Question about the Bible

[Shoshanna]

I don't think it advises to do nothing. It's about the idea of "fighting fire with fire". That can end up burning rather than winning.

Like if some one sues you using corrupt law, don't try to use the same corrupt tactics to fight them back, instead accept that the system is corrupt, and take your lumps if necessary. Play the game, as honestly and generously as possible. Then, if the system screws you over regardless, anyone looking at the result will see, gosh that personal acted in the best, so it must be the system or law that's corrupt and unjust. That's the way change happens, by bringing the darkness into light where everyone can see its flaws.

Or if you find someone has ripped you off on a deal, accept that they're just a better liar and cheat than you are. Praise them for it to your friends. They will perhaps think gee that person can't be trusted and has no ethics. It will be obvious. But if you try to finagle back, then people looking may thing hmm I wonder who is in the right, and it won't be clear.

There's also the aspect of generosity of spirit. What can you take with you? Nothing tangible. So who cares about piling up treasure, like one of the books say? But knowing that you acted more generously than the swindlers, that's good for the soul.

And there's the trust in God bit. Like that verse about the lilies of the field, that God provides beautiful clothes for, as it were. If you're attached to "winning", then you're not trusting God, you're trusting the system of man more, perhaps. Which is not to say give up on society and go be homeless, living in the wind, but maybe feeling like you've "lost" can give insight into what you've been valuing. And maybe it could be better?

Interesting song, but maybe "consequences dictate our course of action" isn't best philosophy and it should be more "conscience dictates
our course of action"? If I'm playing a nasty rigged game, which is what life in this world often seems like, I'd rather do mediocre by play super-fairly as a loser, learning about myself along the way, maybe helping others, consequences be damned, rather than becoming evil super-schemer just to "win" a pile of things that just disappear at the end. Also, trying to play the "consequences" game perfect would imply you have perfect knowledge and predicting, which isn't very humble, and can often result in being shown that haha.

It can be slippery slope, trying to "fight" evil, because most all the examples in the world of fighting are one crappy side verses another crappy side. So very easy to become the evil one tries to fight, without realizing it. Don't do that.


Anyway I guess this isn't bible talk in that I didn't bother quoting chapter and verse and such, and thus more my own personal opinion, but I think it's aligned with what I've read in the bible. Also aligned with more eastern philosophy of karma and attachment and such.

I really like this interpretation! I think i do just need to realize some people play games better than others and get ahead temporarily but ultimately will be exposed. Actually when i read your comment i reflected on the situation and realized it already is being exposed without any intervention by me. Sometimes situations can kind of float by unnoticed by the majority of anyone who would care, but eventually someone sees and it is beneficial when things are noticed organically without being pointed out.

It can be frustrating when yes I play by the rules and act with my conscience when it seems like so many get ahead by being scummy people who scheme and grift and lie and cheat. It is also lame that so many people have so little like....perspective on things and make assumptions or have these huge ego like they are the best thing since sliced bread.

[IdeomotorPrisoner]

Does this mean that despite something being unjust and unethical that I should not do something? Should I turn the other cheek and wait for God to do something? What if it is in defense of someone else?

The Old Testament's Mosaic Law is more rooted in Mesopotamian law. Like more Code of Hammurabi still. New Testament drifted into forgiveness and mercy, which was historically the influence of Persia and later Greece, and started during The Achaemenid Empire. 

It made for far less Amalekites that God said to slaughter.

The New Testament, particularly the Gospels of Christ, often seemed to obviously try to rectify how much more passive God became, and how both can still be the words of the same God.

So it's like a liminal passage. It's in both testaments simultaneously.  It be like if Terminator was programed to both kill and protect Sarah Conner.

Sarcasm aside.  I really do think the Persian and Greek Influence Put away the righteous swords of religion until Islam put them on their flags.

Achaemenid, Hellenistic, Byzantine influence influenced the softer approach. A more democratic, rational, and forgiving one which was reflected in the NT.

Letting God's law be the judge is the influence of democracy in promoting peaceful order and letting a set authority decide retribution. In many ways, the mercy of religion is the foundation of later democracy and vice versa.

This mostly moved away from self-appointed individuals (living gods) deciding what dictates the appropriate moral response.

Personally?

I prefer The Carrie Underwood Approach.

You can be forgiving and even moral or religious until it crosses the "That Motherfucker!" line, at which point...

[midicon]

And I bet you are a good person with a clean conscience, never done anything bad?
Or you are not, and your faults and failures are laying heavy on your shoulders.
The NT doesn’t moralise, it forgives those who need forgiveness 

Dont need a book to tell you right from wrong, dont need the US constitution to tell you your rights either? 
Don’t worry, they will remove that constitution and you won’t have them rights

You accuse other of 'ranting and moaning' and yet you seem to be the one doing all of that. Perhaps this thread might be an opportunity for self reflection.

[Nerb]

A book written by men...

Are you sure it was men?

If God created man in his own image, what did the Devil create in hers?

[Creaky]

You accuse other of 'ranting and moaning' and yet you seem to be the one doing all of that. Perhaps this thread might be an opportunity for self reflection.

I am not ranting and moaning against religion, atheism or the value of a book, just called out your silly argument
Words have power

[midicon]

I am not ranting and moaning against religion, atheism or the value of a book, just called out your silly argument
Words have power

 "I think it's best to just be kind and act with a good conscience. You don't need a book to tell you right from wrong.", isn't really an argument, just an opinion.

'Words have power'. Smashing lol. It's a pity you don't use them wisely and with self awareness.

[Creaky]

 "I think it's best to just be kind and act with a good conscience. You don't need a book to tell you right from wrong.", isn't really an argument, just an opinion.

'Words have power'. Smashing lol. It's a pity you don't use them wisely and with self awareness.

Hey midi, please tell me you have no self help books on your bookshelf, you don’t know anyone who does either I bet
Just stop and reflect on your comment, if you can’t actually see what is wrong with your comment

[Shoshanna]

The Old Testament's Mosaic Law is more rooted in Mesopotamian law. Like more Code of Hammurabi still. New Testament drifted into forgiveness and mercy, which was historically the influence of Persia and later Greece, and started during The Achaemenid Empire. 

It made for far less Amalekites that God said to slaughter.

The New Testament, particularly the Gospels of Christ, often seemed to obviously try to rectify how much more passive God became, and how both can still be the words of the same God.

So it's like a liminal passage. It's in both testaments simultaneously.  It be like if Terminator was programed to both kill and protect Sarah Conner.

Sarcasm aside.  I really do think the Persian and Greek Influence Put away the righteous swords of religion until Islam put them on their flags.

Achaemenid, Hellenistic, Byzantine influence influenced the softer approach. A more democratic, rational, and forgiving one which was reflected in the NT.

Letting God's law be the judge is the influence of democracy in promoting peaceful order and letting a set authority decide retribution. In many ways, the mercy of religion is the foundation of later democracy and vice versa.

This mostly moved away from self-appointed individuals (living gods) deciding what dictates the appropriate moral response.

Personally?

I prefer The Carrie Underwood Approach.

You can be forgiving and even moral or religious until it crosses the "That Motherfucker!" line, at which point...

[Video: https://youtu.be/lVkKGO9Wa_s?si=txqPMhF_7NEYwj99]

hehehehehe if I could get away with the Carrie Underwood approach I would do it! Guess I'm not a true believer because honestly I would like to just ruin this person. Not a cheating situation. Just a malignant person who shouldn't be in the position they're in, wielding power over people they do not respect doing things that tangibly have ruined a couple people's lives. Or I guess a better phrase would be............set people back very far when that was not necessary.

[midicon]

Hey midi, please tell me you have no self help books on your bookshelf, you don’t know anyone who does either I bet
Just stop and reflect on your comment, if you can’t actually see what is wrong with your comment

I think I initially reacted to this...

"Look at all the atheists who come into this thread ranting, moaning.
They don’t like us, our beliefs, we are a threat, the bible, Jesus is a threat!"

I hadn't seen anyone ranting or moaning, just you with that comment.

I don't have any self help books or anything of that nature. My self awareness remarks were really addressing your attitude nothing more. It was unbecoming of me but I'm only human.

I brought up three children as a single parent, without religion and they have turned out fine. That's why I made my first comment here. It's no big deal.

[Shoshanna]

I think I initially reacted to this...

"Look at all the atheists who come into this thread ranting, moaning.
They don’t like us, our beliefs, we are a threat, the bible, Jesus is a threat!"

I hadn't seen anyone ranting or moaning, just you with that comment.

I don't have any self help books or anything of that nature. My self awareness remarks were really addressing your attitude nothing more. It was unbecoming of me but I'm only human.

I brought up three children as a single parent, without religion and they have turned out fine. That's why I made my first comment here. It's no big deal.

I knew what you meant! About not needing a book to know right from wrong. Unfortunately the people who DO need a book or something to tell them right from wrong never seem to be into reading or listening. Hehehehehehehehe.

On being a single parent: I truly admired my dad he was my only parent and I really looked up to him because he was always looking out for me and my best interest putting me ahead of himself or anyone when a lot of kids I went to school with had single parents who were more caught up in themselves than worrying about their kids! So I'm sure you already know that your kids appreciate you SO MUCH!