Well to me, the Old Testament is to me, emphasizing the power of God, over humans, and that it is a Hebrew history of lineage, so much is so and so begot or beget so and so. It is horrible in comparison to the new testament. Killing all the new born, the death of the oldest child in the Passover. If it is a metaphor with some historical fact, it is frightening to children. I was brought up as a catholic, and I can tell you the thought of God watching any deviation from the path chosen for me by priests, scared me. Most probably still does subconsciously.

The bible is a testament from some ancient beliefs and folk tales, and there definitely was a flood, and that was about 6,000 years ago, after the last ice age and seas rose again from melting ice. We know this from archaeology. North America north and south of the great lakes was not inhabited until 10,000 years ago. They can't find any evidence. Plenty of mega fauna. I loved the Nativity, even if it never happened like this. But I respect that the 25th December has been earmarked as Jesus' birth date. But most Christian holy days are on the same date as pagan celebrations. In the Northern Hemisphere, not south. Anyway, if you are looking for the truth, don't study the bible, study ancient history or archaeology.

Anyway, "without a knowledge of History, you are leaf that doesn't know it belongs to a tree.."(Michael Crighton, TimeLine)

Sorry it is too big to put here...

Judges 11:30-39...And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,

Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD's, and I WILL OFFER IT UP FOR A BURNT OFFERING.

So he won the battle giving God the credit and went home

And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, BEHOLD, HIS DAUGHTER CAME OUT TO MEET HIM with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.

And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back.

And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon.

And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows.

And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.

And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, WHO DID WITH HER ACCORDING TO HIS VOW which he had vowed: and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel,

SO IF GOD WAS ANTI CHILD SACRIFICE WHY DIDN'T HE STAY THE HAND OF THIS NUTTER FATHER LIKE YOU MISGUIDED PEOPLE BELIEVE HE DID WITH ABRAHAM?

OOPSY! Aint Bible study fun?...lmao

Bush Bunny... There have been many floods but NEVER a flood that covered every mountain in the world, whilst humans have inhabited the planet like believers believe.

Please don't use big words like Archeological or scientific with them - you will confound them...lmao.

With these people you have to be very precise or they will run off with wrong information.

They often falsely claim that the flood is mentioned in every ancient culture ... that too is wrong. Great floods are mentioned in some ancient cultures but most don't claim the flood covered every mountain top on the planet.

Accuracy is not one of their strengths because they have a hidden agenda... to spread their lack of knowledge to others and undermine truth by converting others to their backwward beliefs.

They are so immoral as to scare children so that they are too scared to question anything. If they haven't got answers they say "God works in mysterious ways".

The OT is only horrible compared to the NT because they simply accept the OT in the NT. Jesus threatened people with hellfire and an eternity of damnation when his moderate message was so openly rejected.

Also Jesus told stories of cutting people in two

Luke 12:46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

I can understand his frustration...It is like showing the truth to believers on here...they can't stand the truth!

I don't care if they believe in fairy tales, more fool them! I object to them spreading lies as truth and indoctrinating children into believing their lies and them not caring one little bit about the deception!

When good people do nothing evil thrives... It's time for good people to correct the lies!

Keep up the good work!

Op2, Taking a verse out of context again. The Manager here is those controlling the Temple in Jerusalem. What happened to them in AD 70? They received a severe beating at the hands of the Romans. Luke 12:46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. In the culture is that the servant manager has been beating those under him so when the owner returns he finds him abusing those under him. So the owner severs his contract [the owner cuts him in two from their agreement, not cuts him in half as you imply] and considers he is as an immoral person not fit to be a citizen. The evil manager is still alive but cut out of citizenship. The next verses state that the evil manager received a severe beating. Beating was a cultural norm in the Roman world as punishment for abuse of others.

Opine2, of course not covered the whole planet. Or got to mountains like Mt.Ararat. But the Noah story is still told in that part of the world. The Black Sea was separated from the Dardanelles by a rock bridge, shelf and it was undermined by the rising black sea, and it suddenly gave way, and salt water flowed into the fresh water lake. Eventually through to the Med and drowned any settlements near by. This happened in lots of places. The Bering Straights, separating Alaska from Siberia. PNG from mainland Australia and Tasmania. Great Britain from continental Europe, and lots of islands of course. There is lots of archaeological evidence supporting the existence of cities or towns mentioned in the Bible. Including the first temple destroyed by the Babylonians, and they found idols or statues obviously pagan not Roman, in a house dating back to about 600 BC. It just that some religions have decided to interpret the Bible themselves. That Australian Mr Ham, building a 27 million dollar theme park featuring dinosaurs playing near children? Now is building an Ark. He's the most arrogant man and making millions out of it.

Well Noah would not have saved elephants, or lions, they were safe in Africa. But goats, sheep and chickens, dogs, etc., (I don't think they had cows then, not the giant ones anyway) They may have stored grain etc., to sow somewhere else. Anyway good night everyone, it's midnight here and time for bed.

Oh Josephus stop misusing the Bible to justify your crazy religious beliefs...

Jesus had failed in his quest to teach love and peace and got angrier as time progressed. He threatened hellfire and damnation more... and then he threatened what would happen to this who refused his teachings.

Linking it to the Romans and their oppression is just ridiculous.

That Catholic Bible study of yours has sure left you stranded, grasping at straws....lol...It is you who are getting things wrong!

Here is another version for you it is about lack of faith not the Romans

Luke 12:46 The lord of that servant will come at a time when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not ready for him, and he will have him cut in two and will give him his part in the fate of those who have no faith;

It is another threat from Jesus... Go back to Bible study 101.

And you claim I take the verse out of context...See what happens when your indoctrinated mind can't face the truth..You talk garbage!

Who was it that let Jesus down the most?...The Jews...The believers....They got him angry!

Who let's Jesus' teachings down the most still to this day...the believers...Like you misusing his clear teachings by changing the words and the context.

See that is why your belief system is a Paulian Pharisaical load of rubbish.

The Catholics follow Paul and ignore Jesus continually. The Protestants broke away from Catholicism but weren't smart enough to defeat the indoctrinations and misuse of Jesus' words.

They too continued to get it all wrong and defy the true teachings!

Mark 7:7-9 Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.

For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.”

Then he said, “You skilfully sidestep God’s law in order to hold on to your own tradition.

Back to Bible kindergarten for you!