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In the bible, we read a very popular story of a man who was [allegedly] told to kill his son by none other than "God" (so we are told). He attempted to do so, but was stopped before he could go through with the deed. This became the ultimate confirmation that this man, Abraham, was a man of great faith and could be trusted with the things of God. This story is told in Sunday Schools, bible story books and Sunday sermons as an example of strong faith in doing what God tells you to do, which as we will see is strictly left up to interpretations from individual to individual.
Now, if we place the same story in today's context, just about all of us, whether we are the most dedicated person in church or the biggest heathen running around, would say that such a person has psychological problems and needs immediate psychiatric care. In fact, one might hear, from SOME in the Christian camp that such a person is "demon possessed." So that "voice" that allegedly spoke to Abraham in the bible was "God", but any other person hearing such voices to go kill their child or any other loved one or stranger is crazy. Think about it.
That is just used as an example that we should obey God. I don't think too many take that literally. Are you going to ask how Noah fit all of the animals on the boat next?
Actually, it's a complex question.
1. Death does not really matter, if you know that you are not, actually, dying after death. Abraham was not really killing his son, and his son wouldn't have really been dead.
2. Same God sent angel to prevent this, right? Wasn't it a test, considering how important was Abraham's role in the human history?
3. Last time I checked, if you are disobeying direct order, in most world militaris, you are considered a traitor and may be shot to death without any hearing. And it happened many times, that soldiers were ordered to kill their close. I do not recall anyone calling them "demon possessed" or else, when they actually obeyed the order.
Two things are blind in humans - Faith and Love. True faith has no reasons to question or doubt.
That is just used as an example that we should obey God. I don't think too many take that literally. Are you going to ask how Noah fit all of the animals on the boat next?
So we can count you out of the literalist camp then?
Even as an allegory it is not a very wholesome story.......... which illustrates the bronze age mentality of the times.
[quote=thinkalot;28758358]That is just used as an example that we should obey God. I don't think too many take that literally. Are you going to ask how Noah fit all of the animals on the boat
In the bible, we read a very popular story of a man who was [allegedly] told to kill his son by none other than "God" (so we are told). He attempted to do so, but was stopped before he could go through with the deed. This became the ultimate confirmation that this man, Abraham, was a man of great faith and could be trusted with the things of God. This story is told in Sunday Schools, bible story books and Sunday sermons as an example of strong faith in doing what God tells you to do, which as we will see is strictly left up to interpretations from individual to individual.
Now, if we place the same story in today's context, just about all of us, whether we are the most dedicated person in church or the biggest heathen running around, would say that such a person has psychological problems and needs immediate psychiatric care. In fact, one might hear, from SOME in the Christian camp that such a person is "demon possessed." So that "voice" that allegedly spoke to Abraham in the bible was "God", but any other person hearing such voices to go kill their child or any other loved one or stranger is crazy. Think about it.
That is just used as an example that we should obey God. I don't think too many take that literally. Are you going to ask how Noah fit all of the animals on the boat next?
Actually many on this very board take both stories literally. Pretty much any Evangelical or Fundamentalist Christian.
Actually many on this very board take both stories literally. Pretty much any Evangelical or Fundamentalist Christian.
No. Christianity does not teach murder. Insanity does...but not Christianity.
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