If your brother, the son of your father or of your mother, or your son or daughter, or the spouse whom you embrace, or your most intimate friend, tries to secretly seduce you or your ancestors before you, saying, "Let us go and serve other gods,"...you must not consent, you must not listen to him; you must show him no pity, you must not spare him or conceal his guilt. No, you must kill him, your hand must strike the first blow in putting him to death and the hands of the rest of the people following. You must stone him to death, since he has tried to divert you from Yaweh your god...
Deuteronomy 13:7-11
Why haven't you tried to kill me? Aren't you disobeying your god?
How is this resemblent of a "peaceful" religion?
How can you expect people to behave in a peaceful manner after reading this?
Is this not the anti-thesis of freedom of and from religion?
Your god was pretty clear. He hates people like me. He wants me dead. Why aren't you trying to kill me?
2006-08-21 17:55:40 · 41 answers · asked by JokerBlitz 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
oh please......
2006-08-21 18:00:39 · answer #1 · answered by shiningon 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm not a Christian, but I have to comment.
Several Christians have already answered with the "New Covenant/Testament" theory that Jesus's death freed humanity from the old law. I have two problems with that:
1) Why would a perfect loving God create such a vile law in the first place?
2) If the Old Testament was invalidated this way, why do Christians still cite it when they want to claim that homosexuality is a sin?
I've heard Christians say that Christ really left us with just two laws:
1) Love God with all of your heart, mind & strength
2) Love they neighbor as thyself.
If Christians really followed those two laws, I would have no problems with them. Actually, I DO know some Christians who genuinely try to follow those two laws, and they are people I respect and admire.
However, most Christians seem to think they can define "neighbor" to mean "my whlte, heterosexual, Christian neighbors".
Finally, I have a hard time with the idea of following rule #1 knowing that the God is the God of the Old Testament, even if he did somehow reform himself after sacrificing his son. I find the universe a much less contradictory place believing that if there is a god, then the god is not the god of the old testament, and will be compassionate with me for doubting her existence. :)
2006-08-21 18:21:34 · answer #2 · answered by Jim L 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Why am I trying to kill you?"
When have I tried to kil you?
This law was given to the israelites right after they had come out of the desert after wandering around in it for 40 yrs. During this time they had seen many of God's miracles. So picture yourself having been an eye witness to the power of God. You have seen these miracles and you know 100% that it was God who performed them. Then you go and worship another God after God just gave you the law again. The first Commandment he gave was to have no other gods before him. What an ingrate!! God comanded that people be stoned.
Now you and I do not live under these laws. We never have. So I am not being disobedient by not killing you. In fact it is exactly the opposite. If I did nothing to help teach my fellow man about Christ's love then I would be disobedient.
By the way, I live in a very peaceful manner.
2006-08-21 18:13:53 · answer #3 · answered by unicorn 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The book of Deuteronomy as well as most of the Old Testament books, were written based on the laws of the Jews, not those of God. I think it kind of explains the reasoning for putting the books in a certain order. Exodus comes before Deuteronomy in the Bible, and it has the ten commandments written in it.
The Jews killed plenty of people. And after the Romans decided to join the litlle party of theirs, the Jews didn't have to technically be hypocritical, because now they had the Romans to kill for them. They no longer had the law of God, and their own law conflicting........well, at least in their eyes.
There is a reason why you need to know about Judaism to understand Catholicism and in return any other Christian religion....where did you think our roots started?
A lot of Jewish laws conflicted with the laws set down by God on Mt. Sanai. But they thought it was okay. It doesnt mean that it IS okay. It's like abortion...because our government says it's okay to kill babies, is murder now legal??? We cotradict ourselves.
Besides Deuteronomy was written by a man. In the new Testament is where you find the books that are written by the Holy spirit through man. All the others were inspired by God, but he didn't write then himself.
2006-08-21 18:16:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have no understanding. This is God telling you that he will kill you. If you notice it says afterwards the hand of all the people will stone you. This is speaking of the past and a time to come. The Lord will kill those who worship other gods. Is that so hard to understand that the Lord is Jealouse because he made you and you give someone else the credit. Mannn, I wish people would get it. If you knew the truth, I don't think you would feel the way you do.
2006-08-21 18:06:48 · answer #5 · answered by hbtm13 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus must have come to correct all those ancient traditions. While there is truth to that, Many words of God may have been written to preserve the traditions of early Jews. Some of those written words have already been changed when there is no more need to protect a growing population who was always at war. In the latter part of the Old Testament, God has given His word that He no longer need sacrifices and offerings, what He needs is Mercy. You have to read the whole to know and understand, you just don't pick and state your conclusion just to one event.
2006-08-21 18:09:16 · answer #6 · answered by Rallie Florencio C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the first place you are speaking of Abrahamic laws which do not apply to Christians as they were replaced with the new covenant the Jesus established when HE died for all of our sins. There are some religions that still adhere to those laws, however, most of the Christian religions do not ascribe to them. Jesus said to go out into the world and preach the gospel to teach all about the new covenant. But HE also said simply to shake the dust from your feet when you happen upon an area where they will not listen. HE did not say kill anyone who will not believe. HE did not say shove your beliefs down their throats. HE did not say you must lie in wait for the infidels in every place and kill him if he will not sleep with multiple young women. HE did not say disrespect anyone else's beliefs if they differ from yours. HE preached tolerance and brotherhood and leave your pride at the door. And he taught simply to walk away from those who you cannot speak freely of your beliefs to. In fact, he debated and asked questions of the Pharisees and non believers in order that they might question their beliefs and leave themselves open to the fact that their beliefs may not be perceived the same by everyone and to give them something else to believe should they find themselves unable to answer HIS questions with their faith.
2006-08-21 18:12:35 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That command was when God was a grumbly bum. The great I Am has gotten help since then, and has improved His behaviour. After Jesus visited the earth,on a bit of a vacation,so as to finally check out how it actually works on the ground level. He picked up a few pointers,had a good rest from 'Lording', watched alot of Dr Phill, and has since become a much better person.
Give Him respect, we are not ALL perfect you know. And we are made in Gods image. So that would mean HE is not all perfect.
geeez
merry christmass
Sorry.... i am not honestly a christian, but at least my answer fits the facts better than christian answers.
2006-08-21 18:02:55 · answer #8 · answered by CJunk 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You must realize that these are a specific set of directions givin to a group of people in their time. These people had been chased, beated, robbed of everything but where the Lord was taking them. This is the old testament and what the Lord told the Israelites. Chapters later in the good book we read that Christ came not to abolish these old laws but to fulfill them, shedding his own blood for all mankind that they all could be saved by accepting the blood that he shed on the cross.
2006-08-21 18:18:08 · answer #9 · answered by gnet_162000 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is not our job to punish you and carry out your punishment. Ever since Christ comes back anyone who believes in him has their sins forgiven. You are quoting from the old testament laws which pretty much no longer holds true ever since Christ came. We don't because it is God's place to place judgement and execute justice not ours. If we did our will thinking that it was God's then we would recieve what you recieve ten-fold. Nice job trying to make all of us look like we are supposed to be brutal savages. If you were a little bit more learned in the Bible as a whole you could have answered your own question.
2006-08-21 18:06:48 · answer #10 · answered by miloscrack 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Silly boy, you don't really want the answer to this do you? You are just asking a foolish question. Are you living in old testament times? Are you wandering around with the children of Israel in this year of 2006.
No.
You are living in the age of grace where the Bible instructs 'honest Christians' "9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain." Titus 3
2006-08-21 18:12:15 · answer #11 · answered by Mikey B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋