@Agnostic

The bible is replete with verses which should make the non violent among us shake their heads in disappointment.

Depends on what our expectations are.

The Bible is an ancient historical document. Within it are records of wars, rapes, famines, kidnappings— a tapestry thousands of years old that spans several cultures and religions— several flavours of Judaism, Kabbalistic symbolism, and Christianity.

Expecting it all to neatly fit our current snapshot is folly.

Practicing fundamentaliteralist Christians may feel the need to pretend that every verse is perfect to every situation, but agnostics, atheists, and those of other religions should feel no pressure to set such unreasonable, fairy-tale expectations.

In the same way that prep schoolchildren might be disappointed to hear that their favourite teacher failed non-core subjects at university, but adults should shrug off such news with nary a flinch.

Adolescent rebellion isn’t true maturity, and anti-religious screeds are no more insightful than religious pabulum.

“The Bible is an ancient historical document.”

And it should remain there. To base ones life and belief on books written by a group of men many thousand years ago is ludicrous. However many believers do follow the holy books word for word. Many commit atrocities in the name of God because of what they have read in the books. Many use these books for instructions on how they should live even if it means ostracizing family members who would not follow them.

Found! King Solomon’s Wall, Remarkable archeological discoveries in Jerusalem are challenging critics of the Bible’s account of 10th-century Israel.

Have a read:

http://bajan.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/kingsolomon.pdf

@Hants…”Thou knoweth thyself very well and it shows in your ability to copy passages from a Bible to support an illogical theory.”

Such hypocrisy Hants, don’t you all Christians do this as well?

pardon the interruption.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2009/11/20/f-vertical-farming-agriculture.html

@GP

Actually was hoping you and the other learned in the doctrines of the bible could enlighten us.

islandgal246 asked “Hants why do you want to know my marital status?”

So that I can respond to you appropriately.

islandgal will do

Charles Knighton, and other BU scoffing ‘Bildge Pumpers’ pose as paragons of wisdom, and commiserates the deluded followers of Christ, and His Word, the Bible, in gross ignorance. These men/women of intellectual gifts are patently benighted, uninstructed, unlettered, re God’s Word, the Bible, and also so, in the study of ‘Comparative Religions’ so they stupidly talk unlearnedly, and patronisingly about such matters, things of which they are densely empty-headed, illiterate, know-nothing, uninformed, literally, in the DARK*!!!

@CK
“Are religious extremists abusing scripture or adhering to scripture?”

Firstly, the question begs itself!!!!

The broad, sweeping brush you use tars and feathers those whose religious modicum is “moderation in all things”…

The fringe, lunatic fanatics who are being used by Satanic influences and forces to undermine the work of CHRIST* does precious little to halt the work of righteousness in the lives of countless millions…

Were you to read the earlier BLOG* posted on the REFORMATION* and its ill-effects upon the NOW-KNOWN* religious world, it would be patently clear why those of your ilk believe that “RELIGION” (not sure whether you also mean the “true” followers of Jesus Christ) should be assigned to the “DUSTBIN” of hell…

There are many who shy away from religious confrontation because it proffer nothing – yet they are others who seem to think that to off-load a bunch of subjectively-based nefarious findings within RELIGIONS* (without a proper EXEGETICAL or EISEGETICAL understanding of religious HISTORY) allows them some spiritual fiduciary responsibility to decide what goes where!!!

Again the age-old argument is correct – for when feeble, mortal men allow other to read, write and spell for them without taking time to (STUDY) for themselves, the end-result is deeper (to use ZOE’s terminology) DARKNESS*, slight-of-hand and comatose individuals running on life-support…

the writingsw in the bible enunciate violence but enunciate love too. it is left to yout to choose ye this day the one which would bring value to your life.amen

Christianity was born in Palestine and BECAME* a “Movement”*; Moved to Greece to become a “Philosophy”; Overtaken by Rome to become an “Institution”; Dispersed into Europe to become “Culture”; Landed at Plymouth Rock in the United States to become a “Business”…

Sadly, a proper knowledge of God and the interpretation of His Word has been lost over the generation because the blind continue to walk in darkness…

@ CK in the blog states (in referencing) Deuteronomy 13:6-9 flatly states that if anyone — “your very own brother, or son or daughter, or the wife that you love”—introduces you to a false religion, ” you must certainly put him to death.” Numbers 31:17-18 finds Moses telling the Israelites to ” kill all the boys” of an enemy tribe, and “kill every woman who has slept with a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.” In Matthew 10:34 Jesus, the Prince of Peace, warns “do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

To clear up the MISCONTEXTUALIZATION* involved in Deut. 13:6 -9 which was referenced in the main body of the text without having read the entire chapter in context does dis-service to the quotation…

However, for a layman understanding of what MOSES* was instructing the children of Israel (some 3 million SLAVES* who were in bondage for 430 years) – time and open-mindedness permitted READ:

http://bible.org/seriespage/false-prophets-part-i

And also PART 2…

In Numbers 31:17-18 deals with why were only the virgins left alive among the Midianites? If we are careful to study how God dealt with ancient Israel – we will see that in order to break them free from the tentacles of mental/spiritual SLAVERY after 430 years was no mean feat (hence all of them died in the wilderness except Joshua & Caleb and an entirely new generation who entered the Promised Land).

God wanted to have a pure people inhabit the land and they were to stay separate from the contamination of false gods, idolatry and all other mesmerisms caused by the heathen nations in the surrounding countries…

The Midianites were descended from Abraham and Keturah (Gen. 25:1). They inhabited the land of Moab and were apparently involved in seducing Israel into going after false gods. Because the Israelites fell into idolatry this way, God told Moses to order the deaths of all who had bowed to the false gods in that land.

“While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab. For they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor, and the Lord was angry against Israel. And the Lord said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before the Lord, so that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.” So Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you slay his men who have joined themselves to Baal of Peor,” (Num. 25:1-5).

God later instructs the Israelites to deal harshly with the Midianites: “Be hostile to the Midianites and strike them; for they have been hostile to you with their tricks, with which they have deceived you in the affair of Peor, and in the affair of Cozbi, the daughter of the leader of Midian, their sister who was slain on the day of the plague because of Peor,” (Num. 25:17-18). [This was a SMALL POX plague that killed many and the avoidance of the plague completely destroying Israel was paramount – so obedience was incumbent on the people]…

Later, when Moses meets the returning Israeli army he was angry because he saw the Medianite survivors. “The Midianite women, he said, should have died because they were directly culpable in Israel’s sin at Baal of Peor. All the women except the virgins were then sentenced to death along with all the boys. This insured the extermination of the Midianites and thus prevented them from ever again seducing Israel to sin….The virgins were spared because they obviously had had no role in the Baal of Peor incident nor could they by themselves perpetuate the Midianite peoples.”

Some may object that the Israelites then married the virgins, the daughters of those whom they had killed and that this would be a horrible thing for the virgins.

Perhaps it was a horrible thing for them. But, their lives were spared.

Also, in that culture at that time, warfare and plunder was a necessary evil.

The reality of taking women as wives was unfortunate but true.

Why was God so harsh with those in idolatry?

We must understand that God dealt very harshly because it was through the people of Israel that the Messiah would later come.

Satan, in his perpetual effort to oppose God, sought to have the people of God fall into false worship and through intermarriage with other people, to destroy the Messianic line and make not only the promises of God null and void, but destroy means by which the Messiah could be born.

If this could be accomplished, then none would have any hope of deliverance from sin. Therefore, we see in the Old Testament God being very harsh and strict according to the Law. (ref: Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry © Matthew J. Slick, 1995 – 2011)

In Matthew 10:34, Jesus knew that FALSEHOOD*, LIES & religious intrigue would infiltrate the principles of sound doctrine and men would rather believe a LIE* than the truth…

This would fulfill what He had said for LIGHT* & DARKNESS cannot co-exist!!!

He knew that there would be no PEACE* on the earth because DARKNESS* and EVIL** would fight to overcome GOODNESS & LIGHT*…

Hence the symbolism of the “SWORD” of truth would rule supreme in the heart’s and lives of His true followers to be used to sever the bile and gall of lies and damnable heresies taught by men as a truth…

The Word of God is still the “SWORD* of the SPIRIT”… It is a 2-edged Sword – it cuts but it also heal!!!

It takes NO knowledge or intellectual veracity to write the kind of ‘Bildge’ we see here on BU, coming from the HATERS* of TRUTH* God’s truth, which TB so correctly outlined, re the OT verses so maligned by CK!!!

Knighton, in his arrogance and ignorance, uses what is known as the statistical scatter plot, where an attempt to draw a line that runs through the middle of a cluster of points, is then taken by Knighton to scatter the plot of Biblical history, erases the data in the middle points to the edges, and then pontificates about how unreliable and indefinite the Bible is!

Further, it is blatantly obvious, that Knighton et al here on BU, have taken up the mistaken epistemological view, that if one can object* one may then easily dismiss. Not so at all, for this is self-referentially in-coherent selective hyperskepticism!

Before one can justifiably claim to know that ‘A’ or to know that not-‘A’, alike
Knighton et al, MUST be subjected to the same duty of warrant* in defending his CRAP theory, for not-‘A’ is just as much a commitment as ‘A’ i.e., those of us who demonstrate with sound historic and biblical exegesis and hermeneutics. And, for things that are really important, “I don’t know so I dismiss” as these ‘Bildge Pumpers’ vehemently do, is even less defensible, as IGNORANCE, ARROGANCE, and FOLLY, as seen here on BU, is becoming a past-time.

But, then again, what can one expect from such HATERS* of Truth!!!

A breech of common sense is a breech of the rules.

If your holy scripture seems to be telling you something dangerous or wicked such as for example “slaves obey your masters” then let common sense rule.

@Islandgal. I agree with you wholeheartedly. All the christian believers really miss the boat on what the author is alluding to. Zoe, the taliban christian fundamentalist , is devoided of any intellectual perspicacity to been taken seriously. TB, like any good lawyer, tries to “lawyered” away the interpretation of the scripture. The bible is the only book where christians use all manner of semantics and hermeneutics to jusitfy the unjustifiable.Go figure.

The above post by the author wanted those of you who claim to be knowledgeable on the bible to come forward and answer his question. It seem many of these so called theologians and self appointed ones have a problem comprehending the above post.

Look at it this way, if guns are given to anyone without checking their mental state, those who were unstable would create havoc and mayhem in the society. If the guns were given to those who were mentally stable would the results be the same? Isn’t it the same with these holy books? It is all about being responsible.

@Anon please go and have a mental check up. We all have to die, it is part of life.

TB, has already dealt with Charles Knighton’s UNCONTEXTURALIZATION
of the OT text, I’d like to deal in more detail with Knighton’s partial quotation of Jesus’ discourse in Matthew 10: 34-39, where he again, lifts the text out of its ‘context’ thereby rendering it a ‘pretext’ for his own devious means.

Knighton’s partial, ‘pretext’ quote:
“In Matthew 10:34 Jesus, the prince of peace wars, ‘do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

Let us now hear the full narrative account of what Jesus said and meant in proper ‘contextual’ analysis, not Knighton’s parital, out of context quote.

“Do not think that i came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s ENEMIES will be those of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. he who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”

Jesus did NOT come to destroy family relationships, not at all, BUT, clearly indicates that NO earthly tie, however intimate, should detract from agressive loyalty to Him. This loyalty may even result in certain family members being shunned by others.

The Old testament spoke of the Messiah’s peace-making. Isiah called Him the Prince of Peace ( Isa. 9:6) and spoke of His reign of Perfect Justice and Peace (2:4) Solomon wrote of the Messiah’s worldwide rule of PEACE* and ABUNDANCE* (Ps. 72)
Jesus’ disciples had already experienced inner peace and bliss, I can also TESTIFY to the reality of this PEACE and BLISS, that passes all understanding, than can only COME* from the PRINCE OF PEACE, Jesus Christ.

However, lest they misunderstand the true nature of His first coming and of their own ministry, Jesus began early to prepare them for His own REJECTION* and SUFFERING*, and also theirs. The Gospel IS* indded a Gospel of PEACE*, because it offers the ONLY* WAY* for having truly peaceful relationships between men and other men. BUT, becuae the world system is EVIL* and man’s fallen nature is sinful, God’s offer of peace continues to be REJECTED* and to be OFFENSIVE* to most of the world’s people. This, therefore, brings CONFLICT* into most intimate of human relations, so that a man’s ENEMIES* WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD.

“AGAINST” is used three times in verse 35, it is from the Greek word ‘dixazo’ which means to cut in two, to rend asunder, and is used only here in the New Testament. It denotes complete and often permanent separation. Somtimes the rift between believers and unbelieving relatives is lifelong and irreconcilable. Yet, a true disciple must be willing to pay that price.

I am a living WITNESS, martyr, to this reality, at the very deepest level of personal family relationships!

Je

maybe all religion(s) instructions is just one of the many personal ways to reach levels of higher spirituality, everyone has their own individual calling or purpose in life, some might reach enlightenment through meditation, others through providing help to poor or sick others through music or arts etc

The real question is folks: If your son or daughter was GUILTY* as hell of doing you something – would you “CURSE” your grandchild?

Would that make any kinda’ sense at all?

So why did NOAH* curse his grandson Canaan* when he ought to have cussed* HAM*?

Let’s hear your hermeneutical positions!!!

TB is trying to hijack this blog with hi maniacal rantings. He is spinning verses of the Bible like always to his own advantage. This is when holy books gets into the hands of maniacal Christians. Zoe is spewing vitriol on the author like a good Christian should because their holy books tells them to do that. This is exactly what CK is addressing. They will call themselves apostles but wouldn’t extremist be more appropriate?

Charles Knighton’s ‘miscontextualization’ of God’s Word, the Bible, have been soundly and properly dealt with, exposed for the folly and foolishness it IS*.

As a result of correctly ‘dividing’ rightly interpreting His* Word* foolish, unlearned, IGNORANT* scoffers, are up in arms AGAINST the TRUTH* BUT, this is entirely consistent with such ENDARKENED MINDS* who ‘true’ to form, castigate those of us, that stand UP* for HIM* The Lord Jesus Christ, as He told us they would do.

Hear Jesus on such matters:

“It is not enough for a disciple that he be like his TEACHER, and a servant like his master. If they ( Scoffers!) have called the MASTER ( Jesus Christ) of the house of Beelzebub, how much more will they (Scoffers!) call those of HIS household.” (Matt. 10:25 Emphasis added).

Keep it coming Scoffers, keep it coming, as our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ was CALLED worst, and those of us, His true followers, WILL be persecuted by the LIKES of YOU BU HATERS* of Almighty God, and His SON* THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, and His Word, the Bible!

This piece leaves feeling sorry for the writer and I wonder what on earth he was thinking!!

@Raymond….. why would you feel sorry for the writer? He wrote clearly and intelligently. The self appointed theologians Zoe and TB made no sense and never answered the author’s questions intelligently. They wrote long rants but did they really make any sense? That is the problem with these zealots, they make no sense with the garbage they write. Because someone quotes passages from the bible and punctuate them with a Jesus here and a God there gives the credibility and legitimacy. We have to beware of these extremists they are a danger to mankind.