A simple question for theists

[Catholic_Lady]

This is the problem with every religion, you cant even get members to agree how to view the writings....Both you and CL cant agree on interpretation, just like our two Muslims here Mystic Night and Atlas cant agree on how to interpret the Koran. How is it you think you are not doing the same thing other religions are doing, having their internal conflicts about interpretation?

In all fields of knowledge there are broad areas of agreement and hotly contested areas of debate. That is true of biology, of archaeology, history, linguistics, economics,...the list is endless. For you to the single out religion merely demonstrates the shallowness of your thinking.

It depends a lot on denomination, too. Mainstream Protestantism is Sola Scriptura, while Catholicism is not. Obviously we are going to disagree on some biblical interpretations, especially in the Old Testament where there is blur between what is historically factual and what is written allegorically. The most important part, however, are all the things we do agree on as Christians - that Jesus is the Son of God who came and performed miracles, and taught us about God and His Law, died, and rose from the dead.  

And to clarify, I did not say Abraham's story is purely allegorical. I believe he was a real man, a Jew who was very religious, wise, and close to God, and underwent some sort of great test of faith and loyalty at some point in his life. I would guess that the way it was described was greatly embellished though, as with probably all OT stories in my opinion. It doesn't mean I don't think they have certain merit though or that all the people are completely made up.   

As for what I said on my last post, "Christianity defines itself by the New Testament - The Gospels, the teachings of Christ." That line actually came from a Catholic guest speaker I heard once when I was in Catholic Student Association in college. It was part of his response to someone in the audience who asked a snarky question about some horrible line from the OT, in an attempt to discredit the Christian message. Don't remember exact details though. But it does go to show the different approaches in Christian circles.

---

...killing an innocent person goes against Natural Law. Meaning it goes against the way our world works, because that is how God created our world to work. Thus we have an inherent understanding that directly killing an innocent person is wrong.

Exactly that. At the same time, The OP's hypothetical is that you believe the person is 100% innocent. As fallen creatures, we must admit to our own limitations - there is no 100% and so while you may believe the person is innocent isn't it also possible that you are not in command of all the facts and must trust that God's judgment is just?

You make a good point. But it wouldn't change my answer. In Catholicism we are taught that it's only ok to directly kill someone if it is the only way we can stop them from hurting us or someone else. Or in specific scenarios in a just war. 

Nonetheless, walking up to someone and just killing them without another life being in some sort of imminent danger because of that person, goes against my religious beliefs as well. I don't believe God would ever ask me to do that, and if He did, everything I believe about Him/reality would fall apart.