[comments to Jim, Ben, Heather, Tygyr]
Submitted by d on July 12 1999 at 23:55:44
In reply to interpret or take literally? Submitted by Dgennero on July 01 1999 at 08:03:11
|
I read most of this thread. Some summary comments to Jim & Ben about intolerance in the Bible, a thank-you to Heather, and a modern (1836) version of Tygyr's observation on historical innaccuracy. In I just gave you some examples Jim mentioned some examples of intolerance in the Bible. Ben asked for verses but he never got them. Here's what I found: "The Bible calls for my execution [as a homosexual, I presume]" I can't find the execution passage right off hand, but in Leviticus 18 it says that (along with a host of other things) someone who "lies with a man as with a woman" should be "cut off from their people" (presumably expelled from the community). We can argue all day the historical context and modern relevance of this passage. Note that this is the same passage that outlaws sex during menstration, and which outlaws child sacrifice to a particular forign god. I hardly think the last two were equally offensive, but both were detestible and an abomination to God in that time and place (I wonder how many churches try to enforce the menstration rule?). "The Bible demands that witches be burned." Don't know about burning, but how about stoning? Leviticus 20:27 (English-NIV): "`A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads.'" "How about stoning some disrespectful children? " Exodus 21:15 (English-NIV) "Anyone who attacks [or kills] his father or his mother must be put to death. (this is in a long list of what 'thou shalt not kill' means and the penalties for various kinds of killing). [scriptures taken from http://bible.gospelcom.net] Heather wrote Biblical inerrancy, in which she quoted Harry H. Hoehler's Christian Responses to the World's Faiths. Dammit Heather, you make me think to much - my brain hurts (ok, Mr. Hoehler makes me think too much). Thanks for posting that. Tygyr make some good points in On historical mistakes. Some of the famous legends of the Alamo (near and dear to my heart) are coming under the microscope of history, much to the chagrin of those (like me) who like their heroes to be, er, heroic. -David ("d") |