firstly in debt and then slaves. Rome didn't care about their plight they just became more dependent on importing food.

There were rebellions of slaves, the most famous being of Spartacus 73-71BC a gladiator that escaped with 200 other members from a gladiator school. He travelled the countryside freeing slaves and many slaves ran away to join him. The estimates of the force he raised was 40,000 to 70,000. They managed to win a few battles against the Roman Legions sent to put down the rebellion but eventually lost and six thousand that were not killed in battle were crucified - the crosses lined the side of the Appian Way a main road into Rome for all to see.

And the Bible:
1 Peter 18
Slaves, be subject to your masters with all reverence, not only to those who are good and equitable but also to those who are perverse.
19 For whenever anyone bears the pain of unjust suffering because of consciousness of God, that is a grace.
20 But what credit is there if you are patient when beaten for doing wrong? But if you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God.

While Timothy 6:1-2 actually encourage slaves to be extra good to their Christian Masters. That is encouraging christians to keep slaves. And Christians did keep slaves and continued to keep slaves for over a millenia.

If people want to debate can they please research the subject before they speak? it isn't hard to type the subject into google and read a few sites (although the web has a lot of misinformation on it at least that would be a start) and I had previous posts on this subject with all the NT passages involved (more than you supplied Gnome) - could you go back and read them? Otherwise you are wasting my time by making me repeat myself and to supply research to you that you could do yourself.

Aziliz,

For an easy to understand summary of how to read the Bible. You can't go past Dei Verbum. A document produced after many years of discussion and research by eminent theologians from many denominations at the second Vatican council.

If you read 'Dei Verbum' your questions of interpretation of the Bible will be satisfied.

I hope you'll read this before you post again questions of that nature.

Regards,

MIW

Anyone see compass on tv last night? About CS lewis? Interesting. By the way bosk, my original post said the exact same thing. Its evidence and not opinion that matters. Exactly! But....

1 corinthians 1:18 -- "for the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing"

Genesis:

No answers to my questions? A bit hard, maybe?

mhoram..no, not too hard. Too long maybe. I put that verse in cos no matter what I say, and spend a lot of time on here writing, you will still think it foolish, just as I did when I was perishing. But did I believe I was perishing? of course not. I didnt agree with a lot of things in the bible, but I didnt understand the whole theme of the bible. It was foolishness.
God created us eternal beings, to worship him and love him. If he jsut let everyone into heaven, just cos theyve followed their best judgements, heaven would be just like here. But who do you compare yourself to when you judge yourself and say you followed your best judgements. Not Gods standards. and if god was a monster, youd more than likely be dead now, in hell, but he wants all to realise who he his before its too late. None are without excuse. And if you go through life rejecting the one who gave you life, then he has EVERY right to send you to hell. Hell is just a place where God is not. And if all goodness in the world comes from God, then therell be none of that goodness in hell. No such thing as love, joy, friends, family.
God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son so that all who beleive will not perish but have eternal life.....cont

.......Tell me, have you every told a lie? even a little one? If yes, then that makes you a liar. Have you ever stolen anything? Even a pen, or diddled your taxes? Yes? Then that makes you a thief. Ever lusted after anyone. Of course. The that makes you an adulterer at heart. If you answered yes to any of these q's, then youre a lying theiving adulterer at heart. ANd thats what God sees. SO you can do all you want using your best judgemnent, but it aint gods standards. And in good conscience you dont beleive in him? You have no excuse. Evidence for his existence is everywhere. While youre still alive on this earth, God is blessing you and giving you a chance to turn to him. If he was a monster. You'd be in hell already