Christianity interprets the entire Scripture through the perspective of Jesus Christ’s doctrines, which underscore affection, empathy, and mercy. The aggressive narratives in the Old Testament are not perceived as direct instructions for today’s followers, but rather elements of a wider tale to be understood in its historical setting and spiritual allegory.
Furthermore, using terms such as “genocide” for these ancient narratives is historically incongruous. The concept, as we comprehend it now—a premeditated, organized extermination of a racial or cultural collective—did not exist in the same manner during biblical times. The exaggerated language in the biblical recounts of battles and triumphs typically served rhetorical or theological aims rather than outlining ethical conduct.
Moreover, Christianity stresses the importance of the ‘Sacred Tradition,’ the existence and wisdom of the Church over centuries. This Tradition involves an ongoing process of interpretation and discernment, aiming for an understanding of the Scriptures filled with divine wisdom, rather than a mere literal interpretation. This method often results in interpretations that affirm the inherent worth of all human life and the significance of love and tranquillity.
In summary, while these passages are present in the Bible, they are not considered as endorsements for violence in Christianity. Instead, they are interpreted within a framework that encourages peace, fairness, and affection.
If you are going to cherry-pick, actually know and understand what you are trying to reference rather than attempt to be some edge lord.
Oh I know the scriptures, read the Bible cover to cover multiple times both for church and college.
Basically all you’re saying is that you want to dance around the subject and use purely the cherry picked sections while ignoring total context, something most Christians do when their entire worldview comes from the selected stories covered on Sundays.
Jesus Christ’s doctrines, which underscore affection, empathy, and mercy.
This completely ignores that Jesus was preaching for people to follow the god of the Old Testament. The one who drowns people, kills children because of their nationality and takes child sacrifice to strengthen an army. Jesus made no point of apologizing and refuting past dictates for Yahweh, but instead reaffirmed things like owning others as property, finding other cultures and women as lesser beings.
Furthermore, using terms such as “genocide” for these ancient narratives is historically incongruous
17Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. 18But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
– Num 31:17-18
What better word would you use instead of genocide? This is the dictate of the god you worship, he knows if you’re lying or being untruthful remember.
This Tradition involves an ongoing process of interpretation and discernment, aiming for an understanding of the Scriptures filled with divine wisdom, rather than a mere literal interpretation.
Not sure how you can do this when you flat out ignore the fact it plainly states God demanding evil acts. What was the “metaphor” of killing men, women and children trying to represent? What was the specifics for sex slaves trying to show that couldn’t be said any other way than “take sex slaves as spoils of war?” And why didn’t Jesus come and explain this better, instead telling slaves to obey their masters and that any non believers will die by the sword?
Christianity interprets the entire Scripture through the perspective of Jesus Christ’s doctrines, which underscore affection, empathy, and mercy. The aggressive narratives in the Old Testament are not perceived as direct instructions for today’s followers, but rather elements of a wider tale to be understood in its historical setting and spiritual allegory.
Furthermore, using terms such as “genocide” for these ancient narratives is historically incongruous. The concept, as we comprehend it now—a premeditated, organized extermination of a racial or cultural collective—did not exist in the same manner during biblical times. The exaggerated language in the biblical recounts of battles and triumphs typically served rhetorical or theological aims rather than outlining ethical conduct.
Moreover, Christianity stresses the importance of the ‘Sacred Tradition,’ the existence and wisdom of the Church over centuries. This Tradition involves an ongoing process of interpretation and discernment, aiming for an understanding of the Scriptures filled with divine wisdom, rather than a mere literal interpretation. This method often results in interpretations that affirm the inherent worth of all human life and the significance of love and tranquillity.
In summary, while these passages are present in the Bible, they are not considered as endorsements for violence in Christianity. Instead, they are interpreted within a framework that encourages peace, fairness, and affection.
If you are going to cherry-pick, actually know and understand what you are trying to reference rather than attempt to be some edge lord.
Oh I know the scriptures, read the Bible cover to cover multiple times both for church and college.
Basically all you’re saying is that you want to dance around the subject and use purely the cherry picked sections while ignoring total context, something most Christians do when their entire worldview comes from the selected stories covered on Sundays.
This completely ignores that Jesus was preaching for people to follow the god of the Old Testament. The one who drowns people, kills children because of their nationality and takes child sacrifice to strengthen an army. Jesus made no point of apologizing and refuting past dictates for Yahweh, but instead reaffirmed things like owning others as property, finding other cultures and women as lesser beings.
17Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. 18But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
– Num 31:17-18
What better word would you use instead of genocide? This is the dictate of the god you worship, he knows if you’re lying or being untruthful remember.
Not sure how you can do this when you flat out ignore the fact it plainly states God demanding evil acts. What was the “metaphor” of killing men, women and children trying to represent? What was the specifics for sex slaves trying to show that couldn’t be said any other way than “take sex slaves as spoils of war?” And why didn’t Jesus come and explain this better, instead telling slaves to obey their masters and that any non believers will die by the sword?