Certain interpretations of the moral decisions in the Bible are considered ethically questionable by many modern groups. Some of the passages most commonly criticized include the subjugation of women, condemnation of homosexuality, support for the institution of slavery, the orders to kill any disobedient children, and the order to commit the genocide of the Canaanites and the Amalekites. While some religious groups support the Bible's decisions by reminding critics that they should be judged by the standards of the time, to which they measure much more closely, other religious groups, mostly conservatives and particularly Southern Baptists, see nothing wrong with the Bible's judgements Other critics of the Bible, such as Friedrich Nietzsche, have criticized the morality of the New Testament, regarding it as weak and conformist-oriented.
2007-01-27 22:30:56 · 9 answers · asked by Born again atheist 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You are feeding into the fallacy that all Christian have these beliefs which actually reflect literalists and findamentalists more than mainstream believers. The Bible is a collections of books written by human beings to try to describe their religion, and like all human works has quite a few errors and contradictions.
2007-01-27 22:37:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
I am not sure as to which version this comes from it sounds old testament but I do not know a whole lot about either The new testament is a little more PC but still contains allot of discriminatory advice. I indeed agree though the bible is quite responsible for many injustice we have barely overcome to this day racism, sexism apparently jesus gave advice on slavery & of course the homosexuals are slowly gaining equality in the US anyway. Could the world really be a better place without religion I have no idea To say the least a better book of morels would have been helpful
2007-01-30 09:59:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Really interesting question!
I'm a female evangelical theologian training to be a church pastor at Oxford Uni - so I guess I'm pinning my colours to the mast in that I'm clearly not able to speak for Southern Baptists (or good old Nietzsche who wasn't so hot on women's lib either) but that I think loving and living by the God of the Bible makes me a more ethical person in the 21st century.
The Bible was clearly written in a patriarchal setting to people with patriarchy steeped into every aspect of their beings. However I'm coming to the conclusion that this is part of it's genius - it takes people towards the goal step by step.
So God's Spirit doesn't speak through Paul in overthrowing the whole of the slave trade in the Roman Empire but first sets up the idea of treating slaves as fellow human beings (and brothers/sisters in Christ). Then people like Wilborforce and Newton would say that it was the same Holy Spirit that inspired them with the direction of the principals in scripture to fight for the complete overthrow of the slavetrade across the world.
Luke in paticular has a special interest in showing how Jesus himself was shocking in his respect of women, the morally judged, the ethnically judged and the enforcement of death penalty. Jesus seems to be bringing in the new Kingdom of God where he is the only one who has taken the ultimate death penalty. Nietzsche's arguments for the weak morality of Jesus don't hold water with most theologians in places like Oxford.
Hope you find some answers to your questions - they're important to ask.
Grace
2007-01-27 23:04:17 · answer #3 · answered by Grace 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A cruel man believes God is also cruel: Thomas Paine, greatest philospher of all time.
Because people like having no morals and christians love critisizing those that use thier brain and discover that christianity is unethical and derogatory to everyone, even other christians.
For the record: John the Baptizer was also known as John the Drowner, because he drowned people and called it baptism.
2007-01-27 22:39:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Friedrich Nietzsche, have criticized the morality of the New Testament, regarding it as weak and conformist-oriented.
How about the book of I John: Be not conformed to the World. Love not the world nor the things of the world, for he who loves the world does not have the love of the Father in him.
You have many issues here, there are too many to answer in one post. I'd suggest you split them up and ask each on separately or you won't get the comprehensive answer you're looking for.
Oh wait, what am I talking about, you're not looking for an answer, you're looking for self-gratification and little kudo's and accolades from those who are like-minded to you.
"commit the genocide of the Canaanites"
Hello - do you think that people who buried their children alive inside the walls of their homes and burned babies alive on molten hot idols didn't deserve what God gave them? He gave them 400 years to change their ways and they rebelled against Him.
2007-01-27 22:38:35 · answer #5 · answered by Last Ent Wife (RCIA) 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Who prevents you from learning and practicing high morality.
If you don't see it in Christianity, seek it in other places. Better doing rightly than criticizing vainlessly.
2007-01-27 22:38:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
a lot of what you're saying that the bible supports is false. read the bible, then get your facts straight.
2007-01-27 22:55:43 · answer #7 · answered by Annie Rod 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because there was so many jews in it.
2007-01-27 22:59:34 · answer #8 · answered by 818er 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first part (Old testament) was written to stop the oldest satanists of the region continuing to kill their children and partake in ritual orgies, incest, infantcide, cannibalism and every evil known to man.
2007-01-27 22:34:44 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 6⤋