What the hell, my stomach turned upside down. After this he loads the concubine on a donkey, cuts her LIMB FROM LIMB AND SENDS HER PIECES ALL AROUND ISRAEL.

WHAT IS HAPPENING

Cain murders Abel, and doesn't get executed. Instead God protects him.

Then God makes a law, don't spill blood or your blood be spilt.

It's that pattern I find concerning - to say God is reacting to human behaviour "oh they commited murder, time for a law for that" until it gets to "don't eat shellfish" - to say that's God re acting makes God seem like men just making a religion or rules.

Rather if God is gradually installing laws to eventually reach the stage of fulfilment in Christ - this is what I thought.

How come he doesn't just give the whole law to Adam , then gradually lead humans to the point of Messiah and fulfillment?

Furthermore, as Paul says the Law increases sin... Yet Jesus says the world was so bad at the time of the flood and compared it to his return "no life would have been spared" ... If the people before the flood were so wicked to be wiped out ... How is that possible if there was no law to increase their sin?

Pretty much the title. To clarify, I'm talking about the act of slaving/enslaving, not "being a slave".

Edit:

Looks like I'm getting a mix of answers, including

1. Yes

2. No

3. Yes, but it didn't used to be

4. Depends

5. Yes, but I don't think the Bible is describing slavery/it's so different from how I envision slavery that it doesn't count.

Hi, I’m a Christian convert from a Muslim background. I’d like to share my story and ask for some advice.

I used to be a devout Muslim, I studied Sharia and fiqh which is the islamic theology and islamic jurisprudence, Arabic is my first language, and after I learned English, a friend said to me, “If you can speak English well, and studied Sharia why not use that gift to engage in dawah and invite people to Islam. It’s one of the greatest things a Muslim can do.

I agreed, and I joined Telegram and Discord groups to discuss Islam with Christians, respond to their questions and criticisms, and raise questions about Christianity. But one day, I had a conversation with a Christian who raised questions I couldn’t answer. Doubts began to creep in, so I asked God to guide me and show me the way.

I had a vision but when I woke up, I dismissed it. I prayed again and said, “God, you know I can’t leave Islam because of one dream.” The dream came back the next night, and again I tried to dismiss it. I asked God for something clearer, a sign I couldn’t mistake.

On the third night, I had another dream that I couldn’t ignore. I came to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God, that He died on the cross for me, and that He rose from the dead on the third day to give me eternal life.

The problem is that I come from a Muslim family and live in a country where converting from Islam to Christianity can put me in serious danger. There are no churches I can attend. Churches are banned and converting to Christianity is punishable by death,

Also My beloved father died as a Muslim, and so have others I loved. Thinking about them hurts deeply and leaves me feeling depressed.

I’m also afraid of what would happen if my mother, my family, my friends, or my community found out I had become a Christian. I think they would disown me. I worry it would break my mother’s heart, and that the community would shame my family for my decision.

I’m struggling with all of this and feeling very depressed.

I'm not afraid of death, because I know that's just the start of my everlasting life, but I feel guilty about the pain my decision might cause them, I mean how could I do this to them after all they've done for me?

What advice would you give me?and Please keep me in your prayers.

Hello all,
I've been thinking of buying a study/ journal/ application Bible: all in 1 maybe( mostly in NIV,but IDK if that's a good choice though).

I want to truly understand the scripture I read, that's the main goal, not just read it vaguely.

Open to suggestions. Thanks:)

For those Christians who think it is oppression for Muslim women to wear a hijab. How do you interpret these verses?

5–6 (KJV):5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.

Hello, a question has been bothering me lately, and I haven’t been able to find a logical answer. Basically, if the Bible contains God’s universal and unchanging moral teachings, how should we interpret passages like these?
1 Timothy 2:11–12 (KJV):
“Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.”
1 Corinthians 14:34 (KJV):
“Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.”
Ephesians 5:22 (KJV):
“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.”
These passages seem to reflect the social norms of their time, particularly regarding women. They seem odd placed for a Deity who is the source of all life in the universe. If they’re explained through historical context, why would an all-knowing God present moral teachings so closely tied to the customs of a particular era? It’s hard to defend in a sense of absolute Morality because we wouldn’t follow these teachings today? My partner isn’t divinely command to submit to me, nor do I expect her silence in the church, I just want someone who knows the Word?

This question is something I wondered about even when I was religious. like he created us knowing wed fall to sin allowed it to happen then got mad when it happened it doesn't sit right with me. plus, the added fact that he sacrificed himself to himself to please himself to supposedly save us from himself (how an all-powerful all-knowing being is even capable of sacrificing in the first place I'm not sure). then he disappears for 2000 years giving us no guidance only leaving us a book that says if you don't fallow what he wants has going to torture you for all eternity. it's always seemed so weird to me the god of the bible reminds me of a jealous controlling ex-boyfriend.

added thing I'm sorry if this sounded rude or disrespectful if didn't mean it to it is a genune question.

This year has been pretty bad and I need help navigating through faith desperately.

I should probably say that I’m on medication (Vyvanse) that has led to me becoming hyper sexual, and as well as being 16 it’s not surprising that I can’t go 48 hours without masturbating. Like it’s at the point where by the 7 day mark I will be in visible distress if I don’t do it, and I have banned porn but that doesn’t actually stop me from doing it. I’m saying this because I’m becoming worried sick that God is going to punish me for doing it, but then again if I quit Vyvanse I won’t be able to focus in school and get UE.

As well as that I feel like God just doesn’t love me anymore. In the span of 19 months I’ve been ditched by 5 friend groups where I thought I was best friends, 4 of those happened in the last 11 months. I’ve been harassed and bullied, been treated poorly and made to follow commands that put me at risk of more bullying by my ableist school, I now get zero love from my family, every time I enter the room it’s like I’m a stranger, I have no love life obv. I’m in such a bad state of burnout that I’m struggling to even get out of bed (it’s complicated), and I’m just really depressed. All this just makes me wonder why God would do this to me and how this is going to lead to the greater good. I actually cannot say that he loves me and believe it anymore.

I just want to believe that he loves me, you know? I don’t want anymore ‘punishments’
Please help 🙏

When in 2002 or 2001 when shein her collab song said "you can live, you live was that biblical?

Also when she said "God said take it by force, he not going to give it up, take it by force take it by force!, begin to speak those things that be not as tho they are, everything (choir: "everything the enemy stole from you"

Now I debunked the the "begin to speak those things that be not as tho they are"

But the other part is that biblical or not?

Because the only thing I can think of is that atheist preaching "child the kingdom of heaven suffer violence and the violent take it by force" I know he's paraphrasing "the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force" verse

The reason I say like the songwriter said " I shall never for get when the Lord saved me"

Being in a Pentecostal church for 13 ish years I know where I was in terms of location when I heard this song and I felt something when she got to that verse.

I'm referring to the 1917 apparition from May 13th to October 13th in Fatima, Portugal.

Some months earlier, a group of mediums published in a major newspaper that they have received information regarding the upcoming apparition. They got right both the date and place. How?

From my understanding, demons use mediums to communicate something, but, as far as I know, demons can only go back (to the past) to harvest information, they can't go to the future, only God can.

What are your thoughts?

Okay so for context; I've been baptized for a few months now and I am struggling with a lot still. I do believe Jesus Christ died for our sins mainly because I believe in God and his word. Lately I've been seeing a lot of people on social media and in some passerbys mention what they would reply to God with if he asked them why they should be let into Heaven. Their responses usually align with their own actions and not what Jesus' sacrifice did for us.

Now, while I understand their responses being denied simply because they always seem to think its actions > faith, the people telling them they're wrong often only bank on the faith aspect.

I know I can never give up on God entirely, the only way I'd backslide far is if I gave up on myself and I genuinely feel like there's no way that would happen because I know I can never be perfect and God still loves me. I struggle to feel his presence but through testimony and the peace in life I've gotten since devoting my life to christ, I know he's here, that he loves me and I have a way out.

Now, while that is the case, it doesn't mean I shouldn't strive to be better, this is where I find fault in them denying the action based portion of being accepted into heaven.

To me, its a simple mixture of both, because of God and Jesus Christ's sacrifice, We were put into the position to keep our faith in him, practice his word and get into heaven. This might not be the best way to word it but let me give you a question to try see if I'm on the right track theoretically.

Person A: Believer, practices God's word
Person B: Believer, doesn't practice God's word
Person C: Knows about God but doesn't necessarily believe but lives a morally "good" life

Now, are you telling me that both persons A and B would get into heaven?
I know people like Person B. Some of them practice premarital sex, sex outside of their relationships, constant cheating, drugs etc. but at the end of the day will still tell you that they believe in God and are christians.

Its my opinion Person C wouldn't because of what scripture tells us (2 Peter 2:21: The text warns that for those who have known the way of righteousness and subsequently turn back or reject the sacred commandment delivered to them, it would have been better never to have known it at all.).

Please, I do apologize if my explanation is a bit wonky all over, I'm not in the best headspace to phrase this correctly. I do hope I got my point across well enough though..

When you say God wants all people to be saved but not all people will be saved, are you saying God's desire to save everyone will ultimately fail?

If not, what exactly do you mean when you say God wants everyone to be saved?

I'm asking about God's ability to accomplish His saving purpose, not whether humans have free will or whether God forces people to do things.

I am an agnostic individual, who, in my heart, believes there is a greater being. I just don't think that there is a possibility that any religion is "correct."

I just want to know:

If I live my life, believing in A god, thanking it, talking to it, knowing it is there, and I live a life that is devoted to being selfless and good, not according to the Bible but according to inherent humanoid morality, would your Christian God send me to hell for not worshipping HIM specifically, or reading the Bible?

I have wondered about this my whole life.

So I know a lot of people talk about this, but I guess I never understood what blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is until now. And I’ve done this and I’ve done this and I’ve done this, of willingly send against the Holy Spirit telling me not to so many times and I’m just now reading that’s what blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is and I’m starting to wonder is the reason that I’ve been struggling for seven months trying to come back to Christ and don’t feel any closer I don’t feel the Holy Spirit anymore, I don’t feel conviction. I feel numb. I know that what I did was wrong and I wish I didn’t deliberately sin and sin against the spirit telling me not to. Have I committed the unforgivable sin????

Apparently an atheist find all atrocities in the Bible (homopobia/transpobia, misogyny, violence, contradiction, inaccuracies (historical/scientific), and anything else.

IGNORE THE YOUTUBER. FOCUS ON THE MAIN ISSUE. I CANNOT FIND THE WEBSITE UNFORTUNATELY.

Note: This is just a personal question. What is your personal response to this?

I was raised orthodox christian but ever since I can remember I did not believe in God. I do not know why, my family is religious. I tried so hard to believe. But I’m struggling.
In the last month, I have become a ghost. I am utterly miserable. I believe this is God punishing me, and I know I stated I do not believe in God, but my thought process is confusing. I am very confused. I am certain He is punishing me, if not the God I know then someone else. And I do not even know God. I have no relationship with him. By the “God I know” I mean the God I was taught to worship. The God I have abandoned, and never served. He is punishing me for my sins. I am being punished, or controlled. And God does not control me. I have free will. So if it is related to God, I am being punished. I have no other rational explanation for this, it must be God’s doing. I believe I am in a sort of crisis, and God is calling me to Him, He wants to save my soul, but I am ever so wicked and tainted and cannot bring myself to believe. I don’t know why I believe God is reaching me if I do not believe in God Himself! I am so confused, I am in a horrible state. I do not know what life is worth if I am to just be eaten by worms one day. Why must one lead a miserable life just to die and be eaten by worms? That does not make sense. Why must I bother staying alive, leading this absolutely agonising and useless life, if I am to just be eaten by worms? The devil himself has cursed me. How am I to believe I will burn in hell, that God is punishing me, that God is trying to reach me, and yet not believe in God?! Please, I am so confused, so unwell, I feel unreal and I don’t know what to do. I want to save my soul, I don’t understand why I can’t get myself to believe. Perhaps a demon is controlling me. I don’t know if demons can control people, I am certain I am being either controlled by something or punished.

Note for the non-philosophically-inclined: I’m using necessary to mean that something could not have been different.

The modal collapse objection is basically this

P1- Per Divine simplicity, there are no distinctions between God‘s existence, essence, will, knowledge, or actions. I.e. God is identical to his essence, God is identical to his actions, etc.

P2- Under classical theism, God is necessary

P3- Since God is necessary, and he is identical to his actions, his actions (including the act of creation) are necessary

P4- If creation is necessary, then it could not have been different, meaning that God could not have created a different world or failed to create this one

C1 - All true facts are necessarily true

C2 - Since there are no alternative ways the world could have been, we have no free will

C3 - Since God‘s actions are necessary, God has no free will

Hypothetically, if the Bible was excavated in today's society, following a world where history was spearheaded by another major religion, how do you think people would react to it? Or, in the case that everyone is atheist, would people accept it? I'm so curious what everyone thinks!

I am a follower of Christ. Lately, I’ve been recalling events from my childhood and also diving into the UAP/UFO phenomenon, which I believe to be a spiritual subject, not an alien one.

I have bits and pieces of memory of strange experiences as a kid (leaving my body and being pulled, going through a window and seeing my grandma’s house, lights floating over the pond behind my house in Londonderry NH, etc.)

I personally so far believe these beings to either be demons, watchers, or nephilim.

Seeing so many reports of people undergoing hypnosis, and finding out the truth of their encounter, had made me question whether I should try this to see what really happened. Ofcourse, I proclaim Lord Jesus Christ as my God, Lord and Savior, who died for my sins, rose again on the 3rd day and ascended to Heaven.

But I want to know: would undergoing hypnosis be considered a sin or demonic. I DO NOT want any part of that. But I do want to know what happened to me as a child.

Please, only serious answers only. God bless you and I hope to find the truth of this, if possible.

I like listening to music, I like the beats that these produces listen to. I obv don’t listen to songs that uses words to directly speak against God. Some songs indirectly speak against the Lord and I listen to those, and my GF says it doesn’t matter because that language is still entering my brain but I tell her I don’t feel that way. especially with Kanye west, I love Kanye west’s music I think he’s extremely talented but my GF tells me “ I don’t know why you listen to music like this” we also have very different music tastes, she really big into rock like the eagles, sublime, etc. point is, as a Christian, is music that important and should be taken that seriousl?

How would you feel or react a piece of popular media adapting a version of God, Jesus or the Devil into their works? They change up so of the theming to fit, but the overall message of God and Jesus being good and the Devil being evil are still blatantly present.