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Raquel wrote:
On Wed, 9 May 2007 16:26:31 -0400 (EDT)
judd@wadsworth.org wrote:
It helps to know something of the context when reading the
bible. The people who Abraham lived among (Canaanites, IIRC?),
practiced sacrificed the "first fruits" to whatever gods they
worshipped. It was not uncommon to include the first born
son in this. One of the remarkable parts of the story of Abraham,
to a contemporary audience is the fact that the God of Israel does
not actually call for his people to sacrifice their children.
And Abraham did not sacrifice Isaac. When Abraham showed up, in
compliance to the wishes of the God of Israel, God provided a lamb
in his place.
I am playing the Devil's advocate here. So I might as well fulfill my
role. So, you're saying God was merciful on Isaac because a lamb was
sacrificed instead. Fine. So God demanded cruelty to an animal, which
is also against our modern laws.
Either way one looks at it, the Bible is condoning behavior that is no
longer accepted as being morally just. Or perhaps it is just telling us
what happened, so we can learn from the past. I can't say that seems
very evident looking at many of the things that happen today.
I really just wish that Christians would adhere to the lessons that they
so firmly believe in. But alas, we have a whole lot of people that seem
to do well on Sunday and forget about the rest of the week.
Is it a turn the other cheek world we live in or is the eye for an eye
world?
Joe
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