Originally posted by PatNovakDefend the Bible? Why?
I realize you want to make ad hominem attacks instead of defending the passages in my original OP, because those passages are pretty indefensible, and you want to distract from them. But I would caution you against suggesting that people read the bible for themselves, because the best way to turn a Christian into a non-Christian is to have them actually read the bible.
I strongly suggest that people read the Bible for themselves. If it turns a Christian into a non-Christian then so be it.
On second thought .. God calls people. Reading the Bible cannot turn away someone called by God.
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-Removed-Nice post.
I grew up in a small sect some 50 years ago and I remember as a child why, with a group of around 20, educated intelligent women were sidelined and dominated by men who were often less than capable of running the church properly.
Once you read the Bible most people realise:
- the no1 aim is to please God by following the example of His son Jesus.
- that there are specific laws for the Jews only
- that there are guidelines for Gentile churches ie their operation and politics
- that there are suggestions for conduct and dress for both men and women etc
- that not every word that Paul spoke came from God. Paul can and did give his opinion and his opinion would have been tainted by the customs of the day, and not applicable now.