(Although of course if one reads Judges and Kings, one can get a rather different picture of God...)
To me, that's the thing (well, one of them) -- if the Bible (or any other religious text) has so many conflicting versions of God, then maybe that should be an indicator that not everything within the book is 100% absolutely guaranteed to be spot-on? It drives me crazy when people say that the Bible is the absolute truth, and, when you point out a spot where it contradicts itself, they either go into some nonsensical attempt to explain it away, or they say 'oh, we don't follow that bit of the Bible'. People picking and choosing bits and pieces in order to fit with their pre-existing beliefs and biases just isn't Christianity, to me -- it's using religion as a justification for what you already think.
I mean, sure, I don't think anyone could be seriously expected to live their life according to every single thing ever said in the Bible, because they'd explode in confusion and contradictions. I think it's better as a general guide, particularly in regards to the Ten Commandments and all that. But there are people who claim that the Bible -- in its entirety -- is truth, and then use it to justify homophobia (or slavery, or whatever), and then ignore you when you try to point out that there are a million times more references to the importance of loving thy neighbour. (And that the Bible also advocates incredibly harsh punishments for things that we wouldn't even consider crimes today.)
It's just... ugh. People who ignore the overarching message of love and respect, and instead choose to follow only the parts of the Bible that prop up their prejudices.... *shakes head*
they think about conversion over a number of years
I can understand that. I don't think it's something *I* could personally set out to do, but I can understand it.
no subject
No problem. ;)
(Although of course if one reads Judges and Kings, one can get a rather different picture of God...)
To me, that's the thing (well, one of them) -- if the Bible (or any other religious text) has so many conflicting versions of God, then maybe that should be an indicator that not everything within the book is 100% absolutely guaranteed to be spot-on? It drives me crazy when people say that the Bible is the absolute truth, and, when you point out a spot where it contradicts itself, they either go into some nonsensical attempt to explain it away, or they say 'oh, we don't follow that bit of the Bible'. People picking and choosing bits and pieces in order to fit with their pre-existing beliefs and biases just isn't Christianity, to me -- it's using religion as a justification for what you already think.
I mean, sure, I don't think anyone could be seriously expected to live their life according to every single thing ever said in the Bible, because they'd explode in confusion and contradictions. I think it's better as a general guide, particularly in regards to the Ten Commandments and all that. But there are people who claim that the Bible -- in its entirety -- is truth, and then use it to justify homophobia (or slavery, or whatever), and then ignore you when you try to point out that there are a million times more references to the importance of loving thy neighbour. (And that the Bible also advocates incredibly harsh punishments for things that we wouldn't even consider crimes today.)
It's just... ugh. People who ignore the overarching message of love and respect, and instead choose to follow only the parts of the Bible that prop up their prejudices.... *shakes head*
they think about conversion over a number of years
I can understand that. I don't think it's something *I* could personally set out to do, but I can understand it.