Dear Ray Gun:
Patriotism is a Very Good Thing. Even so -- as you know -- "An Excessive Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel."
Likewise, the Bible is a Good Book. Even so: "The Devil can quote Scripture." And, as you have so aptly pointed out, there is a lot in the Bible for the Devil to quote.
The Koran is a Good Book. Millions of good people around the world believe in the Koran, follow its teachings, and lead good peaceful lives. Even so, today, we find many Devils throughout the world quoting the Koran, and misleading the naive and the gullible, to achieve their own evil goals.
So, Ray Gun, even though they can all be turned on their heads and used for wicked purposes, still: Patriotism, the Bible, and the Koran are all basically good things. Why? Because they have influenced many more people to lead good lives than bad lives.
Nothing in human life is black or white, Ray Gun. Everything is Gray -- even the Word of God.
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Yes, keep the Sabbath day, for it is holy. Anyone who desecrates it must die; anyone who works on that day will be cut off from the community. Work six days only, but the seventh day must be a day of total rest. I repeat: Because the LORD considers it a holy day, anyone who works on the Sabbath must be put to death.' (Exodus 31:12-15 NLT)
God just kidding around again. He doesn't mean death, as in the end of life, he really means, you will be obliged to take a nap, err "put to nap". "Put to nap", that does sound much nicer than "put to death".
"If a man lies with a male as with a women, both of them shall be put to death for their abominable deed; they have forfeited their lives." (Leviticus 20:13 NAB)
God calling for more nap time.
God sure leaves a lot of ammo lying around for the devil. Why? Because He's a fair guy, and wants a fair fight? Or is He cruel and ingrains confusion in his stupid creatures to fuel the fires of hell with new bodies so the fires will not go out?
Actually, keeping the Sabbath holy was a very good thing.
Before God declared the Sabbath to be a day of rest, there was a seven day work week.
Observing the Sabbath created one day of rest, and reduced the work week to only six days.
When the Bible created the Sabbath -- the day of rest -- it was the first fair labor relations law in history.
As for the man lying with a male provision, I guess there were a few homophobes writing the Bible, too.
Apparently, homosexuality goes back as far in world history as heterosexuality does.
What's particularly interesting, Ray Gun, is that the Bible covers several thousand years of history, and -- despite all the Biblical language you can cite about killing and death penalties -- I don't know of a single story in the Bible about anyone being put to death for: (1) failing to observe the Sabbath; or (2) striking or cursing one's parents; or (3) engaging in homosexuality.
Do you know of any such incident in the Bible?
That sounds like a better track record than we have in some countries today.
It also shows that most people did not take the Bible literally, even back then.
"It also shows that most people did not take the Bible literally, even back then."
--
Kill Witches
You should not let a sorceress live. (Exodus 22:17 NAB)
Kill Fortunetellers
A man or a woman who acts as a medium or fortuneteller shall be put to death by stoning; they have no one but themselves to blame for their death. (Leviticus 20:27 NAB)
We know witches etc were killed in His name.
King Henry VIIIs wife Anne Bolynn was killed for homosexuality and incest (probably lies).
There has to be thousands, tens of thousands of homosexuals killed in Gods name worldwide.
Probably many children have been beaten to death by parents, trying to conform them to Gods supposed will.
CJP, I am just reporting the words. And the words mean what they say. Pretty hard to make them mean anything other than what they say. Whether the so called believers actually listen to the words is another matter. But why listen to any of it, when even parts of it are so obviously false? Many, many, claims of Jesus's are flat false. The signs of his believers are not anywhere to be found.
Don't you think many of the crazys, like so many brim and firestorm ministers, would love to follow the bible exactly? Give them the chance and we'll all be following it. If times get really bad, depression bad, people will be looking for someone to blame. And Gods followers are like cons, it's always anybody's fault but their own.
Good article CJP. On this one, you are on target.
RG, what you are quoting is the Old Testament. Those teachings are as old and primative as the people of the times. The New Testament was God's new word, and as Jesus taught, stonings were not encouraged. "Put to death" and "must die" can mean many things. These are the translations, and there have been many. This could also mean, no life after death. Anyone who takes the word literally is not a scholar of the Bible. And as CJP has pointed out, The Devil can quote scriptures, yata, yata, yata. (no offense intended here)
The bigger point is that if you are to live the principles and teachings of Jesus, or Buddha, you would be a better person, and lead a better life.
“Thou Shall Not Ignore the Old Testament!”
The Old Testament is not to be ignored. Its laws should indeed be adhered to, for the New Testament demands it!
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest part or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place." (Matthew 5:17 NAB)
Jesus criticizes the Jews for not killing their disobedient children according to Old Testament law.
Mark.7:9-13 "Whoever curses father or mother shall die" (Mark 7:10 NAB)
Nice Guy.
RG: "Shall die" probably means that God shall kill him -- in God's own time -- not that the community shall kill him.
Plus, such killings for cursing one's parents were never done -- either by the Jews or Christians in Biblical times. Unless you know of an instance that I'm unaware of.
However, you are quite right about this one, RG:
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill." That is exactly what Jesus said.
Jesus did not think the Jews or the Old Testament were outmoded, primitive or superseded. Jesus was Jewish, and all his teachings were based on the Old Testament. Jesus was restating and reinforcing the Old Testament, not changing or superseding it.
"Plus, such killings for cursing one's parents were never done"
Just because no one pays attention, does not invalidate what was said.
NAB Mark 7:10 "For Moses said, 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER'; and, 'HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER, IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH';
The essence of the above is stated at least 2 dozen times, by various major characters.
Deuteronomy 22: 13-21 'A marriage shall be considered valid only if the wife is a virgin. If the wife is not a virgin, she shall be executed.'
Hugh? How many ways can this be interpreted?
What good are the words, if the words do not mean anything? What good are the words, if you can make them mean whatever you want?
It's called good writing, for words to have multiple meanings. It's not called "the truth" just because the writing can mean whatever anyone wants it to mean. The bible is fairly well written, one might say, as you can make it mean whatever you want, no matter what the words say. But that fact does not make it "the truth"?
The bible is just a bunch of words, honed down through the ages by scribes, then polished some more by multiple translations to be virtually incomprehensible, and therefore indefatigable, at least to some.
Deuteronomy 21
21:20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.
21:21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
Case sweetums, I have a hard time with any God, whether he condones killing today or not, that once condoned cruelty to woman, children, slaves, that yours once did. Plus he still condones cruelty at an unprecedented level, as he will condemn most to a pit of fire for all eternity. (You can argue the "most" part, but according to many, only a few will be chosen for heaven.)
Isn't that worse than Hitler?
Case, you can try this old stand by con trick. Put an index finger in each ear and twist said fingers, while all the time humming your favorite tune. That way few disagreeable words or sounds will penetrate thy skull. :-)
That's why ministers get paid decent bucks. It's hard to make up excuses for all this stuff.
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