For Christians: how do you answer these questions?

Question

The original Hebrew scriptures are written in a dead language. Even today, we keep getting more tidbits of info about the language, and keep updating the Bible with yet another translation. The "virgin" passage in Isaiah actually meant "young woman." Why would God write His word in a language and then let it die out, so we need experts to tell us what it means?

The churches can't even agree on which books are to be put in the Old Testament. The protestants took some out, claiming that they were "not part of the original Hebrew", but the Catholics still have them in their own section (apocrypha). Wouldn't God want to make His word less ambiguous?

The decision that Christ was literally God, and not just His son, was only accepted years after Christianity had been around, and was done in part out of fear that the religion would become a sort of semi-polytheism, like Hinduism. Wouldn't God want to make His existence more clear cut?

The God of the Old Testament is responsible

for some very barbaric acts, like murdering innocent firstborns for the sins of the Pharoh, instructing the Hebrews to stone disobedient teenagers or execute aduterers and the like. This makes sense if we assume that the God of the times is a product of the (barbaric) times. But how can an ETERNAL God change color with the times?

In the New Testament, while not as sadistic as the God of the Old Testament, Christ still preaches some pretty far out stuff. He says that to lust after a woman is equivalent to adultery. Do you really believe that one's own private thoughts are things that you should be held accountable for?

Answer 1

the orignal scriptures were written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Caldiac, so you have to take the words back to the orignal language, and find out what they mean... stop looking at the "updated" versions. I'd suggest you get a concordance, and a bible dictionary to better understand the bible.

As for why God said to kill everyone (women, children, etc.) was because the people were Hethen, if you have one bad apple in the barrel it'll spoil the whole bunch. that's why God told them to kill everyone. And for the lust part, it's like hunger, something that the body asks for but you can control it. you don't need it, but the body craves it. a spirtual body wouldn't crave hunger nor lust.

Answer 2

There are times when I think that some theists have their own sub-language, and have become unfamiliar with standard English. Something has to account for the fact that they so often respond in a way that doesn't address the question.

It seems so clear to me, as an atheist, that if there were a god, and it wanted people to understand it via a writing, it would make that writing so clear that there would be no misunderstanding, no room for interpretation, no disagreement about what it means.

Years ago, people used to say that there were no errors in the christian bible, even with all of the translations, because "god" guided the hands of those who worked on it. I haven't heard that in years because it's getting harder and harder for christians to deny the errors and contradictions. Nowadays, it seems that they accept some loss in translation, just not in the "important" parts. I really wish they'd research the history of their "holy" book, as well as their religion. It would be an eye opening experience.
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Answer 3

check out the english language.

Note how much this has changed just in the last 40 years. Many words have taken second definitions and slang. Only by the person's background and way of talking can anyone tell what someone might be saying.

Bobby in America is a person's name or a type of a pin. In England, its the police.
Crib meant a baby's sleeping place. Now it means a pad or place to dwell.
Google was only defined as 1 followed by 100 zeroes. That is secondary to the web meaning.
A dead language can't be added. God provided the best way to translate the Word, to prevent man from adding words and/or meanings to sustain the Word to its ultimate.

Answer 4

They will either have to use the faith excuse; the "you don't know what you are talking about" excuse; or the failsafe do not judge God excuse...all of these are good answers if one wants to dismiss the question because it is uncomfortable to answer.

Edit: It would actually be REALLY nice if someone can answer this question instead of dismissing it.

Answer 5

Hinduism isnt polytheism or even semi polytheism. Hindu's believe in ONE GOD as written in the scriptures. The many forms you see are first the believed incarnations of the ONE GOD, and symbolic to represent many aspects of the ONE GOD.

Answer 6

God's ways are different from man's. "'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' says the LORD. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts'" (Isaiah 55:8, 9)......

Answer 7

there are three main religions christianity judaism islam

christianity isnt even mentiond in the bible but what does christianity teach?- submission to god

judasim is a name of a tribe what does judasim teach? submission to god

Islam- what does it teach- submission to god
WHAT DOES ISLAM MEAN- SUBMISSION TO GOD

Answer 8

i agree with "your mom"

Answer 9

If you ever ask Jesus into your heart you will find out it's not about head knowledge but Jesus who loves you. Oh my look at all those thumbs down. So many people scared to ask the Jesus who loves you into their hearts. so sad to me.