7 Bible Stories Too Violent for Sunday School

Not every “holy” story is fit for children’s ears — but they’re still in the Bible.

Aug 18, 2025

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A split-scene illustration depicts a Sunday school on the left and a darker, more realistic interpretation of the same biblical stories on the right. On the left, a warm and colorful classroom scene shows four children on a rug looking at a flannel board. The board features a childlike depiction of Noah's Ark with smiling cartoon animals entering in pairs. On the walls, drawings by children show Jonah being swallowed by a whale. Soft light shines through a stained-glass window with traditional religious figures. On the right, the same flannel board is shown, but the animals and ark are now in a dark, stormy flood, surrounded by people who are drowning. The whale drawing is replaced by a grim scene of Jonah in a stormy sea. The stained-glass window is shattered, and through the cracks, fire and crossed swords are visible. The overall contrast is between innocence and a violent reality. — From rainbows and animals to rape, war, and genocide — the Bible’s hidden stories are far too violent for Sunday school.

When you went to Sunday school as a kid, you probably got the safe stories: Noah’s Ark with the animals, Jonah and the whale, David slaying Goliath. Bright posters, felt boards, and gentle morals.

But the Bible isn’t a gentle book. Behi…

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