Religious Question. Best Answer will get 10 points?

Question

Holy books instruct us to kill people for working on the wrong day (Exodus 31:15), or saying the wrong words (Leviticus 24:17) or because they're homosexual (Leviticus 20:13), and millions believe these are the words of God, so is it possible that religions inherently breed violence, or is it just some religions, or do they only do so if people really take their religions seriously? Most people would condemn a person who said these things, so why do they worship gods who say them?

Answer 1

For starters, humans don't need any instruction on how to be violent. Cultures with no 'holy books' still figure out very easily how to be violent.

Your example specifically quotes the Bible, and specifically the Old Testament, which is the Jewish Tanakh. I wouldn't be able to answer as to how Jews take these verses; to the best of my knowledge, different sects of Judaism perceive the scriptures differently, some seeing it as more literal and others seeing it as more metaphorical.

From a Christian perspective, I can tell you that the quotes you provide are tiny snippets pulled from their greater context, and thereby deliver a misleading representation of the messages in the Bible. Furthermore, these verses fall under Levitical Law, which in the Christian faith have no binding on any Christian, since we are under the Grace of God. The reason for those instructions which are so violent is that it demonstrates the severity of God's judgment and justice, and how He cannot tolerate sin. Without this, His Grace through Christ would have no contrast. In other words, those harsh punishments and judgments are what we are saved FROM through the Grace of God in Jesus Christ.

You don't have to agree with it, but you're question is about writings that are specifically in the "holy book" for Jews and Chrisitans, so I'm simply providing you with the answer as to why anyone would "worship gods who say them". If you don't agree with it, that's certainly your prerogative. I hope that was able to shed some light on the issue for you.

Answer 2

Free, your correct in one thing Religion is bad.

There is a lot of religious things that have happened and they have not always been good.

But let me ask you this. Free, lets say that I wanted to become your best friend and you wanted that also. But one day one of your other friends came over and just smacked me on the face, for no apparent reason. I then look at you and tell you that I don't want to be your friend anymore. Would that be fair to say to you. NO, it wouldn't so we cannot not lump what a bunch of Hypocriticial so called christians and say that all christians do these things. I have not ever murdered anyone for committing sin. But I do hate sin because God hates it.

Now, about these laws your showing. I hope you studied enough to know that there were 3 types of laws for the Jews back in the O.T. times and they still keep some of them.

1. Ceremonial - these laws were for the sacrifice and the hows and whens and who's were to do certain tabernacle sacrifices and spiritual leading. They do not sacrifice any longer for their sins right now, they will after the rapture. So alot of these laws are not in use today.

2. Civil - These are the ones that your speaking of. And they were relevent for them in that day. Most of them were to keep order and not to blaspheme God. A lot of the Godly jews today don't even write his name down in full, they usually do this G*d.
Cause if they write it down full that piece of paper had become Holy and must not be destroyed. a lot of legalism, and again, a lot of it isn't used today.

3. Moral Law - This one is for all of us. you know them and they are in your heart. YOu have a conscience so you know not to lie, steal, lust, cheat, covet murder and all that. There 10 little rules that we are to obey.

FYI, i'm no expert, what info I have here, i've read and there are much better people to explain the laws of the Jewish ppl, much better than I. I mean no disrespect or dishonor to anyone Jewish.

So your right a lot of religion breeds violence.

But God doesn't. And those who claim to be christian and commit violence....They're not Christian then.

Answer 3

People evolve over time and become more mature. This is true not just as individuals but collectively. Their religion and interpretation of the religion grow with them. So the ancient Jewish people had a different view of God that they do today. The Christian church sees the OT as historical documents and not laws to follow, they follows the NT and the teaching of Jesus. Jesus was a man of non-violence.

Answer 4

I don't believe that the gods that people worship actually say these things to inherently breed violence.

Religion, in most aspects, is to create a community of love and understanding within people of the same/different religion and others. The 'most people' you mentioned in your question, I believe, do not worship gods that 'promote' killing (I do not believe that gods/bibles actually 'promote' killing and inherently breed violence), they worship the gods because it is what they choose to believe in, it is what makes them happier as a person of their religion.

The people who claim to kill for their religion have a twisted view of what their god/religion is telling them to do. In some cases, they just need proper guidance on what their religion is telling them to do, instead of to kill and be violent.

Hope this helps.

Answer 5

In the Old Testament Covenant, people were under the law...and yes, these are the Words of God..there was an ultimate payment for the things a person did, when God said not to do it.
That's why Jesus came to set up a New Covenant..not only with Israel, God's chosen people, but also with the Gentile, which was unheard of before then.
Now we are under grace..things changed after Jesus paid the ultimate price for our sin, and for our healing.
God is an awesome God..you can not argue with the one that has the day to day walk with Him, and has had a life changing experience..I was there..you weren't..that's how I can serve the God that I serve.

Answer 6

Religious tomes basically may claim to be the "word of God" or a deity or deities, but remember they are written and interpreted by men. Many of the words in ancient texts are have a completely different meaning today than from their day. In addition, most are written as parable and not to be taken "literally," thus the diverse interpretations of all such texts.

Answer 7

The laws you quote were designed to keep a group of over one million undeducated desert wanderers from killing each other, by various means, while God led them to the Promised Land.

While the old testament itself has never been revoked, the laws, statutes, and ordinances provided therein most certainly have, as they have been replaced by grace, and by the authority of the new covenant, universal church, which Jesus founded for our salvation.

The church is the "body" which governs modern Christian conduct, not the old, expired laws you write of, and the church no longer prescribes harsh temporal penalties for the offenses mentioned.

The spirit of the old law remains though, and the church, for example, still officially condemns homosexual practices, now deferring judgment to Jesus Christ himself.

Answer 8

There just guidelines over emphasized to keep things from getting out of hand. What are you more likely to do, be faith-full to the Societal Laws or Not? God knows we all have free will and it's just a way of minimizing the negative possibilities that may arise due to that....... I Think...:)

Answer 9

Jesus came to set us free of all that. Read Romans chapter 3-8.
The biggest commandment is to love God and the second is to love your neighbour and that is our new commandment given buy Jesus. Matthew chapter 22-23.

Answer 10

Wrong, Jesus came to this earth to give us all a second chance

ACTS 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by [that] man whom he hath ordained; [whereof] he hath given assurance unto all [men], in that he hath raised him from the dead.

God will judge us, we are not to judge