Questions about the Bible , I ask as I read

[Jon Miller]

Originally posted by SpencerH


Prostitute is perfectly valid since it doesnt just mean "sex for money" it also means a more general choice to accept corruption for some gain.

Yes, unfortunately most people in capitalist societies are prostitutes...

JM

[SpencerH]

0.1/10

[aneeshm]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi


Oh, understanding is always possible, but yes this is no different then how Christians are treated in India today. The two can and have peacefully coexisted, however Hinduism says that it is wrong for Christians to try to spread the Gospel, and Christians are required to do so from the faith, just like Hindus believe cattle are sacred.

As far as I am aware , there is no Hindu rule or even suggestion that it is wrong for Christians to try to spread the Gospels ( but we do look down upon those who try to appeal to the people instead of trying to convert the intellectual elite first - it is a sign of intellectual weakness , in our eyes ) .

And cattle became sacred more because of the ancient Indian economy's dependence on them rather than because of any intrinsic god-given commandment . I like the practicality of the religion .

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi

Christians are to be intolerant in the sense, that they cannot accept many gods as being the same as YHWH.

But can they accept that YHWH may manifest himself in many forms to many people , with the trinity being meant only for those of the Judeo-Christian civilisation , and other forms being for other civilisations ?

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi

Let's be careful here. To whom is God speaking? Moses and the Israelites. There is a difference between the Jews and the Christians, as any Christian will say, we ain't God's chosen people. God wanted to preserve the Israelites as his own, and such, they had to worship YHWH by the terms of the covenant that God made with Abraham.

"I shall be your God, and you shall be my people. You shall have no other gods before me."

Jews are not to permit within Israel such trappings of worship to other gods. Other nations are permitted to worship what they will, but YHWH shall be the only God of Israel.

That is an acceptable explanation . Thank you .

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi

It's like a marriage. You marry one person for life. The Israelites are promised to God, and if they stray, they are like an unfaithful husband.

But does that not impose a burden on a person just because of his birth ?

[Lorizael]

Originally posted by aneeshm
And cattle became sacred more because of the ancient Indian economy's dependence on them rather than because of any intrinsic god-given commandment . I like the practicality of the religion .

Kosher laws are derived from health and economic conerns. No different, really.

But does that not impose a burden on a person just because of his birth ?

Caste system, anybody?

[Arrian]

Zing!

-Arrian

[Jon Miller]

Originally posted by SpencerH
0.1/10

that's what I think

it is (some) of the reason I am anti capitalis

JM

[aneeshm]

Originally posted by Lorizael


Kosher laws are derived from health and economic conerns. No different, really.

That's good , then . I wasn't trying to criticise , just pointing something out .

Originally posted by Lorizael

Caste system, anybody?

I am looking for Christian answers to thorny questions here , not stupid trolls .

And as originally conceived , caste was not hereditary , but only became so over time . But that is another debate altogether which I would be happy to discuss in another thread , not here .

[Lorizael]

Discuss? Ha! Stupid trolls don't want to discuss things, silly.

[aneeshm]

On to my next query :

In Genesis ( I'm going back a bit , I know ) 25.29-34 :

Was it right of Jacob , a man of God , to deny his brother food when he was starving ? Has Jacob no familial love for his brother that he has to use such tactics to gain Esau's birthright ?

[Jon Miller]

The Bible (OT especially) isn't generally full of people we should emulate (in every way).

It is a story of people's interactions with God, and not a fantasy...

The emulation part is in the NT (for Christians, in the person of Jesus Christ). (not to say that there aren't very good people in the OT, but they are always human, even Moses)

Jon Miller

[Ben Kenobi]

But can they accept that YHWH may manifest himself in many forms to many people , with the trinity being meant only for those of the Judeo-Christian civilisation , and other forms being for other civilisations ?

Ask yourself what does it mean to say there is a Judeo-Christian civilisation?

There are Christians of all races and cultures, precisely because Christians believe that all men can be saved through Christ.

The Jewish people are different, in that they have special privileges with God as his chosen people, as well as responsibilities.

But does that not impose a burden on a person just because of his birth ?

Is it a burden or a blessing? No one chooses to be born into Israel.

[Jon Miller]

All are saved (only) through Jesus Christ.. that doesn't mean that all are saved by beleiving in Jesus Christ in the Christian sense.. (Abraham was not a Christian, but was saved)

Jon Miller
(saved in the Christian sense)

[Az]

Originally posted by SpencerH


Sorry, this makes no sense to me. Honour is not "self respect"?

Slider bar, etc?

To me, the healthy approach to this issue is that you should have self-respect - not allow other to trample on you.

Some, otoh, consider disrespecting others a natural continuation/improvement over simply being treated with dignity.

[Vesayen]

Originally posted by Az

The book of Ester is not in the Torah.

Neither is most of the old testament.

Some Jews say it happened. Some say it did not. This is not a particularly heated issue. It has value whether you believe the book of Ester or not.

I say it didn't happen.

As with many other stories of antiquity, it probably happened - but in a very different way from what is written.

....most of the old testament is not in the Torah.

What?


LOL!

Ester really did not happen, there is no possible historical stimulus for it. It was proboably inspired by anti sematism local to wherver the author was.

[Vesayen]

Originally posted by SpencerH


Prostitute is perfectly valid since it doesnt just mean "sex for money" it also means a more general choice to accept corruption for some gain.

No, it does not, not in this context.

A Jew can prostate himself before G-D and that is a good thing. There is no negative or sexual conotation in the passage.



I would like to throw in as an adendum that the instruction is in that specific time to destroy the altars of the cananites.

It does not say anything about Indians or Budhists, does it?

More so the current state of Israel does not exist at the decree of G-D. Anyone who tries to tear down the religious structures of another in Israel now is commiting a sin.

Any Jew who tears down, defaces or disrespects the religious sites of any religion, anywhere in the world is commiting a sin.

The cananites were a special exception, they performed child sacrafice, a not so uncommon practice at that time....

If G-D brings the Meshiach(messiah) and he clearly manifests his will is a new, divine state of Israel, well i'll worry about that when it happens.

Religious tolerance is a central pillar in Judaism.