Do Atheists know the difference between Old and New Covenants?

Question

It seems when Atheists try to bash Christianity they always quote something about giving the death penalty to adulterers and homosexuals or verses condoning slavery from the Old Testament when under the New Covenant those things do not apply. Jesus actually showed what the response to adultery should be under the covenant of grace. He said, "He who is without sin throw the first stone" so only a sinless person can punish someone under Old Testament law.

I just want Atheists to know that there are two covenants and what Christians follow isn't the Old Testament law that seems very harsh. That law was made that harsh to separate and purify the Jews as a race worthy of the Messiah. Now we are under the Covenant of Grace where anything can be forgiven even adultery and gayness. And as for slavery, it was only for debters and war prisoners anyway and they would all be let free every year of Jubillee.

Interesting that you say we should get rid of it. Many Christians just hand out the New Testament because they don't want to confuse people and because that is what matters now.

It is not about God changing HIs mind or Christians picking and choosing. The Old Testament was a preparation for the New Testament. God was working in time and did it in a few steps. Its really not that confusing if you wanted to comprehend it.

Answer 1

how can Christians pick and choose what is right and what is wrong?

Answer 2

If those things do not apply then why do they still keep them in the book.. why not have a rewrite since it's all from human bias anyways. Some churches out there do not teach the new testament at all and only go by the old and I'm talking Protestant churches here. I should know, I was raised in one. It was so pleasant hearing about such an awful, vengeful deity Sunday in and Sunday out.

I did not learn about the new testament until I took comparative religions in college but by then I knew that the christian deity was not for me. Whether it be the old or the new the deity is the same and still is shown with the same cruel streak and I would never give follow anything that chooses such a path.

Answer 3

First of all, I don't tend to cite the Bible against Christians. As an Atheist, I don't consider it authoritative. But, yes, I understand the difference. With that said:

First of all, some Christians, when trying to attack nonChristians, commonly start pulling out verses out of the Old Testament books, and then not live according to these rules...either they do apply, or they do not. And if they're cited by Christians, then, of course, nonChristians are going to throw things from the same sources right back. For example, if you believe Leviticus outlaws homosexuality, then you also have to accept that a person must be stoned by the community if he plants 2 different crops in the same field (Lev. 19:19).

Secondly, many denominations in Christianity do believe that the Mosaic laws are still valid, and are more than willing to cite verses in the New Testament (for example, Matthew 5:17 can be understood in this light). Do I personally think that, having read the New Testament numerous times, the laws are still meant to be valid? No, I don't...but I can definitely see room for confusion on the issue.

Answer 4

By the way, the Old Covenant may not apply, but the Old Testament still does - I think that, by the answers from many of the atheists, that a number do not really understand the difference.

Paul says that the law is our schoolmaster, pointing us toward Christ. The law is written in our hearts and shows us right from wrong.

But because of the New Covenant in Christ's blood, we are saved by grace, not by being perfect before God.

That doesn't mean that we still should not follow the law. As Christ said, not one word will be removed from the law. As for regulations for keeping ourselves "pure," thats a different matter.

Answer 5

~~~ David,,,, In your second "additional detail" you make quite a claim in that "It's really not that confusing if you wanted to comprehend it." Sounds as though you are preparing to launch your very own religion of "The Gospel According to David and Just How Easy it is to Comprehend Christian Scripture if One Just WANTS To" ,,,, You have Discovered the All Mysterious Answer to The Great Divine. And to think of those christian preachers and scholars out there, and in the past, that never grasped this concept. Your biggest concern shouldn't be with us atheists misunderstanding christianity. You should devote your energies to your christian brethren who are sending out the "wrong message" and insist on using the old covenants at their conveeeeeeeeeeeeenience. This is your Mission.

Answer 6

Non Christians are well aware that there are two testaments (or covenants). Christians are the ones who often quote the old when it suits their purpose. Atheists and other Non Christians will then reply by asking about other old laws that we are told no longer apply.

If Christians would stop picking things from the old that they still want to be true - the problem would go away.

Answer 7

The old covenant is the law that was given to Moses for the people of Israel. It was conditional in that obeying it would bring blessings and to break it would bring curses. It was a covenant of works and was a temporary covenant. The new covenant was the covenant of Jesus Christ to all mankind and is unconditional and is a covenant of faith instead of works. Instead of temporary it is eternal.

Answer 8

Is not "all scripture inspired by God"?

Is God not "the same yesterday, today, and forever"?

Did Jesus not come to fullfill the law rather than abolish it?

The Christian concept of forgiveness is a wonderfully stupid thing. This angry desert god called for the slaughter and mistreatment of countless men, women, and children for reasons you claim were to "purify the Jews as a race worthy of the Messiah."

Tell me, what kind of loving god worthy of our respect would act in such a way. Whether or not he still makes such requirements is really beside the point. He did at one point in history and has yet to give any kind of rational explanation. The Christians forgive him too easily or simply do not care. Ironically, Christians have no problem pulling the old testament out of their behinds when it comes to persecuting the homosexuals in a modern day world.

Personally, I prefer not to associate myself with a Messiah who requires such terror and violence directed at people for the sake of his arrival. It makes no sense to any sane and rational person.

Arguing semantics cannot and will not erase or negate the wrong doings listed throughout the old testament.

Answer 9

Yes I'm pretty much an atheist and I do know very well. The basic message seems to be 'love one another' mixed with a Buddhist style of philosophy (yes I know there are big differences but a lot of similarities) . Its just a pity that Paul hijacked it and then Constantine played politics with it at the council of Nicea. Its also sad that so many modern fundamentalists seem to get their kicks out of returning to the old more bloodthirsty model.

Answer 10

I believe it was Christians that conducted the Children's crusade against the Jews. And had the street of Jerusalem flow with blood.

Was it not also Christians that held the inquisition, and imprisoned Galileo for disagreeing with the Pope (even though Galileo was correct).

And it was Christians that burned so called witches in Salem.

Not got a great track record this 2nd covenant has it?

Answer 11

Yep I read the whole thing and God seems to have taken an anger management class between the two.

But Jesus says several times the old laws and prophets are still important. So it isn't fair to seperate them. If there REALLY was a change, he would have drawn a distinct line. But quite the opposite was true.