Objection: Islamic polemicists (such as Ahmed Deedat) accuse the Bible of being a pornographic book due to the explicit and strong language found in Ezekiel 23.

Christian Defense:
- Spiritual Harlotry and Covenant: The language in Ezekiel 23 is not meant to be pornographic, but rather serves as a powerful metaphor for a broken covenant. In historic Christianity, God's covenant with His people is understood as a spiritual marriage. The entire chapter uses the image of a harlot and sexual acts to portray the sordidness and gravity of the sin of idolatry committed by the two nations of Samaria and Israel.
- Shock Value for Hardened Hearts: The nations had become so senseless and apathetic that decent admonition or nice words were no longer effective in making them recognize the gravity of their rebellion against God. The prophet used strong, shocking language to "burn into their hearts and minds like acid" the severity of their unfaithfulness to the God who delivered them from Egypt (Exodus 20:2-4).
- Biblical Precedent: This strong imagery of spiritual adultery is consistent throughout Scripture (e.g., Jeremiah 2:20-30) to communicate the vileness of turning away from the Creator to worship created things (Acts 7:41-43). The chapter concludes with its main message: "You shall pay the penalty for your lewd conduct and be punished for your idolatry, and you will know that I am the Lord God" (Ezekiel 23:49).
- Islamic Parallel: Strong, graphic imagery is not unique to the Bible. For example, the Qur'an uses the graphic image of cannibalism—eating the flesh of one's dead brother—to communicate the vileness of backbiting (Qur'an 49:12). Just as the Qur'an uses revolting imagery to make a moral point, Ezekiel uses the graphic imagery of harlotry to illustrate the spiritual abhorrence of idolatry.