(June 25, 2015 at 10:00 am)SteveII Wrote: If you read it starting with the supposition that God does not exist, then I can see your point. However, if God does exist, that has massive ramifications to the meaning of what you are reading and every story has to be viewed in a different light. So, when you criticize Christians for "excusing" God in the OT, you are not being accurate. If you believe that God exists, there is no "excusing" required. You have to understand the theology/doctrine regarding the nature of God and only then does his actions make sense in the broader picture.
You are right, there is no excuse for the behaviour of that warmongering tyrant.
SteveII Wrote:You also have to view the ENTIRE OT as leading up to the NT. The events of the NT were a result of the OT. There we learn more about the nature of God and these further revelations help us make sense of the actions from the OT. Many on this forum loves to pick and choose which part of Christianity or God they will mock next--ignoring the fact every little detail is only one among thousands that form a complete understanding of God in general and Christianity specifically.
I think the OT showed us everything we care to know about that evil warlord.
SteveII Wrote:Back to the OP. I don't remember Hitler (or any of your other examples) laying out the groundwork that would bring the possibility of eternal redemption for the entire human race--which is how Christians read the OT (it's also what the OT itself claims to be doing).
Just for sake of argument (as that is being dealt with in other threads), I will let you have that one point (illegitimate as it is), and the rest of the story?
You make people miserable and there's nothing they can do about it, just like god.
-- Homer Simpson
God has no place within these walls, just as facts have no place within organized religion.
-- Superintendent Chalmers
Science is like a blabbermouth who ruins a movie by telling you how it ends. There are some things we don't want to know. Important things.
-- Ned Flanders
Once something's been approved by the government, it's no longer immoral.
-- The Rev Lovejoy
-- Homer Simpson
God has no place within these walls, just as facts have no place within organized religion.
-- Superintendent Chalmers
Science is like a blabbermouth who ruins a movie by telling you how it ends. There are some things we don't want to know. Important things.
-- Ned Flanders
Once something's been approved by the government, it's no longer immoral.
-- The Rev Lovejoy
