The funny thing is, most Christians have no idea what all is written in their so called "Holy Book". They really SHOULD read it, and I am sure many would be... surprised. Every time when someone quotes Leveticus against gays, I ask him in return if he wears a beard, because shaving is equally abhorrent to "the Lord", or if they, as this book says, dig their excremets 3 miles outside the city with a shovel. This book is full of absurdities.
"People in general do not know what wickedness there is in this pretended word of God. Brought up in habits of superstition, they take it for granted that the Bible is true, and that it is good; they permit themselves not to doubt of it, and they carry the ideas they form of the benevolence of the Almighty to the book which they have been taught to believe was written by his authority. Good heavens! it is quite another thing; it is a book of lies, wickedness, and blasphemy; for what can be greater blasphemy than to ascribe the wickedness of man to the orders of the Almighty? Of all the systems of religion that ever were invented, there is none more derogatory to the Almighty, more unedifying to man, more repugnant to reason, and more contradictory in itself, than this thing called Christianity. Too absurd for belief, too impossible to convince, and too inconsistent for practice, it renders the heart torpid, or produces only atheists and fanatics."
Thomas Paine
The Age of Reason
qft as are most religious books and manuscripts. As I tell so many people, I have yet to meet a true Christian and I believe the only person living or dead who has the right to be called a Christian was Christ himself. None have walked the earth since.
Ya know I think the central message of love and forgivance was a very good one. Generally I have no prob with people trusting a higher power. It is that bizzare book and the idea taking a 2000+ years old text literally, which brings the problems.
People don't ask questions to get answers - they ask questions to show how smart they are. - Dogbert
The funny thing is, most Christians have no idea what all is written in their so called "Holy Book". They really SHOULD read it, and I am sure many would be... surprised. Every time when someone quotes Leveticus against gays, I ask him in return if he wears a beard, because shaving is equally abhorrent to "the Lord", or if they, as this book says, dig their excremets 3 miles outside the city with a shovel. This book is full of absurdities.
"People in general do not know what wickedness there is in this pretended word of God. Brought up in habits of superstition, they take it for granted that the Bible is true, and that it is good; they permit themselves not to doubt of it, and they carry the ideas they form of the benevolence of the Almighty to the book which they have been taught to believe was written by his authority. Good heavens! it is quite another thing; it is a book of lies, wickedness, and blasphemy; for what can be greater blasphemy than to ascribe the wickedness of man to the orders of the Almighty? Of all the systems of religion that ever were invented, there is none more derogatory to the Almighty, more unedifying to man, more repugnant to reason, and more contradictory in itself, than this thing called Christianity. Too absurd for belief, too impossible to convince, and too inconsistent for practice, it renders the heart torpid, or produces only atheists and fanatics."
Thomas Paine
The Age of Reason
qft as are most religious books and manuscripts. As I tell so many people, I have yet to meet a true Christian and I believe the only person living or dead who has the right to be called a Christian was Christ himself. None have walked the earth since.
So you reject them on the basis that they are at least "trying" to be like Christ ? Just curious...
The irony is how sometimes people miss the fact the bible is tracking the lineage of families leading straight up to Jesus. The bible served a lot of purposes but it was also a fairly interesting manuscript for establishing the descendents of certain people.
I love you just as much as Dad, Mom. Even though the Bible says you're worth less if we had to sell you guys. I would hold out for a more equal price. Happy Mother's Day...
Leviticus 27:3-7 (New International Version) 3 set the value of a male between the ages of twenty and sixty at fifty shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel;
4 and if it is a female, set her value at thirty shekels.
5 If it is a person between the ages of five and twenty, set the value of a male at twenty shekels and of a female at ten shekels.
6 If it is a person between one month and five years, set the value of a male at five shekels of silver and that of a female at three shekels of silver.
7 If it is a person sixty years old or more, set the value of a male at fifteen shekels and of a female at ten shekels.
I did a very basic fast google on this passage and I am pretty sure you've taken it COMPLETELY out of context...
This absolutely has NOTHING to do with the purchase or slavery of anyone. let that be clear.
a quote from a bible study site..sorry no link... it shows the verses, then some commentary on it...
"Consecrating persons to the Lord.
1. (1-2) When a man consecrates by a vow certain persons to the Lord.
Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When a man consecrates by a vow certain persons to the Lord, according to your valuation,'"
a. When a man consecrates by a vow certain persons to the Lord: What did it mean to consecrate a person to the Lord? It could be done either for one's self, or on behalf of another (such as consecrating a child unto the Lord). This was a completely voluntary act, meant to demonstrate that this person was totally given to God.
i. For example, a man from the tribe of Judah, in a time of distress, or out of gratitude, or out of a sense of calling, wants to consecrate his son to the Lord. He could not give his son to the service of the tabernacle, because he was not a priestly family. So to consecrate his son, he would follow the procedures in the following verses.
b. When a man consecrates by a vow certain persons to the Lord: The beauty of these commands is that it gave the one making a vow of consecration something definite to do; the vow of consecration was therefore far more than mere words, it had a definite action associated with it - and prevented people from making empty vows to God.
2. (3-8) Assigning a valuation for persons consecrated by a vow.
If your valuation is of a male from twenty years old up to sixty years old, then your valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary. If it is a female, then your valuation shall be thirty shekels; and if from five years old up to twenty years old, then your valuation for a male shall be twenty shekels, and for a female ten shekels; and if from a month old up to five years old, then your valuation for a male shall be five shekels of silver, and for a female your valuation shall be three shekels of silver; and if from sixty years old and above, if it is a male, then your valuation shall be fifteen shekels, and for a female ten shekels. But if he is too poor to pay your valuation, then he shall present himself before the priest, and the priest shall set a value for him; according to the ability of him who vowed, the priest shall value him.
a. If your valuation is of a male from twenty years old up to sixty years old: Persons were assigned a value according to their age and general usefulness to society; especially in an agricultural society, there was a definite sense in which a man between 20 and 50 was more "valuable" than a child one month to five years old.
b. If he is too poor to pay your valuation: Importantly, no one was prohibited from fulfilling a vow of consecration because they did not have enough money; if they were poor, the priests would be flexible with the valuation.
i. Everyone can give their life to the Lord; there are none who are too small, or too insignificant, or too useless. God wants to use each and every one.
Congratz for citing a verse from the OLD TESTAMENT that OBVIOUSLY goes against the Lord's teachings.
The New Testament is like the God's New Deal.
I got news for ya buddy. The Old Testament was not a lie to the Jews, it was their rule of law. ALL verses in it were believed to be the literal word of God. It was Jesus' claims of being a God that went against the Lord's teachings. These claims were blasphemous to both Jewish AND Roman law, which is exactly why the Romans and the Jews alike were happy to have him executed by crucifixion.
The New Testament is about a MAN named Jesus who said to hell with God's hate. He tossed aside God's teachings for revenge. He preached love instead of 'eye for an eye'. This was not a 'New Deal' directed by God. This was blatant blasphemy to Roman and Jewish law. Which is why they got all pissed off and killed him. So much for 'turn the other cheek' His diciples couldn't handle the fact he was dead so they pretended he was resurrected. So many people were so tired of the hate of the Romans AND of the vengeful Jewish God that they bought into the story. Turning a philosophical man of peace into a God they could believe in.
To the OP thanks for the light hearted laugh. Too many people take themselves and/or their religions too seriously. Government and religion was one and the same for too many centuries (the main reason we have seperation of church and state) and at one point in time both you and I would have been jailed and executed for our blasphemous opinions. If there is a God and he read your post I would like to think that he/she has a sense of humor and would enjoy what you have to say. As for my opinions, I may be needing some fire retardents come time for the hereafter :O
--------------------------------- Mean People Suck
Comments
qft as are most religious books and manuscripts. As I tell so many people, I have yet to meet a true Christian and I believe the only person living or dead who has the right to be called a Christian was Christ himself. None have walked the earth since.
Ya know I think the central message of love and forgivance was a very good one. Generally I have no prob with people trusting a higher power. It is that bizzare book and the idea taking a 2000+ years old text literally, which brings the problems.
People don't ask questions to get answers - they ask questions to show how smart they are. - Dogbert
qft as are most religious books and manuscripts. As I tell so many people, I have yet to meet a true Christian and I believe the only person living or dead who has the right to be called a Christian was Christ himself. None have walked the earth since.
So you reject them on the basis that they are at least "trying" to be like Christ ? Just curious...
ack, need to quote someone else...sorry lol
The irony is how sometimes people miss the fact the bible is tracking the lineage of families leading straight up to Jesus. The bible served a lot of purposes but it was also a fairly interesting manuscript for establishing the descendents of certain people.
I did a very basic fast google on this passage and I am pretty sure you've taken it COMPLETELY out of context...
This absolutely has NOTHING to do with the purchase or slavery of anyone. let that be clear.
a quote from a bible study site..sorry no link... it shows the verses, then some commentary on it...
"Consecrating persons to the Lord.
1. (1-2) When a man consecrates by a vow certain persons to the Lord.
Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When a man consecrates by a vow certain persons to the Lord, according to your valuation,'"
a. When a man consecrates by a vow certain persons to the Lord: What did it mean to consecrate a person to the Lord? It could be done either for one's self, or on behalf of another (such as consecrating a child unto the Lord). This was a completely voluntary act, meant to demonstrate that this person was totally given to God.
i. For example, a man from the tribe of Judah, in a time of distress, or out of gratitude, or out of a sense of calling, wants to consecrate his son to the Lord. He could not give his son to the service of the tabernacle, because he was not a priestly family. So to consecrate his son, he would follow the procedures in the following verses.
b. When a man consecrates by a vow certain persons to the Lord: The beauty of these commands is that it gave the one making a vow of consecration something definite to do; the vow of consecration was therefore far more than mere words, it had a definite action associated with it - and prevented people from making empty vows to God.
2. (3-8) Assigning a valuation for persons consecrated by a vow.
If your valuation is of a male from twenty years old up to sixty years old, then your valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary. If it is a female, then your valuation shall be thirty shekels; and if from five years old up to twenty years old, then your valuation for a male shall be twenty shekels, and for a female ten shekels; and if from a month old up to five years old, then your valuation for a male shall be five shekels of silver, and for a female your valuation shall be three shekels of silver; and if from sixty years old and above, if it is a male, then your valuation shall be fifteen shekels, and for a female ten shekels. But if he is too poor to pay your valuation, then he shall present himself before the priest, and the priest shall set a value for him; according to the ability of him who vowed, the priest shall value him.
a. If your valuation is of a male from twenty years old up to sixty years old: Persons were assigned a value according to their age and general usefulness to society; especially in an agricultural society, there was a definite sense in which a man between 20 and 50 was more "valuable" than a child one month to five years old.
b. If he is too poor to pay your valuation: Importantly, no one was prohibited from fulfilling a vow of consecration because they did not have enough money; if they were poor, the priests would be flexible with the valuation.
i. Everyone can give their life to the Lord; there are none who are too small, or too insignificant, or too useless. God wants to use each and every one.
"
my 2 cents.
Congratz for citing a verse from the OLD TESTAMENT that OBVIOUSLY goes against the Lord's teachings.
The New Testament is like the God's New Deal.
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Guys! I'm hopelessly lost in a mountain of mole hills! Them damn moles!
I got news for ya buddy. The Old Testament was not a lie to the Jews, it was their rule of law. ALL verses in it were believed to be the literal word of God. It was Jesus' claims of being a God that went against the Lord's teachings. These claims were blasphemous to both Jewish AND Roman law, which is exactly why the Romans and the Jews alike were happy to have him executed by crucifixion.
The New Testament is about a MAN named Jesus who said to hell with God's hate. He tossed aside God's teachings for revenge. He preached love instead of 'eye for an eye'. This was not a 'New Deal' directed by God. This was blatant blasphemy to Roman and Jewish law. Which is why they got all pissed off and killed him. So much for 'turn the other cheek' His diciples couldn't handle the fact he was dead so they pretended he was resurrected. So many people were so tired of the hate of the Romans AND of the vengeful Jewish God that they bought into the story. Turning a philosophical man of peace into a God they could believe in.
To the OP thanks for the light hearted laugh. Too many people take themselves and/or their religions too seriously. Government and religion was one and the same for too many centuries (the main reason we have seperation of church and state) and at one point in time both you and I would have been jailed and executed for our blasphemous opinions. If there is a God and he read your post I would like to think that he/she has a sense of humor and would enjoy what you have to say. As for my opinions, I may be needing some fire retardents come time for the hereafter :O
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Mean People Suck