As it's Sunday

[T00ts]

I have found that the God of the Old Testament is both Jealous and Vindictive, and apparently has an insecure ego. All this strikes me as being very unenlightened for a supreme being, and comes across as a suspiciously human-like construct. It thus appears all too likely to me that this Old Testament God is probably a human invention. It is also notable to me that God Haimself appears to have undergone something of a personality transplant by the time of the New Testament, because it is all suddenly about peace and love. It is as if Ghengis Khan has suddenly decided to become Mahatma Gandhi.

The difficulty is to see past the symbolism of the Bible. God rarely speaks in straight human terms, but also there is a historical element which, with the best will in the world, in our time is difficult to understand. God throughout the world's history has spoken to mankind through chosen people (Prophets) etc in a way that they could understand at that time. I suppose it is bound to be a bit obscure sometimes through different ideas of translation as well as the social mores of the times. I am realising gradually as I have studied it over the years that we actually rarely  get all the meanings. It is an ongoing learning process and the more we understand through study and prayer the more seems to become clear. We are but infants in terms of what God is. Fortunately we have eternity to continue learning. Thank goodness!

[srb7677]

I have found that the God of the Old Testament is both Jealous and Vindictive, and apparently has an insecure ego. All this strikes me as being very unenlightened for a supreme being, and comes across as a suspiciously human-like construct. It thus appears all too likely to me that this Old Testament God is probably a human invention. It is also notable to me that God Haimself appears to have undergone something of a personality transplant by the time of the New Testament, because it is all suddenly about peace and love. It is as if Ghengis Khan has suddenly decided to become Mahatma Gandhi.

[Borchester]

I should have added that if nothing else the Old Testament seems to reinforce that there is no way to circumvent the consequences of iniquity, over and over again the consequences are recorded. I am sure this is a warning to us all that God is omnipotent and our whole being is dependent on Him. It makes me realise just how small we are in the great scheme of things. Mankind has got too big for his boots too many times over the history of the world and the old scriptures act as a warning to us all. We deny it at our peril I'm afraid. To imagine that anything goes and it doesn't matter really does mankind a dis-service. Will we learn from the experiences of our forebears?

Each to his own Toots.

My take is that God is like a school bully. Vicious, stupid and best avoided.

[T00ts]

I should have added that if nothing else the Old Testament seems to reinforce that there is no way to circumvent the consequences of iniquity, over and over again the consequences are recorded. I am sure this is a warning to us all that God is omnipotent and our whole being is dependent on Him. It makes me realise just how small we are in the great scheme of things. Mankind has got too big for his boots too many times over the history of the world and the old scriptures act as a warning to us all. We deny it at our peril I'm afraid. To imagine that anything goes and it doesn't matter really does mankind a dis-service. Will we learn from the experiences of our forebears?

[T00ts]

I have embarked on an in depth study of the Old Testament this year. I have read it before of course but without all the cross references etc, but like many have wondered about it's real relevance to the modern world. I am only part way through Genesis but already I am seeing it with new eyes. I have just finished the story of Noah and his ark and realised that it was a fresh start. After all the iniquity that had crept into the world it seems it was God's way of renewal, but also a chance for those who had been so disobedient to be called home and have the chance to have teaching in the afterlife and the opportunity to repent. We all know of course that the rainbow is God's covenant reminder that He will never drown us all again. The next renewal may well be the 2nd coming and the waves of truth that is promised. 
Very very interesting.