Question for SOME fellow atheists who think Bible is full of hate?

Question

You do know that for Christians, what is in the New Testament supercedes what is in the Old, don't you? That Jesus says the greatest commandment is to love others? Not just Christians, but all others. A Christian is someone who tries to imitate Christ, hence the name. If they don't love you, they're not Christians.

Answer 1

It does. Which is why I get annoyed at gay-bashing christians. They have no theological ground to walk on. They are quoting christian history in order to attempt to justify personal or canonical prejudice.

According to the NT, Jesus specified 2 commandments that were all mankind needed. Love god above all others and love your neighbour as you would yourself. Everything else was added on by the prophets. Now, if you assume that the most important one is to love god above all others, then surely it is important to tell homosexuals to love god instead of telling them that homosexuality is wrong. Any christian who makes a specific issue of homosexuality has their priority wrong, and shows only prejudice.

And yes, if christians are to follow or imitate christ, they do need to remember that (according to their bible) he associated with hookers, drunkards, thieves etc. He did not go around shouting "sinner" at them but simply held himself up quietly as an example of a higher standard. He did not cast the first or any stone.

Answer 2

This is the "no true Scotsman" argument which tries to exclude offensive members from the group to also exclude the criticism they bring. I hate to break it to you, but conservative evangelicals are the dominant face of Christianity in America, and though the message of the NT may well be grace, and though they attempt to deny it, fundamentalism is a pietistic legalistic movement just like the Pharisees. Jesus "says" lots of things, and the pietists focus more on what Paul says, or the triumphalist Christology John writes into Jesus' mouth in his gospel which the synoptic gospels know nothing of.

You cannot simply exclude the embarrassing extremes because they aren't loving enough. I accept your point and have defended it that there is a large group of Christians for whom creationism is abhorrent, for whom bigotry and racism are repugnant and for whom education, science and truth matter a great deal. I like those folks. I don't like the fundies and I like the race and apocalyptic cults of Christianity even less. But they are Christians as much as any you've met even if they don't get the point of their faith as you and I, or even other Christians see it.

Answer 3

A christian is someone who TRIES to be like Christ, even the 12 followers Christ had with him had trouble loving the people he told them to at first. We are people just like everyone else, and we should forgive all things commited against us by people who do/don't believe. It is sometimes hard even for us to let go of things, and sometimes it seems the only reason we can is because He helps us. Just because you get a sharp reply back does not mean they hate you at all, you touched a nerve in another HUMAN BEING, that's all. Humans are known for opening their mouth and speaking before thinking.

When a child misbehaves and is swatted on the rear by their parent, are they showing hate? No, they are showing they love their child enough to punish them for wrongs they commit because they want the best for their young. Do not assume all remarks made against something are done in anger or hate, but rather done out of caring if someone else falls or fails. Some followers in Him get upset after being mocked for so long it gets on their nerves and they say or do things they shouldn't, they will later see that and pray to be forgiven....but you don't see that. We are people too, and people aren't perfect until they are in heaven. :)

Answer 4

I think youre confused - and lying about being a "fellow atheist."

Firstly, if you read the Bible, you will note that Jesus never commanded you to love everyone. He didnt command you to love all CHristians. He commanded you to love your NEIGHBORS, and he meant only your local neighbors, being Jews like he was. Not Christians, and certainly not everyone else. This spin of loving everyone is new, modern.

Furthermore, if Christians only beleive in the NT, then why do so many quote the OT to defend marriage as being sacred and only between a man and woman? And, why do ANY of them dislike gays at all? Thats not very "christian" is it??

Answer 5

Well, you could also turn that question around on to the Christians. Some of them, not all, seem to think only those who are Christians deserve love.
And I suppose your question doesn't apply to me, but... just wanted to point that out.

And I can't say that I follow that commandment, because there are people that I absolutely hate. And it's not due to their religion, ethnicity, race, etc. I hate them for what they do to other people. I could honestly care less what religion they are. So hey, I'm not perfect, but then again, no one is.

Answer 6

Yeah, um, well, have fun with homosexuality and the NT:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_bibc1.htm

and don't forget, the OT didn't just puff into nothingness. For instance, the commandments and a lot of stuff still stand. Just the old covenant that was replaced by the new, some laws being fulfilled (whatever that meant). It's not like they removed it. Like Phoenix said, it is STILL the word of god.

Answer 7

Yes, I am well aware of that. But they still hold the OT to be the word of God, and I'd say that's a pretty hateful God.

Plus, there are not so nice things in the NT, like just about all of Revelation, Paul's discrimination against certain people (like gays), etc.

Answer 8

So is it just the Christian bigots who select anti-gay passages from the old testament and try to influence State legislation to prevent equal civil rights for gay people then?
Superstitious prejudice is one thing but when it's not even legitimate Christian superstitious prejudice it really starts you thinking doesn't it?

Answer 9

traditionally, the bible HAS been banned from some libraries if i'm no longer improper. the concentration, in my opinion, must be no longer on the content textile of "objectionable" literature, yet on the idiots (chinese language, christian or in any different case) who won't have the ability to easily placed down a e book or turn off a television or radio software they do unlike/accept as true with, yet seek for to make certain that i won't have the ability to study/watch/hear myself. i think of christianity is an fairly workable and constructive adequate philosophy for many people, yet like something it has a share of very vocal adherents who worship the religion itself rather of the factor of the religion. whilst they become airborne dirt and dirt, i assume my having the final chortle would be a moot factor. I desire they had only close up and enable me study Harry Potter in peace, and that i promise to no longer gripe approximately them examining their youngsters "Biblical Bedtime thoughts of Rape. homicide and Incest"

Answer 10

I have met two kinds of christians:

those who are loving and tolerant. who spread gods joy and love.

and the others who claim that whoever doesn't belong to their sect is going to hell, they preach nonstop and put down people, they hate monger and some extremists murder abortion doctors. these are the christians i can't stand.