Confused by christianity?

Question

My sister has asked me to help her with some religious education coursework from school and I'm a little confused.

She is studying the bible, and while looking through it we came across some rather disturbing paragraphs.

For example, in one part, God kills 70,000 innocent people because David ordered a census of the people, this was after the ten commandments; one of which is 'Thou shall not kill'

Another section she pointed out to me which I found very worrying is where s*x slavery is promoted:

"When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are. If she does not please the man who bought her, he may allow her to be bought back again. But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the contract with her. And if the slave girl's owner arranges for her to marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave girl, but he must treat her as his daughter. If he himself marries her and then takes another wife, he may not reduce her food or clothing or fail to sleep with her as his wife. If he fails in any of these three ways, she may leave as a free woman without making any payment. (Exodus 21:7-11 NLT)"

This has obviously raised serious concerns when a 14 year old points out such atrocities, she no longer wants to do her coursework because she says 'I thought God was supposed to be peaceful'

What am I supposed to say to her? I can't try to convince her otherwise because she is right. I'm lost on this one.

Answer 1

The bible often never says who wrote these absurd delusional tales.

Explain that the bible is a collection of bronze age myths and if it was the word of God he would not need some primitive clown to write it for him. You should be glad she is using her mind to question stupid lies

Answer 2

Read C S Lewis' "Mere Christianity".

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Answer 3

You have to keep in mind the times these where written

Answer 4

Easy -- Just tell her the truth.  God is pretend.

Answer 5

Yes, I agree that there are some 'disturbing' chapters in God's Word, but when read in context I believe those passages are there as an example to us.

God is a loving God to all, but will not have unrepentant sinners in His fold.

This sounds very much like a Roman Catholic school !

I humbly suggest that you and your sister get an accurate Bible.

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Answer 6

the bible is not accurate it has been through many translations the words are no longer to be taken verbatim after all its full of contradictions

Answer 7

the bible was changed.the quran was never changed read the meaning of quran.

Answer 8

Someone ought to give a GOOD HARD KNOCK on the teacher's head for giving such a tough question like this to a 14 year-old child and cause her to stay away from the Bible for the rest of her life.  This passage requires heavy research on the Mosaic law and customs.  She needs good Bible study tools and commentaries.  

I really wonder why is it so crucial for a 14 year-old to look into this aspect of the Bible?  Is this a special course or just one of the extra school curriculum? The teacher is real cruel and mindless!

I am one for sure the Bible does not contradicts itself but our understanding.  If possible, I will answer further later.

By the way, we are no longer living for the old convenant but the new.  So the old testament Law do not apply to us but lessons can still be learnt.  

Heb 10:1  For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things..."

Answer 9

Secular Humanism, Science books, etc.

Answer 10

You have to look at the Bible in a wholistic method.  The Old Testament is the "old Mosaic" law.  The New Testament is the "New Law". The New Testament says very plainly that Jesus came and changed "the law".  From the 684 laws that Jews are bound to obey, Jesus said they were all rolled up into one law "love the lord thy God with all thy heart and thy neighbor as thyself".

Hence, the Jewish religion and the Christian religion have very different requirements.  However, Jesus, as a Jew, will bring all Christians to God under his name in the Jewish Laws.  So many Christian teach the Jewish law as if were required for Christians (specifically, circumcision)

In the New Testament .... (whether Jesus is real or NOT)

God = LOVE

Holy Spirit = TRUTH

Jesus = the embodiment of both on the earth.  

He said "I am THE TRUTH, THE LIGHT and THE WAY" (to God, or LOVE.)

"we all wear the same thorny crown" (B. Dylan)

Answer 11

The Bible is full of disgusting stuff. Some stories where stolen from other myths. Noah's flood was stolen from the epic of Gilgamesh and Atra Hasis. Moses was stolen from Sargon. There are no Egyptian hieroglyphs about a Jewish exodus. Jesus was stolen from Mithra. Also read Bart D. Ehrmans book Misquoting Jesus.

Answer 12

It's very odd that your sister would ask you for help when you don't seem to understand some fairly basic issues yourself.

Her assumption that God is peaceful isn't scriptural either.  

Better to have someone help her that knows what's going on.