Is the Old Testament a guide to brutal dictatorship?

Answer 1

that would be kind of a difficult argument to back up, considering the long speech G-d gives in the book of samuel, warning them that if they choose to appoint a king over them, it will result in misery and brutal dictatorship and oppression, because that is what kings do to their people. unfortunately the people ignored G-d's warning and chose to appoint a king, and all the injustices G-d said a king would inflict on them happened exactly as they were told it would.

Answer 2

Yes, which is why the "Old Testament" with all of its rearranging of books, deliberate mistranslations and representations belongs entirely to the Christians.

The Jews have the Tanakh, it the original Hebrew and Aramaic, without mistranslations. And notice, the Jews have not had Crusades or Holy Wars or Jihads in thousands of years. The Jews, who follow the Tanakh, have the only democracy in the middle east and leave the brutal dictatorships to those who follow other books.

Answer 3

Have you read the Old Testament?!
I only ask because the OT consistantly portrays constant resistance to authoritarian regimes, and condemns nearly every king mentioned by name.

As for the poster above, Christians are embracing the Old Testament, not distancing themselves from it. The OT was not included in any of the oldest Christian canons. It was not read publicly in the Churches (and is still mostly absent from Orthodox lectionaries). It was not accepted as Scripture in any capacity until the 4th century, and was not accepted Ecumenically until the 7th century.

Answer 4

Yes, sort of. That's why certain extremists (Bro. Randy Ross and certain other extreme IFBs, for example) cling to it while ignoring anything about love and peace.

Fortunately, this doesn't seem to be the case for the majority of Christians that I've met.

Answer 5

That's why Christians are distancing themselves from it.