Anonymous #1 3d

Genuinely it is not THAT good. I’ve read the bible, it is overrated, some lessons are valuable, but contemporary texts can provide a lot more insight. I’m a materialist so I believe that analysis of measurable conditions provides a more productive worldview.

3

Anonymous #1 3d

If your daughter is raped should she marry the rapist?

1

Anonymous #1 3d

There’s a reason that there’s a boatload of different Christian denominations out there. The Bible constantly contradicts itself to the point that there’s an old world and new world version of it and you have to consider everything mentioned in both testaments. It’s also been translated idk how many times over atp

1

Anonymous OP 3d

I mean yeah that makes sense. It’s a 3000 year old book that tracks decades of history and ideas that we don’t really ascribe to. So I’d agree that from a usefulness perspective it can be outdated, especially the Old Testament. However, I personally find it good in the sense that it’s a) interesting to read and learn about and b) posited revolutionary ideas that still impact us 2000 years later

1

Anonymous #3 3d

I wouldn’t say the contradictory nature inherently negates its “good” nature (in terms of quality and impact). You’re right that it’s really convoluted, but I think the convolution adds value since it allows us to understand different perspectives and ideas. Take the book of Job where we get a bunch of different ideas as to why God lets bad things happen.

5

Anonymous #2 3d

I assume you’re talking about Deuteronomy 22: 28-29. If so, translations of the original Hebrew ‘tapas’ word used in this verse can mean different ideas. It’s especially confusing since previously, Deuteronomy mentions a more explicit rape case where a severe punishment is outlined. Basically, it’s a translation issue and scholars have debated if this verse is rape or being caught in premarital sex

1

Anonymous #1 3d

I mean yeah it’s definitely a good read, the issue though is that it’s meant to be something that you base almost all your views off of. Something that contradicts itself that many times over and has been re-translated a bunch is going to have flaws at some point

1

Anonymous #3 3d

Once again you bring up a good point. But the key is that we BASE our views off of it. Are portions of the Good Book outdated? Of course, it’s a text written to guide an ancient society. Its real power is that it gives us something to base our beliefs off of, specifically via its underlying New Testament morality. We decide which of its aspects we believe in. That’s the point of faith and it’s why there are so many Christian denominations.

0

Anonymous #1 3d

That you need a book of ancient myths that comes with justifications for slavery, homophobia etc. in order to not kill, steal and rape says more about you than anything. We are naturally averse to these behaviors.

1

Anonymous #2 2d

We have laws that tell us not to kill, steal, and rape. Their very existence shows people are NOT naturally averse to such behaviors. If we were, such laws wouldn’t be necessary. At best, you could argue MOST people are naturally averse, but we still need a framework to deal with the minority who aren’t. In this sense, the Old Testament can be viewed in a similar light. It lays out laws addressing such issues and grounds them in the highest available authority, God.

1