Belinda,
I understand what you mean, but if that's true, it could not be the "word" of god.
(Whitetrshsoldier)
Is the Bible the word of God, or is that just what some people say about the Bible?
The story of God as somewhat confusingly told through the Bible,
is not a story of an unchanging idea of God.
The creator God (referred to in earlier Biblical texts as 'El') is a distant character,
a sky god. Later, God is known as Jahweh who is personal, ethical,
and walks on the Earth and meets and talks to Moses and other prophets.
This may seem incredible to us today, but at the time when the beliefs were held,
it was common for gods to be present on the Earth, often on holy hilltops,
or sometimes in thunder and lightning.Or so it was thought.
Jahweh began as a god of a warrior nation fighting for its life.
He was characterised, however, unlike the gods of other nations in the Middle East,
as the only god who would not tolerate the worship of other gods within his own community.
This monotheism gave the Jews and Israelites national strength.
Later still at the time when the brightest and best Israelites were deported to Babylon,
the prophet Jeremiah explained how the sorrows of the deportees could be used
to internalise Jahweh as a god of not only justice (which he always had been, )
but also as a god of peace, pity, reconciliation, mercy, wisdom and tolerance--
'love' to put it briefly.
This was a big change in thinking which was revived by Jesus about four centuries later,
and is due, I hope, to be revived again.
Suppose I mature and need a passage or scripture to mean something new with age; does it?
Not for me, Soldier, and I guess , not for you. For me what satisfies me is the interpretation by a great historian of religion and ideas. Others are satisfied with the poetry in the Bible or other literature. Others are satisfied with religious rituals. There are others who are satisfied with religious art and music. Some people are satisfied with obedience to some doctrine or other. What lights your candle?
That is nonsense! If it were true, what a meaningless text it would be. I have no use for another loosely strung together document containing poems and indictements of me as a worthless man.
According to Jesus and Buddha no person is worthless. You yourself are, to me, very worthwhile because you are so honest and express yourself clearly and with sincerity.I don't remember that much about the Bible texts;is there a text that indicts you and me as worthless?Are you referring to original sin?
As for original sin, we all have feet of clay, you and me included.This does not make us worthless, as Jesus would be quick to point out.
Whitetrshsoldier, I copied this from you in another thread. I do hope you don't mind and that this is not against forum rules.
There is no compelling argument that explains an obligation for me to serve others. I am free to do it voluntarily, which I have and continue to do. But I am not required, by anybody at anytime.
This is what I mean by internalising God, and it seems to me that you are advanced enough to have done just that.