RE: How do you reconcile your god, the mass murderer?
December 10, 2017 at 2:03 pm
(This post was last modified: December 10, 2017 at 2:07 pm by JairCrawford.)
When I read Old Testament scripture, I have to look at the multiple layers of the writing. For me, as a believer (albeit not necessarily the fundamentalist type), two layers pop out at me the most.
The first layer is the historical context. I have to understand that there is a lot of historical and cultural context that can't be ignored. The influence of Canaanite paganism in contrast to the ever separating beliefs of Israel is evident in much of what the writers of the Old Testament attributed to God.
The second layer is the spiritual layer. And, from what I have gathered in my experience reading it, is that in spite of the crazy historical and cultural circumstances that the OT was written, I still find prophecy and type shadows pointing to Christ everywhere.
Granted this is from my own personal studies and experiences with Scripture. You'll get different perspectives from different people.
Just because that is the way that organized religion has worked in the past, does not mean that that is the way that it should work now or that it should ever have been. Just because it happened does not necessarily make it justified. Just my two cents.
The first layer is the historical context. I have to understand that there is a lot of historical and cultural context that can't be ignored. The influence of Canaanite paganism in contrast to the ever separating beliefs of Israel is evident in much of what the writers of the Old Testament attributed to God.
The second layer is the spiritual layer. And, from what I have gathered in my experience reading it, is that in spite of the crazy historical and cultural circumstances that the OT was written, I still find prophecy and type shadows pointing to Christ everywhere.
Granted this is from my own personal studies and experiences with Scripture. You'll get different perspectives from different people.
(December 10, 2017 at 10:26 am)Chad32 Wrote: It's a little weird how some people try to transcend religious thought, saying they believe in god and not religion, or some such. But that just makes them a heretic. They're making up their own religion in their mind. That's not the solution to the problem. If you don't like the religion, or the churches, then stop clinging to their god.
Just because that is the way that organized religion has worked in the past, does not mean that that is the way that it should work now or that it should ever have been. Just because it happened does not necessarily make it justified. Just my two cents.
