Hi everyone
Now, to get started on this forum, I have a question regarding conceptualizing what is Written; interpreting and grasping what the Holy Book says. Now, what we know for certain is that it says a great deal of things - can all these things really be taken literally and quoted out of context to endorse a point one is trying to make? At first this notion seemed rather strange to me, but the more I think about it, the more I figure that everything that is Written in the Holy Book has been reviewed and approved by the LORD, and should as such definitely be considered 'quoteable' material of substance.
Here are two examples:
And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death.
- Leviticus 24:16
And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.
- Deuteronomy 17:12
What these paragraphs say in plain English is quite simple to me: Heathens will burn, would you not say? Although that is somewhat of a sad thought, I do not grieve over this, since I am confident that our Lord and Savior will elect those who are worthy to see the light. He made us, he has the power to take from us, he has the power to give to us, and that he does, every day, as more and more see the Light. However, I have heard some Christians advocate that not everything in the Bible is meant to be taken literally, and that only the "good" parts should be interpreted as such. However, there are things like murder and death in the Bible, but those things exist in real life as well, and one must learn to coexist with moral, cruelty, punishment and death in order to be a good christian, IMO.
What are your takes on this?