Christians, Jews and Muslims? Non Believers?

Question

Someone posted a question asking people what they would like to ask a Christian. For some reason, the question was pulled. This was my response which I now throw out to you all.

Given that Christians believe that the bible is the word of god, is your god truly loving when,

The bible sanctifies the ownership of women? And of slaves?

Sanctifies war and genocide when it invokes the name of god over its troops?

Sanctifies incest?

Sanctifies retribution, which includes the heinous act of stoning a child to death?

All of these questions in fact play into the fundamental question being,

Aren't these in fact the words of men and not god? Ancient men who lived in brutal, patriarchal societies?

Should we not look at the bible, and all written holy texts, with an eye to discarding that which is no longer relevant or serves us in a positive way?

Should we not, as a society, as citizens of the world, begin the process of a monotheistic reformation where the fact that we are no longer tribal but are now a global village, be taken into account?"

We can't go on the way we are and expect to survive. We continue to tribally annihilate each other based on religious, national and ethnic differences. This doesn't work anymore - although one could certainly call into question whether it worked effectively in the past. And we continue to do this while degrading the environment. Our only home.

Can you see the inherent madness in this? Is in not time to call for a worldwide reformation of all monotheism so that we can begin to live in peace, understanding and compassion? Would this not be a more truer reflection of a loving god?

The bible would be a great place to start. What do you think?

Bad Cosmo - if you read the bible, you will find scripture which proves everything I've stated. I did not include chapter and verse due to the space provided and not wanting this to turn into a novella. But as an example, the 10th commandment states that you are not to covet your neighbor's house, wife, land, slaves, ox, etc., making a wife, a woman, a man's property.

♥Luv♥Zoey... - how can you say the bible does not condone this behaviour if it is in fact the word of god?

Cheesy Yum - I would suggest you take a look at what Paul said at the foot of Jesus on the cross. It is the basis of all the hate dished out to the Jews. Not old testament - new testament.

Answer 1

Adam to Eve after being expelled from the garden.
"My Dear we are living in a age of transition."
Before you throw away the baby with the bath water take an honest look not one that comes from people whos purpose it is to sell you something by making you watch something by making you fear something. That would be the Media. Step back and look at the charitees and the good Mosks temples and churches do. Compare that with the Bad .
You have many good points until we do have a mythogy that touches the hearts of man again we will be in a period of transition. Many will give up and look to the oldtime relgion to solve the problem it wont of course and that is the sitution we have currently. It came up suddenly considering relgion was headed in the direction you suggested just in the 60's.
Thank God you live in exiting times.
I think the new mythology will come from what will force man together by no other choice is the enviorment. It does not matter what color your God is if your water is polluted. That is what we all have in common and that I think is the new Mythology ECOLOGY ecoreligion. So Come up with a new one before you throw out the Old one because the only ones feeding the poor or digging wells in africa or hanging sheet rock in New orleans are church mosk and temple people.

Answer 2

At first it is like the bible is being put down, and then it is being used as a starting point for a world change.

The bible does include the things stated looking at it from one viewpoint. The bible also says to love your neighbor and to treat your neighbor as you would like to be treated. Just because when the bible was written does not mean that is the standpoint of god. Those were the times back then.

If one was to apply to love your neighbor as yourself, there wouldn't be a problem with different religious beliefs for you would respect that other person's beliefs.

Answer 3

No take away all religions.
Life should be based on Integrity only.
Humans do not need A BIBLE.
EVERY HUMAN ALREADY KNOWS WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS WRONG.
each of us only have to choose to do the right thing.
If all humans would just grow up and be nice. the world would be a nice place to live. But few humans live their life with integrity.
Christians are the worst offenders. because Christians allow followers to steal, cheat, rape and murder. it is OK so long as you ask god for forgiveness you can still go to heaven. but, if you are a good human. live your life with integrity and do not believe in the non sense of god you will go to hell. that makes no sense at all. I'd rather go to hell , because that is where all the people that live their life with integrity will go.

Answer 4

I agree with your question, and do believe we as the human race should start working toward one goal. I once heard it said of the bible as being an acronem meaning B.I.B.L.E.; basic instructions before leaving earth. The bible is our instruction manual for living while on this planet., as is the Koran, and any other written documents that have been handed down through the ages.

Answer 5

the Bible tells us about these things , yes. BUTTTTTTTTTTT it doesn't condone that behaviour. Give me a break. People wrote things about the past and you blame that on God? Educate yourself , please.

Look at the Bible as the holy Book it is and nothing less and if you don't like it then leave it alone. Nobody is forcing you to read it but if you do then stop taking it out of context and study it enough to understand it.

Answer 6

Just because the Bible RECORDS events, does not mean that they are sanctioned actions (not sanctified).
Just because a newspaper records murders does not mean that their editor sanctions murder.
Some of the events recorded were God's judgments for the great evils of the societies mentioned. E.g. the Amalakites were Baal worshippers, and they put their children to the fires of sacrifice to Baal. They deserved the judgement they received.

Answer 7

Whew, long question, but a very good one. Hope this is not removed, as it is very thought provoking. I think there already is a movement amongst spiritualists, or "new age" believers towards a global belief system (meaning it's ok to have your own beliefs, as it all describes one Force[regardless of what you call him/her].
As far as war, etc. War is Gods name is what I define as taking Gods name in vain.
Thanks for the question, and for making some ADULTS think. Disregard the childrens comments.....

Answer 8

I know i am probably just repeating what angry chirstians have said but most of your information is wrong. Many of the ideas in the old testament are corrected in the new testament by Jesus himself. Plus a lot of the first testament is laws of the priests, not of God. This is what makes the bible "contradict" itself. The reason for this is because many religions of the time were practicing biblical practices based on their own accords (stoning, eating of certain foods) and not by the commands of the lord, so Jesus had to put his foot down. I have seen many cases, but never anything condoning such actions you have stated. Have you actually seen the scripture that speaks of those things? Well I have, and it speaks right against what you've written.

Slaves - during the time of the bible slavery was highly accepted. Slaves were born into slaving familys and the generations after. Slaves were an investment highly valued by their owners. I do not think god condones people owning people, but given the high numbers in slavery at the time, the bible places rules and regulations on slavery. In Luke 4:18 Jesus himself actually seems to oppose the idea of slavery, stating from Isaiah "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free"

Women and Men - Corinthians 7:4:
"The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. IN THE SAME WAY, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife."

War - The old testament proclaims "an eye for an eye" but jesus corrects this in the new testament. Jesus at times even seems to see war as evil. Romans 12:17-21 - "Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. "But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Incest is of course repeated throughout the bible as sinful. - Deuteronomy 27:22 "Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of this mother..."

Stoning is an act that was part of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin well into the early New Testamental Period. Of course the tribe of Judah was sentenced into exile and punished for their unfaithfulness to God. When Jesus arrived, he saw the tons of man-made laws that had errupted and accepted as if they were Gods laws. This is why Jesus rebuked and corrected many of the peoples laws and views in the New Testament.

Maybe you should take a bible history course or such. It will tell you all about the background, the writers, the setting and purpose of the bible.

Answer 9

How can you question God? He is the alpha and the omega. Just because you don't understand a few verses in the bible doesn't mean you can pick and choose what to believe. God is real, if you don't believe, you will be very sorry in the end. If you try to change the bible, you will experience every plague. Whether or not you believe, God is still real.

Answer 10

The Bible did start it, read the New Testament, it calls for the joining together of all of God's children in faith and goodwill