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Religion Is Supposed To Be A Force For Unity, But Is It?
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Former prime minister Tony Blair writes in the Observer newpaper that an abuse of religion, is a common motive behind recent acts of terrorism.
"The battles of this century, are less likely to be the product of extreme political ideology - like those of the 20th century -but they could easily be fought around the questions of cultural or religious differences"
This scripture shows why - Mark 7 v 6-8
"The battles of this century, are less likely to be the product of extreme political ideology - like those of the 20th century -but they could easily be fought around the questions of cultural or religious differences"
This scripture shows why - Mark 7 v 6-8
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atalanta, To get a true understanding of what is evil, it is necessary to read the Bible from the beginning, not just taking bits here and there. This is why there are such a lot of misinterpretations. So to start –
What is Evil?
In order to simplify this for you – the Hebrew word “ra” is translated – bad; gloomy; ugly; evil; calamitous; malignant, ungenerous and envious depending on the context. (I could give lots of scriptures to illustrate this but it would take too much take and space).
When first used in the scriptures, the word “ra” is the opposite of good. For example Adam was commanded not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and bad (ra) and was warned of the consequences.
The Meaning of Jehovah’s Bringing Evil.. In the Scriptures, Jehovah is referred to as the Creator of evil or calamity. (Isa 45:7; compare KJ.) Jehovah brought calamity (or evil) upon Adam for his disobedience. His enforcing of the penalty for sin, namely, death, has proved to be an evil, or a calamity, for mankind.
Howeever, evil is not always synonymous with wrongdoing. Examples of evils or calamities created by Jehovah are the Flood of Noah’s day and the Ten Plagues visited upon Egypt. But these evils were NOT wrongs. Just as the rightful administration of justice is brought against those breaking the law today, Jehovah executed justice on those blatantly rebelling. In his mercy, however, he refrains from bringing the intended judgement on those who have sincerely repented. For example read Jonah 3 v 10.
In addition, Jehovah gives a warning in order to provide opportunity for those who practice bad (or evil) to change their course and therefore have life. Again read Ezekeil 33 v 11.
Even when we consider the account of Job and his trials, we see that Job never attributes his tests to Satan. Why? Evidently, he was unaware at the time of the issue that hung on the outcome of his conduct. He did not realize that Satan had precipitated the crisis by challenging Job’s integrity before Jehovah. Thus, when Job’s wife reprimanded him with the words: “Are you yet holding fast your integrity? Curse God and die!” he simply answered: “Shall we accept merely what is good from the true God and not accept also what is bad?” Without knowing the true source of his trials, he apparently viewed them as coming from God and therefore something to be accepted. Thus, this became a very severe test of Job’s integrity.
What is Evil?
In order to simplify this for you – the Hebrew word “ra” is translated – bad; gloomy; ugly; evil; calamitous; malignant, ungenerous and envious depending on the context. (I could give lots of scriptures to illustrate this but it would take too much take and space).
When first used in the scriptures, the word “ra” is the opposite of good. For example Adam was commanded not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and bad (ra) and was warned of the consequences.
The Meaning of Jehovah’s Bringing Evil.. In the Scriptures, Jehovah is referred to as the Creator of evil or calamity. (Isa 45:7; compare KJ.) Jehovah brought calamity (or evil) upon Adam for his disobedience. His enforcing of the penalty for sin, namely, death, has proved to be an evil, or a calamity, for mankind.
Howeever, evil is not always synonymous with wrongdoing. Examples of evils or calamities created by Jehovah are the Flood of Noah’s day and the Ten Plagues visited upon Egypt. But these evils were NOT wrongs. Just as the rightful administration of justice is brought against those breaking the law today, Jehovah executed justice on those blatantly rebelling. In his mercy, however, he refrains from bringing the intended judgement on those who have sincerely repented. For example read Jonah 3 v 10.
In addition, Jehovah gives a warning in order to provide opportunity for those who practice bad (or evil) to change their course and therefore have life. Again read Ezekeil 33 v 11.
Even when we consider the account of Job and his trials, we see that Job never attributes his tests to Satan. Why? Evidently, he was unaware at the time of the issue that hung on the outcome of his conduct. He did not realize that Satan had precipitated the crisis by challenging Job’s integrity before Jehovah. Thus, when Job’s wife reprimanded him with the words: “Are you yet holding fast your integrity? Curse God and die!” he simply answered: “Shall we accept merely what is good from the true God and not accept also what is bad?” Without knowing the true source of his trials, he apparently viewed them as coming from God and therefore something to be accepted. Thus, this became a very severe test of Job’s integrity.
How are the churches doing in this regard? Those who do not understand what the Kingdom is—and there are many—cannot accurately teach others about it. Instead, they preach feel-good sermons about forgiveness of sins and faith in Jesus.
While such efforts may boost church membership, they do not produce true Christians who sincerely seek to live in harmony with what Jesus taught.
Jesus’ instructions on this matter are, after all, starkly clear, but they don’t do what he said,.threy don’t seriously attempt it. And apparently they don’t know how to do it.” yet Jesus said at Mat 24.14 is clear.
scientists have debated the nature of time. “Time is one of the world’s deepest mysteries,” states one encyclopedia. “No one can say exactly what it is.” Yet, Jehovah fully understands time.
While such efforts may boost church membership, they do not produce true Christians who sincerely seek to live in harmony with what Jesus taught.
Jesus’ instructions on this matter are, after all, starkly clear, but they don’t do what he said,.threy don’t seriously attempt it. And apparently they don’t know how to do it.” yet Jesus said at Mat 24.14 is clear.
scientists have debated the nature of time. “Time is one of the world’s deepest mysteries,” states one encyclopedia. “No one can say exactly what it is.” Yet, Jehovah fully understands time.
Goodlife, in one breath you talk about the flood and the plagues, and in the next you say “Jehovah executed justice on those blatantly rebelling.” If you believe the stories that has to be nonsense. The flood killed practically every living creature on earth, and the final plague killed all the first born. I really can’t believe that every one of God’s victims was rebelling. Think about it.
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Goodlife, don't tell me I don't read the bible "properly". Guess what ? I have learned Hebrew myself. I shall be very surprised if your Hebrew is better than mine. I was taught it one-to-one by an Ulpan teacher in Tel Aviv. I have read a number of books of the OT in their original Hebrew. I have a Hebrew dictionary in my hand, and have looked up RA. That is, the letter Resh followed by the letter Ayin. My dictionary gives "bad," "evil", "wickedness".
For anyone else who may be interested in looking into the depths of the OT, try reading the book of Amos. The cruelty and savagery of the god of that book cannot possibly make any tribe, chosen or not, feel like loving him. This deity rejoices in the brutality of his promises of punishment, famine, destruction, women being dragged away on hooks, plagues of locusts, and exile. And this deity expects people to love him ? If I had any inclination towards religion, this would be the last deity I'd turn to.
For anyone else who may be interested in looking into the depths of the OT, try reading the book of Amos. The cruelty and savagery of the god of that book cannot possibly make any tribe, chosen or not, feel like loving him. This deity rejoices in the brutality of his promises of punishment, famine, destruction, women being dragged away on hooks, plagues of locusts, and exile. And this deity expects people to love him ? If I had any inclination towards religion, this would be the last deity I'd turn to.
goodlife says //atalanta, To get a true understanding of what is evil, it is necessary to read the Bible from the beginning, not just taking bits here and there. //
this from possibly ABs most prolific cut & paster of biblical scriptures. Nothing changed in this new year then. You really are a joke.
this from possibly ABs most prolific cut & paster of biblical scriptures. Nothing changed in this new year then. You really are a joke.
The notion that the book is somehow better than its parts is ludicrous.
Goodlife would have us believe that reading the whole thing guides us to a special understanding to reinterpret the disgusting passages as somehow enlightening.
The fact is this book Goodlife lauds is nothing more than the ignorant musings of ancient arrogant, misogynist men who elevated their personal prejudices into an illusion of a universal truth.
Goodlife would have us believe that reading the whole thing guides us to a special understanding to reinterpret the disgusting passages as somehow enlightening.
The fact is this book Goodlife lauds is nothing more than the ignorant musings of ancient arrogant, misogynist men who elevated their personal prejudices into an illusion of a universal truth.
-- answer removed --
Well All I can say is time will tell.
Atalanta@So you have found out what I told you, the Hebrew word RA translates to evil, bad, wicked, calamity, etc. Correct. If you read Hebrew then you will know what the divine name is, as it is over 7000 times in the original. You will also know that God warned the peoples many many times of the consequences and they ignored the warnings. It is the same today, the people of the nations are being warned as to the consequences and they continue to ignore.
You keep saying that God is cruel and that he causes all the terrible things that happen, but you obviously have not read where Jesus Christ said that "The ruler of the world is here". This shows that there is one who is controlling this world and therefore all the calamities that are being committed.
Atalanta@So you have found out what I told you, the Hebrew word RA translates to evil, bad, wicked, calamity, etc. Correct. If you read Hebrew then you will know what the divine name is, as it is over 7000 times in the original. You will also know that God warned the peoples many many times of the consequences and they ignored the warnings. It is the same today, the people of the nations are being warned as to the consequences and they continue to ignore.
You keep saying that God is cruel and that he causes all the terrible things that happen, but you obviously have not read where Jesus Christ said that "The ruler of the world is here". This shows that there is one who is controlling this world and therefore all the calamities that are being committed.
I'm not the one who says that god is cruel. The books of the old testament purport to repeat the words of god, where god himself rejoices in his cruelty. Look what sufferings god allows the devil to put Job through. Look what he did to everyone except Noah's family at the time of the flood. Esther is the story of a revenge massacre. Ten generations of innocent descendants of an adulterous union are to be outcasts. Drunken wastrels, people who worship other gods, and women who are not virgins on marriage are to be stoned to death. The cruelty goes on and on. Goodlife, please do tell me how these can be the actions and declarations of a loving god. Who wants to belong to a people of a god as savage as that ?
It is no good suddenly jumping from the OT to the NT and saying that jesus said something different. You yourself keep quoting the OT to back up yout arguments. You're wriggling.
It is no good suddenly jumping from the OT to the NT and saying that jesus said something different. You yourself keep quoting the OT to back up yout arguments. You're wriggling.
atalanta-Let’s bring this up to date.
For many decades, the United States, allied with Great Britain, has been the most powerful political combination in the world. Is that now changing in favour of the Islamic movement? Of vital concern is how this struggle for world domination will end.
Since 9/11 there has been a marked increase in the Islamic movement especially with regard to the terrorism, killings, bombings etc.
Is the Anglo-American world power content to sit and let them get on with it, or is it endeavouring to try and eradicate the violence that is increasing daily? No! Together with other nations they are making every effort to hunt down and bring these terrorists to justice. They can see that if these violent and cruel groups were allowed to continue the whole world would eventually be an unsafe place for those who want to live in peace and security.
This is how God views it. If he allowed those who were rebellious to live, such as the Nephilim in the days of the flood or the Assyrian nation (which was a cruel & bloodthirsty people), or the Egyptian empire at the time of Moses – we would be in a far worse situation than we are at present.
Likely there would be no peace loving human around. The world would not be a fit place to live (although it is beginning to get that way) which is why God is now warning people that he is going to remove this cruel, corrupt and satanic system.
Many Bible prophecies reveal that this foretold “time of the end” is when all political nations, large and small, are due to meet up with a force far superior to their combined military might. That force is the power of God. It is expressed through God’s own Son, Christ Jesus, whom He appoints to bring all the nations to account for what they have done on earth.
God never does anything without first warning the people.
Noah warned the people about the Flood, Lot warned the people of Sodom & Gomorah, Jonah warned Ninevah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel all warned the Nation of Isreal, and Jesus himself warned the Jews that Jerusalem would be destroyed. Today, Jehovah’s Witnesses are warning the nations about the final war.
If you don’t want to take note, that is your choice and no one can ever turn to God and say that they did not know, they were not warned.
For many decades, the United States, allied with Great Britain, has been the most powerful political combination in the world. Is that now changing in favour of the Islamic movement? Of vital concern is how this struggle for world domination will end.
Since 9/11 there has been a marked increase in the Islamic movement especially with regard to the terrorism, killings, bombings etc.
Is the Anglo-American world power content to sit and let them get on with it, or is it endeavouring to try and eradicate the violence that is increasing daily? No! Together with other nations they are making every effort to hunt down and bring these terrorists to justice. They can see that if these violent and cruel groups were allowed to continue the whole world would eventually be an unsafe place for those who want to live in peace and security.
This is how God views it. If he allowed those who were rebellious to live, such as the Nephilim in the days of the flood or the Assyrian nation (which was a cruel & bloodthirsty people), or the Egyptian empire at the time of Moses – we would be in a far worse situation than we are at present.
Likely there would be no peace loving human around. The world would not be a fit place to live (although it is beginning to get that way) which is why God is now warning people that he is going to remove this cruel, corrupt and satanic system.
Many Bible prophecies reveal that this foretold “time of the end” is when all political nations, large and small, are due to meet up with a force far superior to their combined military might. That force is the power of God. It is expressed through God’s own Son, Christ Jesus, whom He appoints to bring all the nations to account for what they have done on earth.
God never does anything without first warning the people.
Noah warned the people about the Flood, Lot warned the people of Sodom & Gomorah, Jonah warned Ninevah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel all warned the Nation of Isreal, and Jesus himself warned the Jews that Jerusalem would be destroyed. Today, Jehovah’s Witnesses are warning the nations about the final war.
If you don’t want to take note, that is your choice and no one can ever turn to God and say that they did not know, they were not warned.
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