And then God said "April Fool!"

[Snowflake]

I guess in the old time killing of somebody is ok. People are less apart from animals then ... I've heard stories in ancient China when somebody boils his son to feed his master/king ...

[GePap]

I wonder if the jurry would accept and insanity defense, or if they would feel vengeful and convict her of murder even if they given enough evidence to muster an insanity decision?

Why couldn;t God ask you to kill your child? Nothing in the bible says he couldn't, and for a 'guy' willing to let his son commit suicide and order genocide for his greater aims, what's one more kid?

[gamenaught]

for now I know that thou fearest God

Why does Christianity put so much emphasis on fearing God?

If you love God and God loves you, there shouldn't be any fear. Sadaam used fear to control his people but I would think that an all-good entity wouldn't resort to such tactics.

Sounds to me that religious and political leaders promote the fear aspect in order to manipulate and control people.

[Verto]

It does not mean to literally fear him, but to respect/revere him.

0/10, just for directly mentioning Hussein.

[Ben Kenobi]

Mainstream Christians, Jews, and Muslims will find this horribly repugnant, and against the tenets of their religion -- no matter their sect/denomination.

Well said Mr. Fun.

[DinoDoc]

Not really. I prefer mocking condesencion when it comes to threads like this.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by gamenaught
Why does Christianity put so much emphasis on fearing God?

THe piece you quoted comes actually from the Old Testament, which is an ancient piece of mythology aiming at enforcing a system of values and norms through supernatural fear, because central governments weren't strong enough to instill sufficient "normal" fear.

Christianty was different in that it began a shift from fearing God to loving God. Why the Old Testament was kept after the Niceae council (which defined which books were Kosher and which weren't) I don't know though. I guess the Church saw fear as a useful tool for its mind control, and as such didn't remove them.

Since these texts are supposed to be holy, they haven't been removed anymore, no matter how outdated they may be even for a modern approach of religion. So we are stuck with them as being considered "christian", when they're in fact little more than mythology that was convenient at a point in history.

[Ben Kenobi]

Why does Christianity put so much emphasis on fearing God?

Do they? Not really. Some people find God hard to love when confronted by him, and find him easier to fear. While it would be prefereable to love God, and to do things out of love for him, there is nothing wrong with fearing God as well.

You have to remember that there are two interconnected aspects of God, his righteousness and his love for each one of us. You cannot have the one apart from the other.

If you love God and God loves you, there shouldn't be any fear. Sadaam used fear to control his people but I would think that an all-good entity wouldn't resort to such tactics.

I think there is still some fear, even if you love him.

Sounds to me that religious and political leaders promote the fear aspect in order to manipulate and control people.

Fear alone will not motivate people to respect God, to follow his commandments. It can help as a starting point, to show people the need for repentence, but love is a far better motivator. You obey his commandments because you know he loves you and cares for you.

[Stuie]

Originally posted by Spiffor

THe piece you quoted comes actually from the Old Testament, which is an ancient piece of mythology ....

psst... Spiffor. The whole bible is mythology.

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Stuie


psst... Spiffor. The whole bible is mythology.

Spiffor is an atheist. Just not an annoying one. Like a few of the people in this thread.

[Ben Kenobi]

Why the Old Testament was kept after the Niceae council (which defined which books were Kosher and which weren't) I don't know though.

They were kept because they were believed to be the inspired testimony of God. It would be misleading to reject the OT, because even Christ regarded the OT as authoritative, and used parts as the basis of his teachings.

[Ben Kenobi]

God stops Abraham, its just a test yuk yuk, but god does tell him to do it, and he was prepared to do so.

God also provides a lamb instead. God is merciful.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Stuie
psst... Spiffor. The whole bible is mythology.

Yes, but Jesus approach to religion was different, in that it used very different methods to have people flock to him. Actually, if it weren't for the magical juju filling the New Testament, Jesus teachings could look like a form of "philosophy" or "wisdom": an outline of virtuous life, for the sake of being virtuous.

Unfortunately, we westerners seem to be much more stupid than easterners, because we apparently can't adhere to this kind of outline without some supranatural being to advertise it.

[Spiffor]

God is merciful

The lamb may think otherwise

[Ben Kenobi]

Actually, if it weren't for the magical juju filling the New Testament, Jesus teachings could look like a form of "philosophy" or "wisdom": an outline of virtuous life, for the sake of being virtuous.

And without the 'magic juju,' Christianity would just be another teaching of men, without any true authority.

Unfortunately, we westerners seem to be much more stupid than easterners, because we apparently can't adhere to this kind of outline without some supranatural being to advertise it.

No one can adhere to any set of teachings, even Christianity. All of us sin and fall short. What makes the teachings of Christ superior is that in fact he is the Son of God.

Secondly, Christianity is an 'Eastern' religion. For quite some time they had more adherants in the East, than in the West.