So, many people in the Bible owned slaves and it was fairly normal?

Question

Now, I'm guessing pretty much everyone agree that it's a horrible practice, outdated and plain wrong. A woman on her period was also full of sin and you couldn't be in the same bed during her menstruation. Well, who does that now?
Basically sometimes we apply the Bible with the times we're living now and consider that those practices were a reflection of the society then even when clearly stated in the Bible.
Why can't we agree that the intolerance against gay people is also an outdated practice? why can we let go of some stuff that's in the BIble but not that? Isn't it a little un-christian?

Answer 1

Spot on :)

Hehe, not only that but the references to homosoexuality in the bible are tenous at best - in one place it is described as an "abomination", later, eating shellfish is also an abomination. One can only guess at how terrible it would be to have fun with a mate whilst nibbling a prawn sandwich.

The bible was NOT written by God, nor by any other immortal being. It is the collected works of MANY people over a few CENTURIES, then translated, re-worked, edited and then translated once more.

It reflects as you rightly say, the feelings at the time among the masses - things have evolved. Perhaps it is time for the bible to be re-written - as it has been many times already from when it was first started. Some parts of the bible were written several hundred years after other parts.

Folks like to pick and choose - and if they have a hangup about gay folks, they can use the bible to support them - LOL just as we could use it explain why we ARE allowed to go back to keeping slaves.

Odd isn't it.

Answer 2

Because the Bible is based on stories from the ‘Old testament’ which is based on Jewish scriptures. Why do millions follow the cultural teaching of a tiny group of nomads that lived on raping and pillaging the land? The reason the Old testament is so bloody is it was the teaching of a Nomadic people, when they could they took over other people’s goods or land and enslaved and killed them, and when they couldn’t (more often) they were enslaved and killed. Meanwhile the civilizations of Egypt, Persia, Greece, India, Asia and Europe found these people too insignificant to mention. It took thousands of years for those words to corrupt existing cultures. Now about slavery. The only place in the world that wouldn’t accept slaves was Algonquin Indians - who treated them as second class family, and Northern Europe (women could but not men – they did trade them however), though like everywhere they had peasants. Eventually Europe develops serfs instead. So in North Eastern America and Europe you have some form of freedom. Everywhere else will consider people you conquer rightful property until the West outlaws it and spreads our evil culture to the rest of the world. America was the last western country to outlaws slaves (though some people certainly tried), but we freed our peasants from Kings earlier than anyone else, so that’s a tough call. Regardless slavery has been the norm in all Non-European, Non-Western societies for thousands of years right up to the 1900s and in some places present day. Now Islam, founded by a man who traded in, among other things, slaves, is full of slavery (read the Koran), which makes it harder to stop the practice. You’re talking about different times and cultures. Unfortunately the West, which despite everyone spitting on it invented the idea that racism was bad, as well as equality, freedom and the rights of man is reviled by the same people who got their outrage from Western ideas. Globally, due to breeding wars and huge amounts of oil money for brainwashing, everyone has taken to hating Americans and Europeans. Africans, who for generations were bought and sold to the Middle East despise Thomas Jefferson. Women’s rights have been in an absolute tailspin for 30 years now, and history is being erased. Many religious people start out their argument for taking credit fo rany social innovation people currently respect, but the Christians destroyed women’s rights in Europe, Isalm has Spread slave trading and nurtured it through modern outrage, and Judaism is often at odds with science as well as democracy. In fact all of the monotheists are. Most of what you seem to feel is ‘good’ is Secular (another western invention), so I think you should go back and reframe your mindset. You are very close - all of these religions are racist, sexist, exclusionist and outdated by thousands of years. Most of us had them forced upon us at the loss of our own cultures. History is constantly being rewritten by the religious to try and justify their deeds. I will close by saying two things - slavery still exists in the world - justified by these same old texts (not the bible, others) You cannot be gay and Christian. Got it? Now choose. Pick the human choice, and open your mind to the fact that the whole religion is wrong. That doesn’t mean you cant have traditions. Christmas trees aren’t Christian either. Nor are Wednesday, Thursday, Friday - Easter Eggs, well happy hunting. Go find your roots but free your mind. Religions do not have a monopoly on being good, or kind, or just.

Answer 3

You have raised several issues. Slavery is still practiced in America, we just would never dare call it that. Don't you feel a little smitten after watching 10 minutes of commercial television?

Try not paying taxes or going to work for a few years and see what that does to your sense of freedom.

I agree that we should not be held to Bible standards if we are just going to accept them without question. The language is outdated and comes from a time of ignorant leadership. But not all spiritual practices are wrong just because they don't correspond with your lifestyle. Maybe your lifestyle is unhealthy. Maybe somebody knows better than you. How will we know without discussion?

It is the fear of contempt that keeps us from open-minded discussion, and that might keep us from evolving when we need it most.

Answer 4

Nise is correct. There are things in the bible that still go on today, that are still to be treated the same today.

Sin is still sin.

BTW - slavery still exists. And for the same reasons. One, some people want control over others and two, some people would rather have the security blanket of a master over them than the freedom of being responsible for themselves.

When the Hebrews were in the desert (leaving the slavery of Egypt), they complained to Moses that they didn't have the comforts of back home in Egypt!!!!! Sounds so much like when you try to give a job to someone on welfare. "Freedom isn't free" doesn't only apply to military conflict. It applies to lifting oneself out of slavery.

And the way that God said to treat a servant is how we still should treat whoever serves us.

Answer 5

We live in a different society today. That doesnt mean the Bible doesnt apply today though. God has given us all a role. If you were a slave you were suppose to serve your master and be thankful for what you were given. In the same sense women are to be submissive. That doesnt mean to be lower than men. What I'm trying to say everyone has his or her own role. Now about people being gay. I think it is wrong but I do not think we should discriminate them.

Answer 6

Yes people all owned slaves but in many cases it was your fellow countrymen and people from neighboring countries. It was more of a business arangment where people bought and sold THEMSELVES. Our idea of slavery though is the oppression of black people which was done against their will and I agree was not a good thing @ all.

We cant agree that homosexuality is a good thing because God has told us it is not. But your assumption that the Bible teaches slavery is good is not true. Do you have a Bible to read? I can mail you one if you do not have one.

Answer 7

Yes, slavery is a horrible practice.

The laws of menstration in the Torah aren't meant to demean women, but are a code of cleanliness. Who does that now? Jews today interpret it as not having sexual intercourse during while a wife's menstration, and seven days or so after. Only the 500 or so remaining Samaritans actually follow the regulation about the wife sleeping in a shack during her menstration.

Slavery in the Bible - Hebrew Bible - therefore, it cannot be "un-Christian", as Christianity wasn't around in those days. We don't take all of the Bible literally.

Answer 8

Most Christians I know tolerate gay people very well.

We just don't tolerate equating a seriously disordered condition (homosexuality) with being equal to a normal one (hetersosexuality).

We also don't condone immoral sexual activities of any type, primarily, having sex outside of marriage.

And we don't condone the many abuses and evils that inevitably result from immoral sexual activities, whether homosexual or heterosexual.

On these matters, our interpretation of the bible is not subject to change.

There's a big difference between slavery and homosexuality.

Wise up.

Answer 9

The bible wasn't written for us. It was written by ancient people to further ancient politics. It is entirely out of context in this day and age. The longer we try to adapt our lives to fit an ancient ideal the longer we put off any real progress as a society.

Answer 10

Slavery was never approved by God - it was a part of the culture, but it wasn't God ordained. Same goes for all of the polygamy in the old testament. As for a woman being unclean - those OT practices were abolished by the Christ's being the ultimate sacrifice. God said in the new testament and the old that homosexuality is an abomination, unnatural and it's WRONG. That is not a cultural statement! Learn your bible, and you'll learn why what you're saying doesn't make sense. Good luck and God bless. ~Nise~