, religious tolerance is impossible for the religious mind. If there is only Truth and Falsity, and if God exists, then the eventual, universal acceptance of the Truth is mandatory and inescapable. Whether we help God along by destroying His enemies, slowly convert them to The True faith, or simply let them die out as Other, we cannot afford to let them gain enough power to become serious rivals. And if they do gain enough power to take away supporters of our faith, then tolerance is no longer an option. Take up weapons (of conflict, speech, protest, or whatever) and fight for survival!

4 Responses to “Elijah Kills the Prophets of Baal”

1. don says:

   May 7, 2009 at 9:20 pm

   Baal is not an idol. Baal truly exists and he has supernatural power. This is true because he is a demononic beast in leage with the fallen angel Lucifer. Those who have felt, seen or believe in his power are not believing a myth. They are believing in a true power that is impowered by a demonic entity. Those who follow or worship Baal will have the same end… a hell fire death. My the Lord Jesus change your heart and mind and show you the same way he showed me.
   Once an athiest,
   DON (I once was blind but, now I see)
2. admin says:

   May 9, 2009 at 10:00 am

   Thanks Don, that’s an interesting post. So – the people in the above picture were worshiping Baal who really exists. A fallen angel? A demon? Who created him, where did he come from? Who is worshipping him (or Lucifer) and why does God permit it? In truth, I don’t care a fig about Baal. I severally disapprove of murder for religious reasons. I hope against hope that God also disapproves of murder (and he damn well better – he’s the one who put “Thou Shalt not Kill” in the bible.) Did he mean “Thou shalt not kill Christians”? Is it OK to ’set free’ the souls of those worshiping Baal by slicing them through with a sword as they cower in fear and peaceful non-violence? Are you smoking crack?

   “May the Lord Jesus change your heart and mind…” into what? From someone who doesn’t believe in violence, bigotry, racial and religious genocide into someone who does? Thanks but I’ll pass.
3. Mark Golding says:

   May 28, 2009 at 4:22 pm

   I cannot think of a period in human history more tragic than the one that began with the conception of a book that completely assassinates the character and mind of Christ from within His own sanctuary. The conception that presupposes the Bible as Holy. Holy it is not, and neither are the characters in it holy, except JESUS.
   My burden is to convert Christians to Christ, get them OUT of the Bible and INTO Christ.
   This picture typically illustrates the dual personality of people who didn’t know God at all well. Their portrayal of God is as about as reliable as the idea of a donkey representing the Word that became flesh.
   Email me for 96 Theses booklet that attempts to establish Jesus as Lord properly.
4. admin says:

   June 3, 2009 at 9:42 am

   WOW. “Out of the Bible and into Christ?” The Bible is the book that introduces, develops, sanctifies and ‘proves’ Christ as savior. I agree that some characters can be bad, to contrast the glory of Christ – however without the Bible there is no Jesus at all. And to steal away portions of a literary construction as divine history while throwing away the rest is dangerous. The Old Testament (supposedly) establishes the history of God’s covenant and provides the support for Christian theology. If Adam is not literally, historically true, then there is no need for Christ’s sacrifice which is the answer to Adam’s sin. If the prophets did not truly speak the future (and about the coming of the Messiah) then that Messiah would have no place or significance once arrived.

   But if you mean, you want to get rid of the idea of Jesus Christ as a historical figure and affirm the idea of Christ, the supernatural savior, the ‘higher self’, which everyone can be in contact with, I totally agree.