Georgia Parents Torture Adopted Daughter, Say They Were Just Following The Bible

[think]

61. You are correct. I cherry pick, you cherry pick, believers and non believers cherry pick

So you choose not to believe. Should others believe like you do because it is what you believe?

Do you have any concerns that your words and actions might be misconstrued or intentionally misrepresented so as to cause harm? Should we blame rock stars for the kids that kill themselves after listening to their music? Even a non religion is in itself a religion.

The bible is written by man and man at a very early stage in his evolution. (Here I go cherry picking and choosing to believe in both evolution and in God. My bad.) Man did his best to interpret the things of God and then a king had these interpretations put in a written manuscript. (Yes, I'm sure the king and his scribes cherry picked too.)

Basically I'm no fan of religion but I like good teachers. Though Christ refused to even allow himself to be called "good teacher" and submitted that only God is good. Christ spent the majority of his time chastising those in power in Jewish society for upholding the law for the wrong purposes.

As He put it "You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel" http://bible.cc/matthew/23-24.htm . In other words the Jewish priests and lawyers would follow even the tiniest of the laws and hold those guilty of those minor infractions punished. By doing this they in their lust for power, control, and self importance ignored the greater law of love.

So basically even a non believer who reads these passages and understands the context sees how people of power as you say "cherry pick" the laws of God to control the masses for their own benefit and/or self righteous indignation.

Even one of the most self righteous upholders of the law; a Jewish Pharisee named Saul who was later called St.Paul, who murdered Christians for their corruption of the law by believing in Christ, finally saw the light.

Although I have my contentions with some of the teachings of St. Paul (cherry picking), he said this: "He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant--not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." http://bible.cc/2_corinthians/3-6.htm

The above is not part of the simple message but aimed at those that require the entirety of the law trump the true intent for why the law was created and existed.

Through out the bible God uses losers like Paul to carry His message. Paul was a murderer, Moses a murderer also. You can find adulterers, thieves, and others guilty of grave sins who were still used as instruments of God despite their serious short comings.

No the bible isn't perfect nor the people who wrote, translated, and compiled the texts. But there are some great lessons and teachings in the bible if one chooses to see them as such.

But to make the bible, God, and Jesus out as shitty examples of how to live one's life is a bit of an over reach. I agree many get the teachings wrong. And everyone cherry picks both believers and non believers. But many understand the main concept and gain insights from the teachings and lessons found within these texts.

Personally I think man is evolving quickly and unfortunately our comprehension of the bible's meaning and God's intent for man has not. When people want the Ten Commandments written on the wall rather than the law as given or interpreted by Jesus, that is a big step backwards. (IMO)

Here is how I cherry pick the law as given by Jesus:

Love your Lord God with all your heart, strength, soul, and mind (I have never been able to fulfill this law)
Love your neighbor as yourself (I've failed this one often)
Love your enemy also (Failed this one way too many times and still do)
Love covers a multitude of sins.

Could one state these things and ignore the rest? Yes, but the rest of the story gives context, examples, and lessons to help people understand why love and being nice is important.

Even if you don't believe in Christ and/or God you will need a framework to help teach morality. So far you suggest only that we can do it without the baggage of Christ. I'd love to see your framework. Will it be perfect and not misconstrued? Or will man just instinctively evolve to include morality in his decision process? I highly doubt it.

Sorry for the long diatribe....