It is kind of sad and desparate that you keep up with this but refuse to answer the question if you have read the bible. You clearly havn't or you wouldn't be quoting wikipedia for your source. It appears you are just another uneducated consumer who won't take the time or effort to understand the subject he is talking about. Ignorance is your shield I see. But, once more into the breech...
The NT takes its authority from the OT, and it is supposed to be the same god.
Yup, but Christians, strangely enough are followers of Christ who came and did away with much of the OT law, he represents a revolutionary new approach to interaction with the divine.
"Yahweh causes a series of ten plagues to strike Egypt, but whenever Pharaoh begins to relent God causes him to harden his heart."
You might want to fix that Wikipedia article. As well as the various other places I've seen this mentioned. But let us assume all that you said is true, that still justifies the butchering of some peasant's first born kid. Hairy smelly hippies bitch about collateral damage in war, but one would figure that an all powerful being would be able to go after Pharaoh without collateral damage of killing those who have absolutely no say in the running of the country. Interesting how you skipped commentary on this part.
I asked if you had read Exodus and you give me wikipedia. No surprise, you are just another lazy child. But let's look at Exodus...you know from the bible?
15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
32 And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go.
Now, go back and read Exodus, and then read some good material about how Hebrew uses passive and active verbs and the permissive and then come back and we can discuss it properly. But don't hold yourself out as having a good knowledge of the bible based on a wiki summary.
One would think an all powerful being would be able to forgive the sins of humanity without resorting to torture and murder. Tell you what, if you have a kid, don't forgive me. Really that is pretty sad on your part.
Again you mischaracterize the Jesus story entirely. But that is not surprising considering you have not read the bible and have been dishonest in your parallels elsewhere. God in the NT does not torture or kill anyone, humans do. God makes a great sacrifice to cleanse the sins of all humans, to give them a chance. I know the idea of sacrifice does not sit will in the selfish mind, but it is a story of giving. Kind of a much bigger version of a soldier throwing himself on a grenade to save his comrades, but I expect you would mock that soldier as well. Now take a moment, and think about how this fits in with the issue of free will...
I am sure street hos believe their pimps love them also. I would think that demonstrating the power of faith could be done without putting Job through all that. Never mind that the actual story is god trying to prove a point to satan, which is more important than any conclusions people may want to draw from a fictional story.
Of course you remain at the lowest common denominator and are now trying to explain to use the psychology of violent pimps. I expect you know as much about that as you do the bible. And you come to the bizarre conclusion that the literal meaning of the story is more important than the message. I guess you read technical manuals and not literature where allegory, metaphor and other tools deliver the real message. I bet you think the Wizard of Oz is really about a tin guy and a lion...are you really this ignorant?
Also, military commanders send their troops to suffer and die as part of winning the cause. Do you rant about them as well?
Really? That makes it OK. Hey dude, kill your son. Ah Psych! Ha ha. What, I didn't have you go through with it, why are you so pissed.
Actually as far as I can tell, having actually read the book, Abraham was not pissed. I guess God picked the right man for the job.
And why don't you tell us about the how the bible was edited since you want to criticize the editor. I am sure you have a good handle on that.
Keep in mind that you have just justified the slaughter of entire cities, the slaughter of the first born of a dictators nation, unnesseary torture, and brutally horrible practical jokes. You don't actually deny any of it. Bravo. <Sarcastic clapping>
Yup, the message of the OT is if you don't follow the law you or if you enslave the chosen people you are in serious shit.
On the torture issue, God did not torture anyone. Someone got crucified, something the Romans really did. Should be not talk about crucifixion or the Spanish Inquisition because it is torture? The NT is actually pretty anti-torture. But you are just too dishonest to admit that.
I'd still pitch for 2: Has read it and just turned off their mind., but can't dismiss 3: Has read it and is just dumb as fuck.
The evidence is right in your face, you quibble mostly incorrectly with some points missing the bigger picture. You just don't want to see it.[/QU
Pitch for whatever you like, but you have not even had the courtesy or intellectual honesty to read what you critique and then you resort to dishonesty to attack the subject. You may not like my opinion but at least I am not dishonest in my approach and know what I am talking about.
