rrufff, There will always be doubt about any ancient writings that are based on oral history from preceding centuries, and sometimes, millennia. I think that some of the things in the old testament are true, or based on solid stories, but do think that there has been a great deal of alteration in both the oral accounts, and in some cases, the written accounts. The bible was written by a slew of authors who I believe were sincere, for the most part, but their sources of information were sketchy, to say the least. It is said by some, that the bible is the holy word of God, but the ones that began that contention, were the ones that wrote, or translated, the book in the first place.
As you say, there are good rules in the bible, as there are in some other "holy" books, but even the ten commandments was slightly off kilter for centuries. For so long, the commandment read, "thous shalt not kill" but that was an error in translation. In the newer bibles, with better technics of translation, have corrected that to "you will not murder". That makes sense, because according to the bible, some time after Moses came down from the mountain, with the ten commandments, God gave him a specific list of people to be killed, and cities to be destroyed. It seemed impossible to me that God would contradict Himself in such a way. Even so, some of the acts of the Hebrews during their conquests, was brutal, and they did the attacking, while the others merely defended themselves.
The koran may have some good rules, but too many of it's adherents have cast those rules aside, and warped the words, to suit their murderous ways. The recent wars, including Iraq, are partly religious wars, and partly economic. That is a very poor reason for humans to be killing each other.
Any religion, or individual, can tell me I am going to hell, but I know that no one on Earth can know for sure who is going to hell, if there is a hell, or if there is a heaven, and for one human to condemn another human, is ridiculous. Whoever does so, damns himself, because he is usurping the power of God, whoever, and what ever, He is. We don't even know that beyond what is written in the bible. I do believe in a supreme power that caused the universe, and everything in it to be created, but such a power is not going to operating from a puny human body.
It has been said, that as long as there are two men on Earth, there will be war. Sadly, that appears to be true.
BTW, I will be gone for two weeks, so will try to catch up when we return. |
