Post by glycerin on Jun 11, 2006 22:56:32 GMT -5
Is it time for a new bible to come along? A third testament to be written? As a 2x2 the bible and the teachings from it were helpful. They were, for the most part, a reasonably good guide about what was the right thing to do. But then you mature, and realize the bible is terribly out of date, and terribly full of confounding contradictions, and in so many places, just plain factually wrong. We need a new, articulate, social genius, like a Jesus or the Buddha, Mohammad, or Confucius. It wouldn’t hurt if he, or she, could do a few supernatural things to lend punch and authority to their teachings. I guess that’s what Christians would say the second coming of Christ will be about? I wonder if he will be a she this time around? It’s probably about time. The bible really isn’t cutting it anymore. Historic understandings have already been overturned, or are in the process of being overrun and reinterpreted. A short list of examples include such things as
The changing role, place, and importance of women;
Attitudes toward what (and when) a couple “is as one” (marriage, divorce, homosexuality);
When the spirit is “born”, as challenged by the abortion-contraception-cloning debate;
What the spirit is, as challenged by the power of chemistry, and ever increasing insights into how the personal wiring of our individual brains make “us”.
Even the foundation of the current Testament needs a long overdue upgrade. Is there anyone who doesn’t realize on the simplest most straightforward basis that if you repent, God forgives? The scapegoating analogy, and drinking his blood and eating his flesh are really getting to be a stretch. Its time we respectfully resign this twisted teaching and ceremony to the men of old.
The current bible really has been struggling with a lot of things lately. Philosophers are extrapolating, guessing, and rewriting anyway, way beyond the clear words therein. We need a better clearer Testament. It’s time.
The changing role, place, and importance of women;
Attitudes toward what (and when) a couple “is as one” (marriage, divorce, homosexuality);
When the spirit is “born”, as challenged by the abortion-contraception-cloning debate;
What the spirit is, as challenged by the power of chemistry, and ever increasing insights into how the personal wiring of our individual brains make “us”.
Even the foundation of the current Testament needs a long overdue upgrade. Is there anyone who doesn’t realize on the simplest most straightforward basis that if you repent, God forgives? The scapegoating analogy, and drinking his blood and eating his flesh are really getting to be a stretch. Its time we respectfully resign this twisted teaching and ceremony to the men of old.
The current bible really has been struggling with a lot of things lately. Philosophers are extrapolating, guessing, and rewriting anyway, way beyond the clear words therein. We need a better clearer Testament. It’s time.