This incredibly old book is the foundation stone of Christianity, and has some excellent stories and statements. But it IS an increadibly old book and was written for a culture which, in comparison to the current western one, was completely inferior and different. Shouldn't Christianity discard or at least modify this ancient work? I mean, the church should be able to change and modernise but I feel this book is standing in there way, its so conservative and in many cases could be classed as right-wing, and Jesus (In my mind the very first socialist) had a hard time challenging it because it still seemed to fit the society of the day, and i believe it was his downfall, the rabbii's disliked him so much because he was against so much (not all) of what was in their book. I cant really write what it is i'm trying to say, and i dont have a good enough knowledge of the Bible to argue the case properly, but maybe someone else understands what i'm trying to say and do all that hard work for me. If you disagree with me then tell me why an i might become enlightened!
It almost sounds to me as if you're implying that the Old Testament should be destroyed - and I cannot think of a more horrifying suggestion. I don't believe any book should be discarded or modified from the original (at least, any more than can be helped for translation purposes only). As much as I dislike the Malleus Maleficarum, for example, I would never suggest we destroy it, or change what was originally written, lest we forget the horrors caused by this book. These books are a part of our history and explain why we did much of what we did as a culture back before we knew better. They also serve as a reminder to us as to why we don't want to go there ever again. There are still some people that take the teachings of the Old Testament very much to heart, but that won't change by destroying this book. In fact, such drastic action would serve only to strengthen the beliefs of those who are already inclined to believe that way. ------------------ An ye harm none, do what ye will.
I believe the implication is that the behavioral guidelines set down by the Old Testament applied just fine to a farming and nomadic society with maybe a few cities dotted here and there across the landscape (although by today's standards, those 'cities' are little more than villages), and in a time when women were little better than slaves and the people had no choice but to obey the whims of the praetors, pharaohs, and governors. Today's society is a lot different. We live in what Desmond Morris called "supertribes", which is to say metropolises. We have far more interaction with one another than they did in days of old. It was easy to turn the other cheek when you might not see the other guy for weeks on end. The state we live in is not a natural one. Our nerves are frayed, our obligations overwhelming, and we live elbow to elbow with people we don't always like. We have pressures on us that the ancient world couldn't even begin to imagine. They would think us gods ourselves if they could see the way we negotiate and manipulate in what must seem to them an arena of pure chaos but to us is just another business day. Next to what we deal with in large corporation politics, a day with the conspiracies of the court of Rome would seem like child's play. It would be interesting to pick biblical law apart and see what is still practical, what is applicable, and what is simply not a good idea, like the part where rape victims must marry their attackers. I think we might keep more than one would think, but we'd throw out more than one would think as well.
Wasn't Testement an eighties metal band? Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! I think that all of you guys are right. The OT is difficult to understand because of the difference in the culture of the time. The differences are very much in the detail and the circumstance, though. I agree that the book should never be re-written, or made obsolete, that's a terrible idea. But what you should do, is to read books, or listen to sermons and teachings from different authors and evangelists, who interpret this scripture, and present modern day applications and analogies of it. There are two sets of differences to keep in mind primarily when you look at the OT. One, is the spiritual difference that Jesus made when He came. When you look at the severity of atonement for sin in the OT, and the perceived strictness of the law, it makes God's grace, Jesus' purpose for our salvation, and the destructive powers of sin very clear. Then you have cultural differences. I don't agree that just because society was different back then that the lessons in the OT are obsolete or inapplicable. You just have to bone up a little on ancient culture. The more you do, the more you can understand the perspectives and intentions of those people depicted in the Bible. The lessons become clearer when you can understand the context. But the lessons themselves are timeless. They are not obsolete because society has "advanced", and I use that term very loosely. The lessons are all about intent and faith and blessing and sin, and things that have to do with the heart and soul of man, which does not change over time. I saw on TV the other day, a man who reconciled the six days of creation depicted in Genesis, with 15 billion years of fossil record. The OT talks about nephilim...the giants. Demi-gods...you know, like aliens. All of the goings on before Noah's flood seem pretty relevant to me right now. It says in the NT that things will be similar before the tribulation in Revelations. ------------------ You may think I'm a nut, but I'm fastened to the strongest bolt in the universe. [This message has been edited by Lori (edited July 17, 2000).]
Communist Like you, I am certainly no expert on the Bible. I’ve read about 95 % of the Bible and have done some research on my own by reading whatever I could find or happened on, both pro and con. According to some of my reading, and I’m sorry but I don’t know where I read it or who wrote them now, but they claimed that some of the Bible has been modified, but unfortunately for political reasons, be it for the Church or the Ruler of the time. For example, I’ve came across it several times that reincarnation was once part of the Bible, but for whatever reasons was pulled out. The really sad part is that people don’t use the same criteria evaluating the Bible that they do when reading other books such as ‘Chariots of the God’ (not recommended reading, just an example). There are good parts in the Bible, but there is much that should be put aside as a political, or whatever kind of ploy to control the people and keep the Jewish Nation together. These people were no closer to God than you or I. For example I find it rather insane to believe God told Moses to kill 25,000 men, women, and children for worshipping a false idol. If we did, or could do this today, there would be dam few nations and people around. Searcher, Oxygen and Lori have raised some good points. I would hate to see the Bible rewritten, but I would like to see people use some common since when applying it’s sayings and beliefs to our modern society. We’re in some really dangerous and troubling times and need a lot more of accepting each other and forgetting about to whom or how a person prays, or if they are married, living together, straight, gay. We need to worry about how we can support each other in positive and productive ways to try and keep humanity going on for a few more years. If we don’t, and I think that will be the case, we will not make it. Sad............................... isn’t it ? [This message has been edited by Zappers (edited July 17, 2000).]
I understand that much of the OT is written from a different perspective and that to fully understand it you need to first understand this perspective, but there are many who cant 'put themselves in their shoes' because they dont understand that the OT was written for a completely different culture from their own. I think that this is one of the reasons for the decline in the church in recent years, many find the Bible offensive to themselves and use its few faults as arguments against the church, I dont really want to see the OT re-written or discarded myself, but I feel that the church is dying (Thats what the last secret of Fatima is REALLY about) and can only be saved by a major second reformation, I think the church needs to be modernized, because the main reason behind the churches down fall is boredom, people aren't interested anymore. [This message has been edited by The Communist (edited July 17, 2000).]
Zappers-Sad? No. Not at all. Maybe I'm an optimist, maybe I'm an idiot, but when I look at the situation you describe, I see hope. Society is in a terrible state of affairs and improvement is needed, but as long as people such as yourself can identify the problem, there is hope that those same people will rise to the challenge and do something about it. If anybody is interested, Rebecca Reese is the lead vocalist of Rebecca's Mask. If you want to check out their website, it's www.rebeccasmask.com.
