Garden of Eden was a setup...

[Chad32]

The problem is that there are a lot of messages of the bible, and you can find verses to justify anything that you already believe in. Hence the thousands of sects, and a history of violence and persecution, despite Jesus' attempts at a more positive message than that of the old testament.

We have to live how Jesus taught us to live. Jesus is the fulfillment of the old covenant and has paid the penalty for sin. It's him who we are to follow. That's the message of the bible. The old testament times were terrible times before the price for sin was paid and we came under God's grace.

I thought the old testament was a horrible time because of that deity that committed mass murder, and ordered more of it, instead of actually working to improve society.

Living like Jesus lived is easier said than done. The whole worship Yahweh above all else is pretty clear, but loving your neighbor as yourself while also hating yourself and all tht you'd normally care about is a bit iffy. Also loving your neighbor can be hard when Jesus says it's best to drown people rather than let them lead people away from christianity. Also he perpetuates the idea of thought crime, and turns a blind eye to slavery.