Another view on Bible violence (applies to any Scripture)

[stvdv]

Considering i have been seriously hurt 4 times by Christians. I expect Christian (some Christians at least) to follow the violence of the bible

Sadly that has been my reality too. Once I told Jesus "Let me meet just one respectful Christian who really does not look down on other (non) Faith; meaning that he believes you can make it without Jesus also". That took Jesus a few years, but finally I even met 2 on RF; @metis and @Cookie, they have been very respectful, and gave me back a good feeling about the Catholic Faith. I should have asked Jesus for 1000, I am too modest.

 

[ChristineM]

Sadly that has been my reality too. Once I told Jesus "Let me meet just one respectful Christian who really does not look down on other (non) Faith; meaning that he believes you can make it without Jesus also". That took Jesus a few years, but finally I even met 2 on RF; @metis and @Cookie, they have been very respectful, and gave me back a good feeling about the Catholic Faith. I should have asked Jesus for 1000, I am too modest.

There are some good guys but i do think the faith promotes an us and them attitude.

 

[Milton Platt]

Some people claim that God did all those horrible things mentioned in the Bible. My point in the OP was, that this need not be the case
The Bible was not written by God, so at best we can say "according to the writers of the Bible, God did these horrible things"
Some people also believed thunder and lightning was the wrath of God, we now now it's just thunder and lightning

For me it makes no sense to accuse God of these things, and it's more practical to do introspection and point the finger at ourselves

That was in short why I wrote the OP.

No one needs to choose my opinion, hence I gave both options in the poll with the questions. I was just curious how many people actually believe God really did all these horrible things, because I saw it mentioned quite a few times on RF posts over the years.

"show what you have got"... I meant with this, that you share with us, what you think about those verses accusing God

Fair enough!

So are you saying that when the Bible stories tell of god destroying something, or killing people, or giving orders orlaws which demand it, that those stories are lies?

 

[YoursTrue]

The question should be, did God command those violent acts!! Think of a verse that orders the killing of children, women, animals, infants etc etc just logically fit in with the characteristic of God. This is not the genre of history. It is written as sacred history. These verses are not depicting actual teachings of God but rather the sentiment of the writer where he or she is showing the animosity they had with these people, be it the Amalekites or anyone else. And the Bible is written as sacred history where ones opinion or allegiance to anything is written as a sacred story so it doesn't mean the story itself is absolutely historical but rather the depiction of the writers idea of truth. E.g. If I am the writer of a scripture in the Bible and I think you are a gentleman I would write it as a story where I witnessed you opening a door to a lady That doesn't mean I actually saw you or ever met you, but its showing the reader what I have been told as the truth, vis a vis, you are a gentleman.

Hope you understand.

Since God allowed Adam and Eve to essentially rule themselves, He still is concerned and will do what is necessary.

 

[YoursTrue]

There are some good guys but i do think the faith promotes an us and them attitude.

It certainly has. Created wars and vicious attitudes and actions also.

 

[YoursTrue]

There are some good guys but i do think the faith promotes an us and them attitude.

Meantime I'm drinking coffee and now enjoy blueberry flavored coffee.

 

[YoursTrue]

And thank you for your positive reply


They are like magic, or have the ability to create that feeling of awe and wonder. I was on the bicycle the other day and noticed it too


. Nice way of looking at at


Maybe not particular the sky and clouds, although they sense thunder and lightning far in advance (are more advanced in it than most humans, so they do seem to "see" it. And we have cats here who roll around on the ground when it is nice weather, just enjoying "rolling around"
View attachment 42583

I thought about that, too. Animals can detect an earthquake or tsunami I think before it "hits" humans. But -- that's not the same thing as wondering about God and if there is one. I don't understand everything, as I said, elephants haven't spoken to me recently (or at all), so I'll wait. Thanks for your comments.

 

[stvdv]

There are some good guys but i do think the faith promotes an us and them attitude.

Wonderful how you phrased that ... "attitude", great.

 

[stvdv]

Fair enough!

So are you saying that when the Bible stories tell of god destroying something, or killing people, or giving orders orlaws which demand it, that those stories are lies?

Of course I can not say for sure they are lies, but we both know that when people tell each other stories that facts easily get messed up. We used to do this "whisper in the other's ear game" as kids; amazing how inaccurate even after like 8 times within 5 minutes, imagine stories written down maybe month/years after the event.

Lies I would not call it, because that would feel for me more like "doing on purpose". Maybe it is just "messed up" due to writing down many month/years later. At least accuracy will be questionable. When I do research with numbers, I really have to note it down immediately, next day I might have forgotten.

Furthermore they were just humans, maybe they had a hidden agenda, and were they making "their" story sound bigger and more impressive by using "God" for the "who did it" part, and it is not unknown that humans just fantasize. In those ages their was a huge fear of God, more than now (maybe except some rare strict sect preaching fear of God). Also nowadays people do a lot to get their daily quota of "likes" on social media, why would it have been any different in those days, after it is still the same similar humans race.

So, whenever I read stories that I can't verify and that seem a bit "too much", but which do have some interesting ideas that I can use, I just take the good stuff from it, and leave the "unbelievable" part for what it is. And to me it seems more reasonable that humans did the horror stuff themselves than that an outside agent called "God" did it. Especially knowing that people tend to pin down their bad stuff on others, rather than admitting what they did. That might be very well the case here too.

 

[stvdv]

I thought about that, too. Animals can detect an earthquake or tsunami I think before it "hits" humans. But -- that's not the same thing as wondering about God and if there is one. I don't understand everything, as I said, elephants haven't spoken to me recently (or at all), so I'll wait. Thanks for your comments.

I think that is an important point. I don't know about this myself, but I believe (sounds reasonable) what My Master, Sai Baba, said about it:
"The difference between human and animal is that humans can contemplate on God, animals can't; don't waste this human gift".

That does not make animals any less; they have different abilities like "sense" or detect natural calamities like you mentioned, and humans can't. And like you said "it can hit them being unprepared", and being dead what use is "our ability to contemplate on God?".

Thank you too for sharing your ideas on this

 

[firedragon]

Since God allowed Adam and Eve to essentially rule themselves, He still is concerned and will do what is necessary.

Im sorry I didnt understand the response. How is that relevant to my comment you responded to? I am asking because I initially thought you responded to the wrong comment.

 

[stvdv]

Since God allowed Adam and Eve to essentially rule themselves, He still is concerned and will do what is necessary.

Yes, that is what I also experience. Even in little things in my life. I pray, and sometimes, within a short time, someone comes and gives me my answer. Of course I could think "coincidental...this man was already due to come to me and tell me this...and coincidental my prayer was the same". But when such coincidences happen continuously, faith starts growing rapidly, and also Love for God grows quickly (who would not Love such a great friend, coming to your rescue whenever you pray; sometimes I have to wait a few years also, but what the heck, that keeps me sharp and a nice test/challenge if I still trust and keep faith).

 

[metis]

Rethink my position? I am at a loss now. Which position you have in mind?

I was just joking around, thus the "".

Such "experiences" are intriguing, because they are beyond the mind. To me it seems like there is a "common mind" and when we are in tune we can connect, and information can flow. Maybe "Dropbox" is the scientific version of this. Of course not as sophisticated.

These sort of things give an extra dimension to our human life. And can be very useful. This is like an extra sense we use; and a very powerful one. Knowledge comes to us, without the need to study and free of charge; it's amazing and incredible?

I totally, 101% agree.

 

[stvdv]

I was just joking around, thus the "".

Aha. I am quite serious always, and did not think about a joke, especially from you. Thanks for clarifying

I totally, 101% agree.

Amazing, isn't it, that we agree like 100% here. Nice for a change too to see that happen on RF.

You are lucky you don't have Sai Baba as a Guru, we are not allowed to exaggerate, but I think +/- 1% even is within His margins
I think this even might be a message of God, that I can ease up a bit on this one, just a little, like you showed me (1%)
(I have been very strict on this; that was at least a relatively easy one to accomplish, another one of Him "think of God 24/7 is a bit harder")
(And He says also "Some people complain God does not speak to them; if you work part-time then you get God part-time too"; hence 24/7)

 

[tayla]

So the violent verses are educational and much needed to urge people to introspect

I think these fictional/mythical verses of violence merely express the culture of the writers and the condition of their heart.

 

[YoursTrue]

Yes, that is what I also experience. Even in little things in my life. I pray, and sometimes, within a short time, someone comes and gives me my answer. Of course I could think "coincidental...this man was already due to come to me and tell me this...and coincidental my prayer was the same". But when such coincidences happen continuously, faith starts growing rapidly, and also Love for God grows quickly (who would not Love such a great friend, coming to your rescue whenever you pray; sometimes I have to wait a few years also, but what the heck, that keeps me sharp and a nice test/challenge if I still trust and keep faith).

Lovely and helpful. Thanks.

 

[YoursTrue]

Im sorry I didnt understand the response. How is that relevant to my comment you responded to? I am asking because I initially thought you responded to the wrong comment.

OK, and now I'm totally out of the realm of knowing what you (and I) were saying. So have a nice night.

 

[YoursTrue]

Fair enough!

So are you saying that when the Bible stories tell of god destroying something, or killing people, or giving orders orlaws which demand it, that those stories are lies?

Good question. I'd like to see the answers offered, same with metis, see his answers about that also.

 

[stvdv]

I think these fictional/mythical verses of violence merely express the culture of the writers and the condition of their heart.

 

[stvdv]

Good question. I'd like to see the answers offered, same with metis, see his answers about that also.

The question was asked to me, if you mean to see my answer, I did reply quite in detail, giving my opinion about this
So, probably, you mean here, that you like to see the true answer, given by God. I think that is the best to go about these things