Earlier I asked a question about why the Old Testament God condones terrible sins. I was told it was untrue (actually, it is true), that I should read the Bible (I have), that the horror in the Bible is not literal truth (we'll why do so many preachers say it is?).
Why do so many religious people insist the world would be a better place if only we'd all live by the Bible, when it is full of a God demanding burnt human offerings (Genesis 22:1-18) God demanding whole civilizations be annihilated (Deuteronomy 13:13-19), that women be kidnapped and raped (Judges 21:10-24), that people stone people for collecting firewood on Sunday (yes he did, look it up), that parents kill their kids (Abraham and one other), that girls (but not boys) be strangled if not virgins on their wedding night (Deuteronomy 22:20-21), homosexuals should be killed (Romans 1:24-32) .
The list goes on, and on, and on ...
The Bible as an example of how we should live our lives today. You have got to be joking?
2006-11-29 19:56:48 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I don't like that former desert demon who became the god of the Old Testament either.
If they had had any sense the Christians would have discarded it along with circumcision and other silly commandments, but since nearly all their teachings go back to Saul/Paul of Tarsus they didn't.
I would not mind, but their insistence that everybody should live their lives according to THeir rules makes it hard to ignore, especially if you have to live among them.
All the present-day atrocities committed by Israel are actually condoned in their holy book, but if a member of their gouvernment tells us that they are "one of us" I'm certain that his are not values I would like to share, even though so many US Christians, including the president, agree with him.
To live today by an early iron-age text is just not on, and I think people who expect you to are insane, especially if they don't really practice it themselves. Nevertheless, I'm certain some of them would like to, they are as full of hatred as their god.
2006-11-29 20:33:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
""God demanding burnt human offerings (Genesis 22:1-18)"
the entire point of this story is to show that G-d hates human sacrifice, not that he likes it.
"God demanding whole civilizations be annihilated (Deuteronomy 13:13-19)"
because the people sacrificed their children to moloch. nowadays that sort of punishment is considered a little harsh, but back then before sophisticated legal systems that was considered justice.
"that women be kidnapped and raped (Judges 21:10-24)"
kidnapped and married.
"that people stone people for collecting firewood on Sunday (yes he did, look it up)"
there's nothing wrong with working on a sunday. you must mean saturday. according to religious law, the death penalty can only be given if there were at least two witnesses, if at least one of them told the person beforehand that the punishment of what they were doing was death, and if the person said they knew that, but they were going to do it anyway. if every judge found the person guilty, the person was automatically acquitted, even if they WERE guilty. thats actually pretty lenient, considering it was thousands of years ago.
"that girls (but not boys) be strangled if not virgins on their wedding night (Deuteronomy 22:20-21)"
actually, it says stones. yes, it was very sad, and yes, boys did get punished too for it. it was very much a crime to have sex with a virgin, but at least the virgin could get out of it by saying she was raped.
2006-11-29 20:16:05 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Bible is an ancient collection of sacred writings which chronicles the way (warts and all) in which God brought salvation to his people.
The story is peculiar, but it's true. And it's a truth that's necessary for every person to fully understand.
That said, the Bible is a long complete, static work, which is difficult to properly interpret.
The only authentic and official faith authority in these times is not the Bible, but the Church. And not any church, but the original and universal Church which Jesus Christ personally founded, for the salvation of all.
The Church can make allowances, and institute changes to keep pace with the evils of the modern world, while the Bible remains as it is.
Look to the authentic teachings of the Catholic Church for the authentic meaning and application of the holy scriptures, and you can't go wrong.
For more, go here:
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm
2006-11-29 21:38:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ya gat dat right!
Can I recommend someone to you. You have to read this guy Friedrich Nietzsche. My favorite quote from him:
"I call Christianity the one great curse, the one great intrinsic depravity, the one great instinct for revenge for which no expedient is sufficiently poisonous, secret, subterranean, petty — I call it the one immortal blemish of mankind."
And it goes more than just the literal interpretations you cited above. There is something so fundamentally evil about religion and you got it right that its because it calls for your sacrifice. Its example for the perfect christian is a man who died on the cross.
But after you read Nietzsche, please also read Soren Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling. His is a brand of Christianity that answers Nietzsche. I think you cited the story of Isaac being burned as a sacrifice to God. The message was, that by the very act of giving him up, he is given back to you.
But I'll leave it to your choice whether you believe Nietzsche or Kierkegaard.
2006-11-29 20:07:57 · answer #4 · answered by ragdefender 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps some Bible quotes would help your case: Numbers 15:32-56 They found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. ... And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones.... And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses. Numbers 31:7 They fought against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses, and killed every man. 1 Samuel 15:3 "Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ***." Jeremiah 50:21 "Attack the land of Merathaim and those who live in Pekod. Pursue, kill and completely destroy them," declares the LORD. "Do everything I have commanded you." Jeremiah 51:20-22 "You are my battle-ax and sword," says the Lord. "With you I will shatter nations and destroy many kingdoms. With you I will shatter armies — destroying the horse and rider, the chariot and charioteer. With you I will shatter men and women, old people and children, young men and maidens." Joshua 6:20-21 When the people heard the sound of the horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the city from every side and captured it. They completely destroyed everything in it – men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep, donkeys – everything.
2016-05-23 04:25:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The catch with people saying that we should live like the bible says to is that they only pick and choose the parts they want us to live by, not the whole thing. What they really are saying is that we should live by THEIR rules
2006-11-29 20:02:08 · answer #6 · answered by judy_r8 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
God never condoned these criminal acts. However He did order Isrealites to wipe out certain cultures because of sin.
I Cr 13;8a
11-29-6
2006-11-29 19:59:23 · answer #7 · answered by ? 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I couldnt hack it as an athiest, sorry. Wound up a coke addicted porn hustling depressed freak in jail.
I like my new life.
Blessings
David
2006-11-29 20:00:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
literalist don't like to be reminded about the bad things, just the ones that justify their ignorance.
2006-11-29 19:59:08 · answer #9 · answered by de bossy one 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
One more reason to be an atheist.
2006-11-29 19:58:47 · answer #10 · answered by Voodoid 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋