God, killing people, incouraging murder and much, much more

[Zundrah]

One thing that might help is to focus on the fact that death is not the end. From the perspective of eternity, you can take passages like “God slew the firstborn of Israel” and replace them with “God carried the firstborn of Israel to a wonderful place where everyone gets a pony.” The pony is optional, but you get the jist.

Even in cases where the smoten person has chosen to be an enemy of God, you don’t know where he’s going to wind up for eternity. Obviously, people in the Old Testament world had very little knowledge of God to work with. So there is definitely room to trust in God’s mercy.

Now, I’ve seen similar “look what a meany God is” lists before, from various atheist forums around the web. May I suggest that frequenting such forums may not be useful at this point in your journey? I’m not saying that you should never expose yourself to other points of view, but maybe that’s not what you need right now. Consider contacting your pastor. Tell him that you’ve been troubled by some of your readings in the Old Testament, and ask his advice. That’s what he’s there for.

God bless.

This is reassuring, thank you. I hope I didn’t turn anyone agnostic though…

 

[JRKH]

I think that I am going to end up as a cafeteria catholic because I am starting to believe that perhaps it was just primitive men ho wrote and did all of this, with out the guidance or influence of God. I think that perhaps most of the old testament is made up of ridiculous stories of men doing ridiculous things because they were trying to find God and repent their own sins, but failed terribly…
I was thinking about all this yesterday and last night.
I think that maybe Christ is the only real truth in the bible.

I could quote many, many things from the bible that make no sense and seem pretty pointless…

The other week at Mass, father addressed your concern this way.

Some people look at the Bbile as a whole and see all sorts of contradictions and blooletting and revenge etc. and ask How could a loving God allow, or order, or ordain all of this.
What they do not recognize is that the Bible shows a progression from a more violent beginning to a more loving fulfillment in Christ.
In the Beginnings vengence was basicaly unlimited, then later came the Mosaic Law and “An Eye for an Eye” which means the punishment must fit the crime. Finally comes Christ to eliminate vengence all together with the Law of Love.

So look at it as progression.

Peace
James

 

[Zundrah]

The other week at Mass, father addressed your concern this way.

Some people look at the Bbile as a whole and see all sorts of contradictions and blooletting and revenge etc. and ask How could a loving God allow, or order, or ordain all of this.
What they do not recognize is that the Bible shows a progression from a more violent beginning to a more loving fulfillment in Christ.
In the Beginnings vengence was basicaly unlimited, then later came the Mosaic Law and “An Eye for an Eye” which means the punishment must fit the crime. Finally comes Christ to eliminate vengence all together with the Law of Love.

So look at it as progression.

Peace
James

Thankfully we really did progress quite well. You are right yet again, we can see the salvation through the bible rather than the history.
If we begrudge some one for their past what hope is there for their future. Christiany was and is the future of living with the father. Praise the Lord.

 

[Disciple4Christ]

I understand what you are going through only to well as I went down the same road a few years ago. I was away from the Chruch for 33 years because of a stupid misunderstanding.
I was invited by some Good neighbors and friends to attend service at their Methodist Church Thank God for them. But all this did was to reignite a fire I kept hidden since my youth. Ten thousand questions and who do you ask everyone in the local Methodist Church had their own interpetation of scripture that varied greatly and contradicted each other. So I went to the internet CAUTION is needed hear even on this site. With the possible exception of the Apollogests. The greatest treasure I found was the Vatican site finally consistant answers that made sense. Also I picked up a Catichism of the Catholic Church.
Hard to argue with the truth. Also read up on the early church fathers they described the Catholic Church I had started to attend as though they had been to Mass there, Ignatious 105 AD ect…
My wife and I went to RCIA and learned a lot no commitment. But we knew long before we finished RCIA we were home.
I reccomend reading any Encyclical By John Paul they wreak with the Love of mankind.

I guess my advise is keep the fire the Holy Spirit has put into you burning by discerning
carefully your source of information. To read scripture properly you need the lense of the Church the lense of Love.

Oh By the way now I am Teaching Adult Catichises in the church and giving Presentations around our vicarate.

Keep the Faith
You are on your way home I think
Love jim

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

I think that I am going to end up as a cafeteria catholic because I am starting to believe that perhaps it was just primitive men ho wrote and did all of this, with out the guidance or influence of God. I think that perhaps most of the old testament is made up of ridiculous stories of men doing ridiculous things because they were trying to find God and repent their own sins, but failed terribly…
I was thinking about all this yesterday and last night.
I think that maybe Christ is the only real truth in the bible.

I could quote many, many things from the bible that make no sense and seem pretty pointless…

God is not a Bible character in the same way as human beings - you might as well say God is a mass-murderer because all humans are mortal and therefore die.​

The books in what is called the Bible deserve to be read intelligently - unfortunately, this is too much to ask of all too many people: possibly because they can’t imagine that any books not written in the US are worth bothering with. If it weren’t for the brain-rotting plague of Fundamentalism, things might be a lot more healthy.

 

[peary]

I think that I am going to end up as a cafeteria catholic because I am starting to believe that perhaps it was just primitive men ho wrote and did all of this, with out the guidance or influence of God. I think that perhaps most of the old testament is made up of ridiculous stories of men doing ridiculous things because they were trying to find God and repent their own sins, but failed terribly…
I was thinking about all this yesterday and last night.
I think that maybe Christ is the only real truth in the bible.

I could quote many, many things from the bible that make no sense and seem pretty pointless…

It is apparent that you have read very little of the bible, or even understand its contents, which is unfortunate. But discussing it with your posting wouldn’t make any sense and would also seem pretty pointless. Good luck.

 

[MercyMia]

Zundrah - This was a great question. I know what you speak of on some other threads - but I can see that this question is truly from your heart and it is one many of us have been faced with. What some of the other posters have said about time and place and context being important is true. The further we get away from actually preserving the word of God because of fundamentalist churches, the more this will be an issue for people. Most people in these churches are never introduced to these scriptures, they only hear the health and wealth gospel. So when they hear these things, they are very “dark and scary” and have nothing to do with living your dreams, finding a mate and buying that fancy house with Jesus’ help! So, then suddenly, because it doesn’t match up with the false notion of God they have been led to believe, they think God is a mean, blood thirsty God and they might to turn to new age ideas like The Promise where they don’t have to think critically think or search for answers, they just have to make wishes.
We cannot see God as a murderer because he brings physical death upon his people. All life is God’s to take. Really think about that. God is not a murderer because our lives belong to him and he is free to take it away whenever he chooses. That is hard to swallow in a me-centered world.

 

[MercyMia]

Zundrah - This was a great question. I know what you speak of on some other threads - but I can see that this question is truly from your heart and it is one many of us have been faced with. What some of the other posters have said about time and place and context being important is true. The further we get away from actually preserving the word of God because of fundamentalist churches, the more this will be an issue for people. Most people in these churches are never introduced to these scriptures, they only hear the health and wealth gospel. So when they hear these things, they are very “dark and scary” and have nothing to do with living your dreams, finding a mate and buying that fancy house with Jesus’ help! So, then suddenly, because it doesn’t match up with the false notion of God they have been led to believe, they think God is a mean, blood thirsty God and they might to turn to new age ideas like The Promise where they don’t have to think critically think or search for answers, they just have to make wishes.
We cannot see God as a murderer because he brings physical death upon his people. All life is God’s to take. Really think about that. God is not a murderer because our lives belong to him and he is free to take it away whenever he chooses. That is hard to swallow in a me-centered world.

I meant “The Secret.” That darn edit option doesn’t last long and the difference between me finishing my first cup of coffee in the morning is too long I guess!

 

[Zundrah]

It is apparent that you have read very little of the bible, or even understand its contents, which is unfortunate. But discussing it with your posting wouldn’t make any sense and would also seem pretty pointless. Good luck.

Oh my…

 

[Zundrah]

Zundrah - This was a great question. I know what you speak of on some other threads - but I can see that this question is truly from your heart and it is one many of us have been faced with. What some of the other posters have said about time and place and context being important is true. The further we get away from actually preserving the word of God because of fundamentalist churches, the more this will be an issue for people. Most people in these churches are never introduced to these scriptures, they only hear the health and wealth gospel. So when they hear these things, they are very “dark and scary” and have nothing to do with living your dreams, finding a mate and buying that fancy house with Jesus’ help! So, then suddenly, because it doesn’t match up with the false notion of God they have been led to believe, they think God is a mean, blood thirsty God and they might to turn to new age ideas like The Promise where they don’t have to think critically think or search for answers, they just have to make wishes.
We cannot see God as a murderer because he brings physical death upon his people. All life is God’s to take. Really think about that. God is not a murderer because our lives belong to him and he is free to take it away whenever he chooses. That is hard to swallow in a me-centered world.

I will rejoice the day he calls my name.