Disco Volante

This is not an attempt at trolling - rather a curiosity on how Christians defend the following contradictory parts of their scripture, which were compiled in a essay I read online.

Man is greater than woman - so much to the point she can't even speak amongst the other men? Slavery accepted? Innocent children not allowed into heaven? Quite frankly I find the text above me absolutely repulsing.

Yet Christians say - we were all created equal?

How does a Christian defend this? Again, not trolling – yet wanting to understand these views.

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fierce

Well let's see... Genesis, Leviticus, Exodus and Deuteronomy are all old Testament Hebrew books shared by Jews, Christians and Muslims. Basically 90% of the earths Religions. 1 Corinthians was written by a Jewish scholar who was using the "Scripture" (Old Testament) as his reference. Why all the hate at Christians bub?

Den-in-NH

Hey Disco,

I'm going to attempt to put these passages in some context - as their meaning can only be understood by understanding the world at the time of their authorship.

Not a lot of time at the moment (will be heading to Vince's Draft Day Party soon) - so let me tackle them one at a time for awhile.

Will start with Dueteronomy. This is a book comprised largely of certain restriction and prohibitions set forth by God and given to the Jews who had escaped slavery in Egypt. It was relayed through Moses.

Remember that these people were the same ones who had fallen in to all sorts of sins - idolatry, adultry, violence upon one another.

The prohibitions set forth in the verse you quote are meant to prevent the early Jews from slipping back into these sins. This specific verse is in regards to adultery. "bastards" are prevented from entering an assembly (keep in mind this is not Heaven refered to, but rather an earthly gathering of Yahweh's belivers). This was done to keep the people chaste and faithful. No one wanted to bear a child that would be seen as an "outcast" by their society - the idea of "shame" or be ostracized was of high importance to these people.

Similarly, the reference to crushed testicles and cut off penises was meant as a deterrent to would be adulterers because it was common for scorned wives to try to attack the genitals of their cheating husbands!

Most importantly, however, recognize that this was a covenant between God and his original Chosen People. The enterance of Christ into the world created God's New Covenant and changed many of the rules for followers. Thing like those listed in Dueteronomy and the requiremnt of circumcision are not neccessary to participate in the New Covenant. The only requirement is to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior.

I hope that helps - we'll talk more soon.

-Den

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Veritas.

jcdavey

nothing to defend

people looking for a fight will just keep looking

Den-in-NH

Let's give someone the benefit of the doubt and assume that Disco is genuinely concerned about the meaning of these passages. They do appear at first (without a contextual understanding) to be quite severe.

A defense is not the right term. An explanation is certainly required.

-Den

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Veritas.

Disco Volante

Thank you for taking your time to explain Den, much appreciated.

Also my mistake for specifically titling the thread “Christians”. Only done because I was reading up on Christianity and wanted their specific followers views.

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Lifer

Thank you for bringing these questions up.

I find the best way to read up on Christianity is to go right to the source, the Bible itself. I find by reading the words that Jesus said himself in the 4 Gospels, Matthew,Mark, Luke, and John, I get the best explanation of what it is that Christians should strive to be, how to live, and how to think.

http://bibleresources.bible.com/bible_niv.php

Harry Boy

That was then this is now, The Muslims and the Kennedy's treat their women worse than that, they still buy and sell women and children in Africa & Asia, Muslims still Behead people and Stone Women to death. Muslims still Fly Planes into tall buildings, Gang Bangers in Los Angles shoot little old ladys and kids, Uncle Teddy Kennedy Waterboards Young Women With His Car, this ***** is all going today.

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Harry Boy (Genius)

In The Absence Of Law And Order Society Will Surely Destroy Itself

Harry Boy

I didn't mean to be rude, but the bible is a very confusing book and it is so screwed up that it makes one believe that there just might be something to this "God Stuff"

When you sit by yourself in a field on a bright starlit night and look up you have to realize that all that
***** up there just didn't happen with a big bang and if it did, where did the "big bang" come from--

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Harry Boy (Genius)

In The Absence Of Law And Order Society Will Surely Destroy Itself

Den-in-NH

Good point, but please - no more caps!


If you are looking for answers do not gett bogged down by the seemingly archaic statues of the Old Testament.

Read the Gospel of John - you will find the answers you seek.

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Veritas.