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Oh ok, yes I am "big kid" I think Montana is sweet for looking out for me. We are good friends, yes a Christian and an Atheist can be friends
I understand how someone who does not know the Bible very well would think this, that's why we have realize that God did not condone everything in the Bible, just like He does not condone everything that happens to today. Also the time it was written has to be considered and to whom it was written. I believe the truth of the OT transcends through time.
No, my dear, that answer does not suffice. First, please do not assume that I don't know the bible very well. I have read the book from front to back many times. I am quite familiar with it - as I believe someone once said, reading the bible from beginning to end is the surest way to convert to atheism.
Also, again, I am not talking about the many bad things the Israelites and others did in and of themselves. People can do horrible things. I am referring to the terrible things God ORDERED and INCITED them to do. Those are the problematic parts.
No, my dear, that answer does not suffice. First, please do not assume that I don't know the bible very well. I have read the book from front to back many times. I am quite familiar with it - as I believe someone once said, reading the bible from beginning to end is the surest way to convert to atheism.
Also, again, I am not talking about the many bad things the Israelites and others did in and of themselves. People can do horrible things. I am referring to the terrible things God ORDERED and INCITED them to do. Those are the problematic parts.
I know most atheist know the Bible and many have read all of it and can quote it better than some Christians, but God has given all believers the Holy Spirit who lives within us to help us (believers) understand the truth.
There were times God ordered destruction of an entire population to protect His people from idol worship, but they did not completely destroy these evil people as commanded and Israel was inconstantly oppressed by them and experienced greater bloodshed and destruction then if they had followed God's instructions. Sometimes God will ask us to do things we think are strange or we don't understand so we don't do it, but I believe God knows best and listening to Him is always best, at least it works that way in my life.
Well ILNC, the god of the bible seems quite inept to me then. He has to kill off other people to protect his own people from idolatry which clearly did not work out to well?
I want to think there was a huge world out there at the time, with lots of vast expanses of free land. I could never figure out why the biblical god decided on a slice of land that was ALREADY inhabited and then send in his henchmen to kill people who did not instigate anything with them. How about magically transporting them out of Egypt to saaaaay, northwestern Canada or something. I'm sure the locals could have shared some of that land especially if god asked nicely.
No, my dear, that answer does not suffice. First, please do not assume that I don't know the bible very well. I have read the book from front to back many times. I am quite familiar with it - as I believe someone once said, reading the bible from beginning to end is the surest way to convert to atheism.
Also, again, I am not talking about the many bad things the Israelites and others did in and of themselves. People can do horrible things. I am referring to the terrible things God ORDERED and INCITED them to do. Those are the problematic parts.
Please give specific examples if you want specific answers.
The Abraham and Isaac example was a test of faith, Abraham trusted that God would provide the lamb and He did. It's also symbolic of what God would do with Christ later on.
God ordered the Israelites(Jews) to kill the wicked inhabitants in order to give the Israelites(Jews) the land that He promised them. Sometimes wars are needed and killing is how they are won. That's just part of war. God also sent nations to attack Israel when they were not following his laws in order to get them to repent. I'm not sure I understand how this is confusing or problematic.
The story of Job is another great test of faith. Why would God put poor Job through all that He did? In the end Job was restored to even greater things than he had before his testing. It's an example of life not being fair, good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people. If we trust in God than eventually all things will work out...
Last edited by Lakeland Yankee; 12-03-2008 at 02:27 PM..
God ordered the Jews to kill the wicked inhabitants in order to give the Jews the land that He promised them...I'm not sure I understand how this is confusing or problematic.
Do we have the version of this same story from the 'wicked inhabitants?" You know...that whole three sides to every story and all.
Originally Posted by Lakeland Yankee God ordered the Jews to kill the wicked inhabitants in order to give the Jews the land that He promised them...I'm not sure I understand how this is confusing or problematic.
"Thou Shall Not Kill" .....Until god orders you to kill....Kind of flip floppy, ya know, like a politician...
Originally Posted by Lakeland Yankee God ordered the Jews to kill the wicked inhabitants in order to give the Jews the land that He promised them...I'm not sure I understand how this is confusing or problematic.
"Thou Shall Not Kill" .....Until god orders you to kill....Kind of flip floppy, ya know, like a politician...
The word Kill in this Bible context means ratsach: to murder
A soldier in a war in NOT a murderer!!!!!
Kill has different meanings in the Bible, look them up sometime, the OT was originally written in Hebrew not English
Last edited by Lakeland Yankee; 12-03-2008 at 02:57 PM..
Originally Posted by Lakeland Yankee A soldier in a war in NOT a murderer!!!!!
Yeah that is true in most cases, but often the Isrealites were ordered to kill just because god was pissed off. Not in any type of self defense or pre emptive strike. What if some nut today said "God told me to kill all the wicked people in L.A.!" God or Mental Illness?
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