Sculptor wrote: ↑Thu Oct 17, 2019 6:44 pm
Judge not by word but by deed.
yep - see above post.
Sculptor wrote: ↑Thu Oct 17, 2019 6:44 pm
Most Muslims are simply born into "Islam". .
yep, like Chistians and Hindus. depends upon the land you are born in.
Sculptor wrote: ↑Thu Oct 17, 2019 6:44 pm
Whilst I agree that Islam is violent, it is less so than Judaism,
agreed, both faiths are violent (and identical theologically).
I do not like the violence aspects of either, but like Islam as non racist (any one can convert - race not relevant) and like Judaism for its valuing of justice over all things (i,e even if it require me hating my enemy - reciprocity.............not "love my enemy so he can blub me while i love him christian mindset).
one thing i do not like about Judaism is its tribalism, "us jews" vs the "goyim". i understand that that is a product of the percecutions of the jews over history and the authors of some of those books took upon that mindset of tribal thugs (Ezra).
there are an equal number of authors that rejected Ezra's view - Author of Job, and championed the universality of all men regardless of their personal faith and the justice of the Jewish god for them and jews both in the overall picture.
Sculptor wrote: ↑Thu Oct 17, 2019 6:44 pm
and most Christians are perfectly happy to take their instructions from the Old Testament sadly.
From the Torah you mean.
they are ignorant. the Torah is not the OT.
the OT is the Torah and the minor prophets works.
Christians today affirm the torah, the lesser work in the OT, and are wholey ignorant of the other works in the OT - most of which are worthy, more so than the Torah (the latter is a political work written to justify the land grabe of Israel by the jews and God's will).
read:
job
amos
jonah
all excellent works affirm humility and justice over pride and privalege. affirming universal humanity.
but "christians" don't bother to read those works of the OT. sadly.
Sculptor wrote: ↑Thu Oct 17, 2019 6:44 pm
The Christian right in the US, in particular, seem very keen on vengeance and taking an eye for and eye (as well as a Ib of flesh for good measure).
yes, in truth they are not Christians, they are fascists.
I'm not a Christian (but find some good in their Faith as i do in Judaism and Islam - and reject the rest using my mind/conscience) BTW, I'm an Atheist, but no Fascist!
Sculptor wrote: ↑Thu Oct 17, 2019 6:44 pm
People do what they want and use the Scripture to justify their needs.
yep!
Sculptor wrote: ↑Thu Oct 17, 2019 6:44 pm
The Old Testament is so violent that it is easy enough to pick and choose something relevant.
In WWI, both sides were fighting for God.
It's Deeds not words.
you view of the OT is of the Torah only, read the rest of the OT.
Amos (my fav)
Jonah (tied as second with............Job).
you need to read more of the OT before you dissparage it, there is much good in that work - by the minor prophets,
so go read their works then come back so we can talk about the Old Testament.
thanks for reply - you do have wisdom, and for that i thank you!