This is a serious question about Christian ethics. If we accept that the Bible is the word of God and the basis for our understanding of morality, how do we deal with the bits that are inconsistent with our current moral consensus e.g. should women be allowed to speak in church? Is it really OK if I sell my daughter into slavery to pay off my debts? Should I really be stoned to death if I work on the sabbath?
2007-07-04 06:47:36 · 16 answers · asked by thepawnbrokerroared 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
If we take the Anglo/Roman Catholic view that biblical morality has to be interpreted by Church authorities, are we not simply picking and choosing the moral messages of the Bible that we like and quietly dispensing with the bits we don't like? If this is the case, is the Bible really the basis of our moral code?
2007-07-04 06:52:09 · update #1
For Miriam, Didn't Jesus specifically state that the Old Testament law was still valid?
2007-07-04 06:57:35 · update #2
For keith J, I think I am right in saying that the instruction that women should not speak in church comes from the book of Timothy and that this is one of the New Testament epistles, written after the death of Jesus.
2007-07-05 05:11:09 · update #3
I agree, if you believe the Bible is the word of God then you should not pick & choose between the verses that fit with your current moral code.
Who are you to pick & choose what is right & wrong from what was written by the all powerfull all knowing ?
Either the Bible is the word of God & you accept all of it or it is not & you can get on with your life using the morals and compassion that are just part of you.
So your answer depends on your perspective & whether or not you think the Bible is the word of God.
2007-07-04 07:00:37 · answer #1 · answered by SonoranDesertGirl 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The Bible may be the word of God but there are only two areas that need to be obeyed.
The Ten Commandments in the Old Testament and the two New Commandment that Jesus gave in the New Testament.
1: You shouldn't have any other god, other than God. So if someone worships a bottle or a joint, they're worshipping their own kind of god. 2:Don't have idols, rock stars, icons or statues that you bow down to and worship. This is a symbolic thing. 3:Don't use God's name in vain - so no swearing using his name and that includes the name of Jesus as they form the trinity of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. 4: Keep the Sabbath day holy. The Sabbath is a Saturday but in western culture it's taken as a Sunday. Basically it means that you don't go shopping or working on the Sabbath day. That's the day God set aside for rest. But not lazy rest. It's an opportunity to thank God for all that he has done. 5: Honour your Father and your Mother. They're just trying to keep their children out of trouble. 6: Do not murder. 7: Do not commit adultery - marriage is sacred in God's eyes. Adultery is an insult to Him. 8: Do Not Steal and don't defraud either or cheat. 9: Do not lie or tell lies about someone. 10: Don't be jealous of what other people have.
Ultimately you should do unto others as you would have them do unto you and you should love one another with all your heart.
It's more about following rules for a fulfilling life rather than determining which punishments should be meted out. The struggle is to not slip back into the ways that will cause you to look inward and admonish yourself, instead it is to live a life that is fulfilling and tolerant of all others, regardless of race, creed or colour.
As for women speaking in church... that's a myth perpetuated by the male-dominated church that women are not worthy and are second class citizens. Nowhere in the Bible after Jesus' time does it say that women are not allowed to speak in church. Mary Magdalene was villified as a fallen woman and kept that way ever since yet she was considered very important by Jesus that she was often seen with him. She spoke about Christianity and the Love of God.
2007-07-04 14:00:13 · answer #2 · answered by Rob K 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I think we have to look at the social question. A woman who does not cover her head dishonour it etc.
Last question first, we have moved on from that it is wrong to sell or buy anyone as a slave. It was socially acceptable in biblical times but Paul said that before God we are all the same but tells us to be loyal to our masters (employers) and serve them well. The women who spoke loudly and exhibited themselves were ladies of "ill repute" Socially we have gone away from that and a respectable woman may speak in public and thee fore Church. I must confess I have some concerns about women priests in the C of E but those I have met perform their duties well and with sympathy and understanding to both women and men, often with a fair understanding of the pressures a man is under some self inflicted and some not as is the same with women .
2007-07-04 15:16:13 · answer #3 · answered by Scouse 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't think you should sell, your poor wee daughter into slavery, to pay off your debts,she might not like being a slave.
I don't think you should be talking in Church, not when the minister is speaking, that would be rude.
But if you are really up to your eyeballs in debt, why not try the Social Security, same as everyone else.
2007-07-04 14:17:21 · answer #4 · answered by ? 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No. Don't you read your Bible? It says explicitly in Corinthians that women should be silent. It also makes no bones about homosexuality being damnable in Romans or Deuteronomy. As for working on Saturdays, the only stoned you should get isn't the kind you want to "take to the face", if you get my drift.
All the more reason I'm non-religious.
2007-07-04 13:56:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
yes because someone said it in a book, translated from another book, that was most likely translated from another book etc etc until we found out that it was written by corrupt figures to distil fear into everyone by installing an omi presence that is always around us, appears to do sod all and that will judge us when we die based on all the s*** he saw us do in life. With this all powerful badass on our backs, well we better be good cause Santa's naughty and nice list hits a new level.
2007-07-04 13:54:22 · answer #6 · answered by chloe_saiana 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
first the selling your daughter thing was old testament way before Jesus and not relevant to Christians and second Paul's letter was written to a church which had trouble with women interrupting the service and was referring to that rather than women preaching. you need to read the whole bible and get it all in context not pick out odd verses.
2007-07-04 13:53:18 · answer #7 · answered by Mim 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
What's amazing is that people still read that thing and profess to believe it's the word of a god. Is this really 2007??
2007-07-04 13:53:15 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
Why don't you wake up in the 21st Century and realise that Christianity has evolved, yes evolved, over the past two millenia.
2007-07-04 17:18:19 · answer #9 · answered by Tony A 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I thought Democracy was the new religion.
2007-07-04 13:53:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋