Well, I agree. However, those verses reflect a broader context in which this particular form of slavery was the norm.
-
Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:- Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
- Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
- Access to private conversations with other members.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!
Gay Man Files $70M Suit Against Bible Publishers Over Homosexual Verses
- Thread starter jeager106
- Start date
Well, I agree. However, those verses reflect a broader context in which this particular form of slavery was the norm.
I know.
People who see nothing wrong with owning people as property create gods that don't see anything wrong with slavery either.
No, I'm speaking of the fact that those laws were written in a day and age where such a thing was common practise...
So am I.
Edit: they were also written in a day and age when polytheism was common. They were written by people who would choose to be different on issues they really cared about. The injustice of slavery wasn't one of these issues.
DJ_sXe post: 4409053 said:
Exactly. The Bible was written by people who were culturally, scientifically, and morally primitive. They just didn't know much.
So you will find support for killing gay men, genocide and slavery. But nothing about abortion, environmental responsibility, or human rights.
Tom
Indeed. So, does this mean we're on the same page?
But even then, it doesn't mean that Torah is any less meaningful, in fact, for me - as a potential convert to Judaism - the opposite is true. The Torah is God-given, though there are of course things written within that do not apply to modern life for Jews and us “foreigners”.
Last edited:
That is all well and good as long as people understand that their morality is not scripture based, and so cannot justify the ugly behavior.
Lots of Christians, for example, justify mistreating women and gays claiming to have scriptural references.
Tom
Yeah, that's true, but then again, anybody can twist the words of the Almighty, making it seem as though they say things that they don't. Just ask the Black Hebrew Israelites...
And c'mon, columbus, you have to admit that the Tanakh presents us all with many character traits and moral laws that are truly admirable.
Last edited:
Solid evidence that the Bible isn't from the Almighty. It is from some primitive people who knew less about God than I do. Just as they knew less about electricity and human rights.
Tom
columbus, I honestly don't even know where to begin with your response....
How about the middle sentence? "It is from some primitive people who knew less about God than I do. "
I am not a scholar or anything. I'm above average intelligence and education. But no big deal. I know more about God than the scripture authors did though, lots of people do. We have their writings, plus vast improvements in knowledge and logic and all sorts of things. I have a passable understanding of a dozen religious views, from Shinto to Hinduism to Norse to Native American. Then there's the abrahamic religions I know best. And I am not especially unusual.
The ancient people didn't have all that. So they made up stuff that worked for them (at least the powerful ones) and took it all on faith.
Modern people don't have to do that because we know a lot more. Just as we know more about biology, geography and psychology and , well, mountains of stuff.
I know more about God than any Bible author. So do lots of people. It is not hard to do.
Tom
As an African-American, I am truly confused by you, columbus, because we (black people) don't try any stupid stunts like this...even though the Hebrew Bible talks waaaaaaaay more about the ownership of human beings than about same-sex attraction. In the end, Torah is NOT about those things. It's a long story about the struggles of a particular group of people, Jews. Not black people, nor strictly women, nor LGBT individuals. Whoever it was that tried this is ignorant, plain stupid. Then, you're getting mad over one, maybe two verses, written in a collection book addressed to and speaking about desert dwellers in the Middle East. Why? You and everyone else who has issues with what it talks about are going have to learn to deal with it.
Then, you're getting mad over one, maybe two verses, written in a collection book addressed to and speaking about desert dwellers in the Middle East. Why?
I don't know why you think I am mad about that. It's just wrong, that's all. The people were ignorant, that isn't their fault. They couldn't know. And there is no God who cared enough to tell them.
I don't know why you think I am mad about that. It's just wrong, that's all. The people were ignorant, that isn't their fault. They couldn't know. And there is no God who cared enough to tell them.
I don't know what you mean by stupid stunt. It seems to be having an open mind and broad education. Nor do I understand why you brought race into the discussion. There are black people like that too you know.
Last edited:
vaguelyhumanoid
Active Member
It's stupid, at least to me, because it's like many people say, the Hebrew Bible was written a few millennia ago, to a group of desert dwellers in the Middle East. 'Twas not written for you and I, LGBT individuals and African-Americans who live in the 21st century. So why would anyone be angry at a book you know that about? Explain this. I bring up my race because I understand what you feel, believe me, I do. There was a point in time where I myself had felt animosity towards G-d and the Hebrew Bible. I learned that mischievous people will twist it in order to justify unrighteous actions committed against their fellow human beings. I also was taught that through it all, I was made in His Image, as are you and every other person. I humbly apologise if anything that I said has hurt you in any way.
Heck no, my feelings arent hurt. I enjoy civil discussion with people I disagree with. I try to remember that not everyone is as thick skinned as it am, but I don't always. So I'll try to be as polite as you.
Tom
Awwwwww...that's very kind, dear columbus. Groovy, mate. In case you may not be aware, I'm actually contemplating a conversion to Judaism, I'm an former Christian.