Sunday, May 29, 2005

Two Great Bible Characters

Consider the two great bible characters as the highest models of moral excellence, David in the Old Testament, and Paul in the New Testament. David, the man after God’s heart was a murderer, a thief, a plunderer, a polygamist with a harem of wives and concubines, a drunken debauchee, dancing half-naked before the maids in his household, a lecherous old libertine, abducting and ravishing the wife of a faithful soldier. On the other hand, Paul was a religious fanatic: first a Jew and later a Christian convert. As a Jew, in the name of Jehovah, he persecuted Christians; as a Christian, in the name of Christ, he persecuted Jews. And to think we are told that the bible is written by inspired authors of a holy God. I think it's time for us to entertain a new definition for the word "holy." Poch Suzara.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Have you read the Bible completely? Look, simply reading some part of it and assuming the rest is not the correct way. Yes the Bible does mention many good and bad things about David and Paul. But the story does not end there. The Bible says David and Paul cried in the presence of God for forgivness. The Lord heard their cries and he forgave them. Some part of the Bible was written by David and Paul, not before they did wrong deeds, but after God forgave them and the Holy Spirit came upon them. You also mentioned about editing the definition of 'HOLY', well the definiton was is and will be the same; those who are found in Christ and have taken Him to be their leader of life are holy.

Sheron (:

Hawkwood said...

The definition of 'holy' offered by 'Anonymous' is merely a Christian definition. My Oxford dictionary describes 'holy' as being "morally and spiritually perfect; belonging to, empowered by, devoted to, God". Since within a Christian context this must mean obedience to God's laws and word, the question has to be: how many thousands, perhaps millions, have been slain at the instigation of the church? Down the centuries this has included the Gnostics, the Cathars, and all those who were tried and condemned by the Inquisition, for doing no more than holding beliefs and views contrary to those of the church of Rome. God's commandment not to kill would seem to have been selectively overlooked on quite a number of occasions by those who would have considered themselves 'holy'. An examination of history would seem to show that on moral grounds, the church has little right to exist at all, far less to be worthy of being considered 'holy'.

As to 'Saint' Paul, his misogynist views have done much to shape the attitudes of the church's subservient role of women. Anyone disagree? Show me a female pope.