The old testament is worthless because it is confusing and was written in way where people could interpret it as allowing and even promoting hate, revenge, intolerance, and violence. Pretty much every story in it talks about how people didn't follow the word of god or treated "his people" poorly and were killed or their love ones were killed.
God was not wrong. The writers of the Old Testament were wrong. This is why many Christians put no stock in the Old Testament. At least with the New Testament (the gospels, at least) there is Jesus to have some divine influence in the flesh. However, neither book of Christianity is written by God/Jesus and neither is claimed to be the direct word of God. This is where trouble starts because people interpret the Bible literally even though none of it was written by God, himself.
Now I'm really confused. I've asked this a few times on this forum about how do Christians reconcile both New and Old Testaments and I've heard varying answers but this is the first I've heard that the writers of the Old Testament was wrong and that many Christians don't put stock in it. That seems to totally go against the idea that the whole Bible is holy.
I believe that my initial confusion was over the explanation of the use of the plural pronoun "we." Seems like that automatically draws the reader into an inclusion with god. So if "the source of the destruction is God not man" why the seemngly contradictory use of we?
I'm sure that MadMax or rhester can give a better answer, but since they aren't showing up... I've heard it explained that the OT is a book of description of the history of the people and the NT is a book of prescription about life under the new covenant with God.
how do I reconcile it? i struggle with it. i think that's a good thing. none of this is something that can be answered with cute, pat answers at a cocktail party. and my answers won't be and shouldn't be your answers. because the process is more important the product. the journey is more important than the destination. ultimately, i think everything has to be viewed through the lens of Jesus Christ...of God's gift of salvation to a world that turned its back on Him. that still turns its back on Him. what i deserve...and what i have I've received...are two very different things.
There were whole sects of early psudo-Christians who believed that the God of the Old Testament was a distinct being from the God of the New Testament, and actually that the God of the Old Testament was "the adversary" aka Satan. Unlike Islam which is a direct transcription of the word of God as given to Muhammad, Christianity has a large degree of integrated uncertanty.
Let's apply some logic here: if there is "reward" for believers and those who follow the "right path" (according to most religions), then wouldn't you say that there is punishment for those who don't? Giddyup, you crack me up man, especially since I have repeated many times before on this forum that Islam is neither a religion of peace or war, but it can be a tool for both, depending on the circumstances. The "we" was explained above, and it is used to refer to God and at times to his "servants" (the angels, etc.) who carry out his commands. Somehow I doubt you're interested in the actual discussion, giddy...
And you wonder why I don't take you to the bank? Your non-peace loving Muslims are standing much of the world on its ear right now.
Thanks MadMax and I remember you bringing this up before when I asked the same question. What I was wondering about though was about Christians who actually don't put any stock in the Old Testament. That seems like quite a stretch since it would mean not putting stock in things like Genesis or the Ten Commandments.
If the object of your post is to bash a religion and to prove yours as better than you are wasting mine and everyone elses time. If you geniuinely want to know what the quran says, and what Islam teaches than sit back and enjoy the ride. Islam is the religion of peace, sure. Islam also teaches peolpe that the ones who dont obey the orders of god, people that cheat, murder, rape, terrorize etc, are the ones who will be punished. And the statements in the quran where it shows destuction or punishment is for people who were "evil", "misled", and many other wrongs. Know, if you have a religion that says everyone is going to Heaven, no matter what they do in this life, as long as they claim the religion, sure its all good... but where is the balancing act. Why would anyone do good? Why is it that Islam is critisized for having punishment and condemning people, whereas we in our government punish evil people and condemn wrongdoers daily, and yet you support such actions... pretty hypocrytical if you ask me.
well that doesnt seem very nice. I'm sure many Muslims might take offense to the fact that you refer to the Quran as "bullcrap." Also, I believe the Quran is what Mohammed heard from God and thus in some sense to Muslims can be interpreted as the word of God. Either way you couldve worded your argument a little better
i feel stupid for even having to say this, but people of all religions, past and present, have committed unspeakable acts in the name of god, and each of them claims to be peace loving. So your superficial analysis, unsurprisingly, doesn't seem to mean very much in the grand scheme of things.
Jumping to conclusions based on pure ignorance to satisfy your pre-existant prejudices? Brilliant! For some reason Giddy, I have the suspicion you wouldn't even take the time to educate yourself on something as simple as the pronoun voice of the speaker if the ensuing ignorance promoted your agenda.
I thought we were concerned with the present; which religious fanatics are causing the problems worldwide?
I didn't jump to any conclusion. I asked a question; in fact, I was the second person to ask the same question. Tell me, Oh Great Vegetable, what are my prejudices? Ah, nevermind, just stick to the discussion...
