(August 4, 2021 at 2:21 pm)Spongebob Wrote:And the Irony is this so-called God gave these commandments to a group of former slaves(August 4, 2021 at 2:03 pm)tackattack Wrote: This is exactly the type of position I have a problem with " So it's illegal to covet a slave, but not illegal to own a slave. How fucked up is that? " It's fucked up if that's what's going on but it's not. It's illegal to covet a slave, and you shouldn't have certain types of slaves and there is no statements as to the illegality of owning a slave and no dictate that you should have slaves (aside from an instance of prisoners of war). As @Angrboda pointed out the jocular phrase (misquoted to God). "That which isn't forbidden is permitted", or it's German opposite "everything which is not allowed is forbidden" , is about general power of competence. I'm aware of the historical and societal slavery you reference. The fact that it existed far before the Bible should just be another reason the Bible isn't the source of slavery.
I don't believe there is nearly enough to work with to claim "that isn't what's going on". Here we have god, Jehova, or whatever you want to call it, giving his chosen people 10 (not 1000 or 100) laws to live by. One would think that these must be the best of the best, the highest priority, the cream of the crop. Not only does he waste 4 of them on basically the same rule (I'm god and you better not forget it), but when he finally gets to the concept of slavery, he doesn't say "don't do it", he just says don't be envious of your neighbors cool slaves. That silence on slavery says a tremendous amount about the culture and society from whence it came because, you know, we all know this stuff really came from some high priest and not god almighty, so the priest put down the things he or his lot felt were the most critical things. Honestly, I need no further evidence that man is the author of this religion and this book. No god worth his salt would have wasted one of the 10 most important rules on envying slaves. At least Odin would have said if you envy your neighbor because he has slaves, then just kill the bastard and take the slaves for yourself! Now that's a god!
And I never suggested the Bible was the source for slavery; it existed almost everywhere in ancient times. But you have to admit that many a Christian has used Biblical arguments to defend slavery. That doesn't actually condemn the Bible, but it sure makes you wonder again, if an all powerful god didn't like slavery, why wouldn't he just say so. Nope, just don't be envious; that's really bad for the soul.
"Change was inevitable"
Nemo sicut deus debet esse!
“No matter what men think, abortion is a fact of life. Women have always had them; they always have and they always will. Are they going to have good ones or bad ones? Will the good ones be reserved for the rich, while the poor women go to quacks?”
–SHIRLEY CHISHOLM
Nemo sicut deus debet esse!
“No matter what men think, abortion is a fact of life. Women have always had them; they always have and they always will. Are they going to have good ones or bad ones? Will the good ones be reserved for the rich, while the poor women go to quacks?”
–SHIRLEY CHISHOLM