Explaining the hateful passages of the Bible (page 3)

Shining One

Hi Tetra,

You asked:
>what does your book say about Mal. 2:3?
Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, [even] the dung of your solemn feasts; and [one] shall take you away with it.
just curious, as this is one of my favorite passages of all time.

Do you want the literal interpretation or the meaning behind the text? Have you read the full context in Malachi and any allusions to previous scripture or interpretation by New Testament writers, since Malachi was one of the last prophets before the advent of Christ?
Do you quote the text out of context for shock value alone? That is nothing compared to some text I could counter with and miniscule compared to the events leading up to and during the curcifixtion. I am more than willing to correspond with and teach those who actually want to learn. I will not waste time on those who do not.

Let's see if you can figure it out on your own.....

Rex (AKA, Shining One)

Satanus

I am more than willing to correspond with and teach those who actually want to learn. I will not waste time on those who do not.

Why is it that so often these bible people who know all the answers will only share them w their choir? Imagine if scientists were like that. Galileo would be a total nobody. People would still be believing that the earth is the center of the universe. Evolutionary ideas would be nonexistent.

S

the_classicist

I suggest the following articles:

Warfare in the Old Testament: An Argument for Peacemaking in the New Millenium
Source: Direction 27 no 2 Fall 1998 p. 177-188
by Lynn Jost

War and Peace in the Hebrew Bible
Source: Interpretation 38 O 1984 p. 341-362
by Paul D. Hanson

I wouldn't read Spong personally, mainly because he, and most other Episcopalians, have severe issues with reasoning.

EvilForce

****** I am more than willing to correspond with and teach those who actually want to learn. I will not waste time on those who do not.

You mean preach at not teach......see to teach you must also be ready to learn. I doubt you are.

I will not waste my time???? Glad Jesus didn't feel that same way preaching to harlots and tax collectors.

Blech!

tetrapod.sapien

Do you quote the text out of context for shock value alone?

ha ha rex, the whole bleeding bible is shocking.

Let's see if you can figure it out on your own.....

i did already. it's a load of crap.

TS

Hellrider

Why is it that so often these bible people who know all the answers will only share them w their choir

He`s just trying to sound mysterious and intellectual. You know "I know something you don`t", and at the same time he has this insecurity deep down inside, "what if I`m wrong?". So preaching to the choir isn`t such a bad idea.

Rex

Hi Tetra,

What is your qualification to judge the Bible or any other work for that matter? Anyone can distract from an argument by attempting to intimidate the opposition. You made derogatory statements about scripture to try to make me look bad. Therefore, you ruin any reasoning that comes after.

Now as far as the basis for us being alive in the first place. You need to prove there is not a creator, since we do indeed exist and there has never been any valid explanation for life. You also need to come up with a standard to base 'good', 'better' and so on. Where is the basis for YOUR morality? What is the basis for your 'standard' if there are no moral absolutes?

So, my question to Hellrider still stands.
R.

stillajwexelder

That is an excellent link - a really good website and resource. Thankyou

tetrapod.sapien

What is your qualification to judge the Bible or any other work for that matter? Anyone can distract from an argument by attempting to intimidate the opposition. You made derogatory statements about scripture to try to make me look bad. Therefore, you ruin any reasoning that comes after.

...er, i was a christian for 28 years? i've read the new world translation and the king james versions of the bible. i read apologetics as i was losing faith in the the WTS . and then i read secular history and realized that it is indeed all a load of crap. you see rex , it's one thing to read about the secular historicity of the bible, and say: "heck! interesting history of god's word! i'm cool with that!". and it is quite another to draw the rational and critical implications and extrapolations of secular historicity of the bible. one route follows the facts wherever they may lead, and one route still relies on the mental discontinuity that we call faith to make it all work. faith is the mind killer.

Now as far as the basis for us being alive in the first place. You need to prove there is not a creator, since we do indeed exist and there has never been any valid explanation for life. You also need to come up with a standard to base 'good', 'better' and so on. Where is the basis for YOUR morality? What is the basis for your 'standard' if there are no moral absolutes?

one of the great public battles of the next century will be regarding morals, and it will be between the empiricists and the transcendentalists, generally.

i am an empiricist, and think that there is sound logical reason to believe that morals do not exist outside of ourselves, but that we create morals. one only need to look to nature to see that nature is indifferent to our survival, and to notice that it is only we who label that as uncaring and cold.

as for where i get my morals. i get them from the same place that the bible writers got their morals from. from within ourselves. from others, from society looking for safety. i look around and realize that something must be done about all the crap in the world. the difference is that i don't think anyone is going to be burning in hell for any bad things they do. and that bad things happen to good people for no other reason than there is no god watching out for them. this inspires a more humanistic approach to the problems in the world, and my own problems.

TS

Shining One

Hi Tetly,
I do appreciate the reasonable tone you have in this post....

>i am an empiricist, and think that there is sound logical reason to believe that morals do not exist outside of ourselves, but that we create morals. one only need to look to nature to see that nature is indifferent to our survival, and to notice that it is only we who label that as uncaring and cold.
as for where i get my morals. i get them from the same place that the bible writers got their morals from. from within ourselves. from others, from society looking for safety. i look around and realize that something must be done about all the crap in the world. the difference is that i don't think anyone is going to be burning in hell for any bad things they do. and that bad things happen to good people for no other reason than there is no god watching out for them. this inspires a more humanistic approach to the problems in the world, and my own problems.

My friend, please reference some of the books i have suggested. The problem of evil is a struggle for any and all compasionate persons. BTW, your morals are what you have been taught or acquired through life until you reach the very basis for all morals. That is inherent, it is part of you as a special creation of God and if He programmed so many of us to feel empathy and sympathy it must be a solid part of His nature.
Christians follow Christ, His lifestyle and example, even more than His teachings. That is one of the things that makes Him so unique! May the Lord of Glory bless you with His touch.

Rex

Explaining the hateful passages of the Bible

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