The first part of Deuteronomy is historical. The second part is legislative. There is still much that can be learned from it.
This idea, whether it comes from the religious or not, that the entire 44+ books of the Bible are some kind of “Do everything this collection of documents says to the exact letter or else hell or something” instruction manual is one of the most ignorant and sadistic jokes of our time, and to reduce it to such is an act of intellectual dishonesty.
It should definitely been seen as an historical book. And every time you see a weird rule like this, you have to remind yourself that it was being instituted to improve the situation.
In this case, it’s likely that the extant rule was that girls who had been raped were to be banished from the community, or worse. This rule guaranteed she would still have a home and protector. Not a great one, but still an improvement.
A similar thing happens in the story where Abram is told to sacrifice Isaac, but is given a reprieve at the last moment.
You can see this as evidence that God is sadistic. Read through our eyes, it looks that way. It’s likely that child sacrifice was common in that time and place, so this story tells something else: it’s telling people to start sacrificing animals instead of children, and putting a divine stamp on the instruction.
instruction manual is one of the most ignorant and sadistic jokes of our time
The Bible itself says it’s an instruction manual, repeatedly. So… the ignorant, sadistic joke is the Bible, and has nothing to do with “our time”.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. ~2 Timothy 3:16-17
Yeah, “God-breathed” means “He wanted it written down.” And “it is useful for teaching.” “Thoroughly equipped” means knowledgeable, especially when it comes to context and intent of the work.
(The more you know 🌈 ✨ ⭐)
Not “every single sentence is a direct command necessary to adhere to the faith.” That would be, obviously, ridiculous. (And extremists who insist on such, are indeed dangerously silly people.)
Tons of the Old Testament is just genealogy and records of law of the time. I’d hope you wouldn’t read a history book and conclude that the authors intended you to live by Hamurabi’s Code, or that they themselves endorsed slavery because it was recorded. Yet we still can derive a lot of wisdom from knowing about these things.
Sorry I know Internet doesn’t convey tone but I don’t mean to sound like, grouchy or anything. Just making an appeal to reason is all.
I’m not giving you my particular interpretation, only sharing why the “good book” is used as an instruction manual by those who do so.
Also, the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit gives them infallible wisdom from God, so that they have spiritual discernment and knowledge.
(the magic bird imparts no such wisdom)
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. ~1 Corinthians 2:12-17
I’m not giving you my particular interpretation, only sharing why the “good book” is used as an instruction manual by those who do so.
Fair! It is a great pain that people will be inclined to interpret things in a confirmation-bias kind of way.
The Bible does have lots of instructions, but the important context of “to whom”, and “for what reason” is often cast aside when people want to use it justify themselves. We all suffer for such vanity.
(the magic bird imparts no such wisdom)
Hehe I’m sorry, this reference(?) went over my head. 😅
As for the verse you posted, written I believe by the Paul the Apostle to the Corinthian churches, I think he means to say that those who are actively seeking to understand, eventually will find the wisdom God imparts.
But people applying solely material / natural / worldly sensibilities will see it all as foolishness, because they aren’t trying to find any revelation in it. They approach with preconceived notions to pick it apart instead, and in so doing reinforce their existing biases.
I think a lot of believers, either in bad faith or simply naive zeal, will skip the “seeking to understand” part, take the words at face value, and see all of it as a system of rules to push on others. At its core, this is where we see the bad examples of religions the world over: man’s attempt to elevate themselves over others, instead of humble themselves to serve each other.
The first part of Deuteronomy is historical. The second part is legislative. There is still much that can be learned from it.
This idea, whether it comes from the religious or not, that the entire 44+ books of the Bible are some kind of “Do everything this collection of documents says to the exact letter or else hell or something” instruction manual is one of the most ignorant and sadistic jokes of our time, and to reduce it to such is an act of intellectual dishonesty.
It should definitely been seen as an historical book. And every time you see a weird rule like this, you have to remind yourself that it was being instituted to improve the situation.
In this case, it’s likely that the extant rule was that girls who had been raped were to be banished from the community, or worse. This rule guaranteed she would still have a home and protector. Not a great one, but still an improvement.
A similar thing happens in the story where Abram is told to sacrifice Isaac, but is given a reprieve at the last moment.
You can see this as evidence that God is sadistic. Read through our eyes, it looks that way. It’s likely that child sacrifice was common in that time and place, so this story tells something else: it’s telling people to start sacrificing animals instead of children, and putting a divine stamp on the instruction.
Again, not great, but a huge improvement.
Thank you for such an eloquently put explanation! I actually hadn’t considered the context to this extent, and it gives me much to think about.
We do have our problems these days, but I’m glad to be in this time; The norms of those days must have been quite awful in contrast. :(
The Bible itself says it’s an instruction manual, repeatedly. So… the ignorant, sadistic joke is the Bible, and has nothing to do with “our time”.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. ~2 Timothy 3:16-17
Yeah, “God-breathed” means “He wanted it written down.” And “it is useful for teaching.” “Thoroughly equipped” means knowledgeable, especially when it comes to context and intent of the work.
(The more you know 🌈 ✨ ⭐)
Not “every single sentence is a direct command necessary to adhere to the faith.” That would be, obviously, ridiculous. (And extremists who insist on such, are indeed dangerously silly people.)
Tons of the Old Testament is just genealogy and records of law of the time. I’d hope you wouldn’t read a history book and conclude that the authors intended you to live by Hamurabi’s Code, or that they themselves endorsed slavery because it was recorded. Yet we still can derive a lot of wisdom from knowing about these things.
Sorry I know Internet doesn’t convey tone but I don’t mean to sound like, grouchy or anything. Just making an appeal to reason is all.
Hope you have a good one. :)
I’m not giving you my particular interpretation, only sharing why the “good book” is used as an instruction manual by those who do so.
Also, the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit gives them infallible wisdom from God, so that they have spiritual discernment and knowledge.
(the magic bird imparts no such wisdom)
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. ~1 Corinthians 2:12-17
Fair! It is a great pain that people will be inclined to interpret things in a confirmation-bias kind of way.
The Bible does have lots of instructions, but the important context of “to whom”, and “for what reason” is often cast aside when people want to use it justify themselves. We all suffer for such vanity.
Hehe I’m sorry, this reference(?) went over my head. 😅
As for the verse you posted, written I believe by the Paul the Apostle to the Corinthian churches, I think he means to say that those who are actively seeking to understand, eventually will find the wisdom God imparts.
But people applying solely material / natural / worldly sensibilities will see it all as foolishness, because they aren’t trying to find any revelation in it. They approach with preconceived notions to pick it apart instead, and in so doing reinforce their existing biases.
I think a lot of believers, either in bad faith or simply naive zeal, will skip the “seeking to understand” part, take the words at face value, and see all of it as a system of rules to push on others. At its core, this is where we see the bad examples of religions the world over: man’s attempt to elevate themselves over others, instead of humble themselves to serve each other.
Indeed. Foolishness. :(