Old Testament vs New Testament

[i-need-a-martini]

I have been told numerous times on here that Christians believe in the New Testament and the Old Testament is not irrelevent.

In particular I was told that the Old Testament is Pre-Christian and describes a DIFFERENT God with different attitudes. And that the New Testament is a stand-alone book so I assume.

Can someone please explain why?

(preferably someone who is religious and has actually read the books)

[rabbitearbandicoot]

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@bushies.girl wrote:
If someone had posted something like this relating to Muslims, oh the out cry ..... Yet not one word has been said 😞

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something like what bushies.girl

[katydidthat]

What environments, Muppet? Give me a context here, please 🙂

[karliandjacko]

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@bushies.girl wrote:
If someone had posted something like this relating to Muslims, oh the out cry ..... Yet not one word has been said 😞

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Why is Noah and the ark story not included in their teachings?

[Anonymous]

it is

[muppet_detector]

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@katydidthat wrote:
What environments, Muppet? Give me a context here, please 🙂

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Sorry Katy, I did originally write out an explanation, but it got a bit long winded so I deleted.

BTW - I am not meaning to argue with you or anything like that, so I hope yopu don't take it that way - I am just discussing. It dioesn't mean that I disagree with what you are saying. Hope you know what I mean.

Murder - during war - I also suppose it is something that anyone who joins the defence force has to consider they may have to do.

            - some of the other religions/cultures (but they may be extremist examples, I am not sure. Happy to learn). I have read a lot about beheadings and maiming people for what we would consider a minor crime. I think I read somewhere that some cultures cut off people's hands

          - The death sentence. I know it is not in Australia, but it is in the USA, and really, their basic culture is pretty similar to ours.

          - general self defence. I have never murdered anyone (honest) but then I have never felt threatened

           - Euthenasia. I don't think it is legal, but some people are ok with the concept. I am, anyway.

Stealing - I think stealing is abhorrent, but then I have never been hungry or homeless or desperate

Honour thy Parents - I agree with this, but then I was never abused

That's a start, there are others that I don't condione for myself, but I don't see anything wrong with them and can understand why people may "break those Commandments"

I'll touch on adultery. Some cultures say it is perfectly ok to have more than one partner. And I can understand why that would be. If a person has more than one child, they don't (generally) love one more than the other, or love the first one any less than they did when they were the only one. I don't think the love gets diminished or that you have more than one child because you didn't like the first one and wanted to see if you could get one you liked on the next try. Somehow, your heart just kind of grows and allows you to love and cherish more than one child, so I can see how people may be the same with partners.

I think the first four commandments may be religion specific.

as for coveting - If that was the decider on me getting into Heaven, I'd have a one way ticket to Hell. Of course I look at things other people have and desire them for myself. I doubt I am alone, or the retail sector would not exist. I don't begrudge other people what they do have, but that doesn't mean I don't want them too, and at times even be jealous of what someone else has/can do (for example, I would love to do Branson's space flight, but I don't have the money and am envious of those who do and will get to go.

Sorry - it was long.

[muppet_detector]

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@karliandjacko wrote:

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@bushies.girl wrote:
If someone had posted something like this relating to Muslims, oh the out cry ..... Yet not one word has been said 😞

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Why is Noah and the ark story not included in their teachings?

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I am very sorry.

If these posts were in relation to my picture, I apologise if i offended you. I didn't mean to.

[katydidthat]

Thanks for the response, Muppet.  

On murder ... there has been debate among Christians recently about whether it is "murder" or "kill" in the Ten Commandments, thus excusing killing in war, or in the death sentence.  My own opinion is that killing anyone is rarely excusable, and that these instances are covered in our own laws such as self-defence.  

Yes, some Islamic countries behead people for various sins, or stone them to death, or cut off their hands for stealing.  I don't know here ... where do you draw the line?  Is punishing children in WA with "three strikes and you're in" acceptable?  Is our rate of imprisoning Indigenous people acceptable?  

I agree that euthanasia is something to be supported ... given certain criteria ... and I think the Catholic Church is moving towards this (slowly).  

I'm actually against the idea of adultery - in general.  Yes, I guess it's ok if you (the general you) have an agreement about an open relationship, but I think much of the time, it's a result of unfaithfulness, lying, and (frankly) being unable to please/satisfy more than one partner ... and that goes for polygamy as well.  

Coveting ... yep, the writers of the Bible didn't have to deal with television, the internet, newspapers, and ads ... things were simpler then.  And, they didn't have eBay!!!! where a moment's coveting could be satisfied a couple of days later 😉 🙂

Did you read about the Space Escalator?  I think that's what it was called.  

Long is fine, thank you for an interesting post.  

[muppet_detector]

That is why I think that "common sense" is influenced by our environment - if the Ten Commandments are "common sense", then why are there (struggling for the words, so this is a bit clumsy) rather why do people place higher or different importance on different Commandments depending on their circumstances/environment? .

I don't think that those who don't follow the Commandments lack "common sense" and I think that their environment determines what is acceptable and thus common sense to that group.

Would it be correct to say that common sense is determined by your culture or circumstances or environment and that the Ten Commandments are the guideline for common sense for our culture/circumstances?

[katydidthat]

I think that common sense relates to a few of the Commandments ... relating to stealing, killing, bearing false witness ... and, I think most cultures/religions would agree.  And, that's why we see those issues covered in criminal law.  If someone steals, for example, another person suffers ... and maybe that other person has to steal to survive, or feed their family:  it becomes a problem not only of an individual, but of a community.  

Have you read any of Jean Paul Sartre's works, Muppet?  He was an atheist existentialist.  He believed in personal responsibility (or authenticity).  He thought that an action done by YOU (the general you), meant that if you did something, it was fine for others to do that same action.  So, if YOU killed someone, or robbed someone, it was sending a message to others that it was acceptable.  

OK, that's something to think about ... I'd like to consider this an ongoing discussion.  

A question for you ... do you think that all Ten Commandments are still valid today, and if so, which ones?  

[the_great_she_elephant]

I think common sense should tell us that we use the ten commandments as guidelines rather than absolute rules.

Also, of course, "thou shalt not kill," didn't stop the Isrealites from slaughtering their enemies in vast numbers and glorifying and in that slaughter and "thou shalt not commit adultery didn't stop King David from sleeping with he wife of one of his army captains and then having the man killed to cover up his sin.