Freedom of religion in the Bible

[rocam]

Exodus 22:20 He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
------

Numbers 11:1 “And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it." He then burned the complainers alive. That'll teach them.
------

Deuteronomy 18:20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

[rocam]

Psalms 58:10 The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.

[Theja]

Yes, when there is justice the righteous rejoice. If there were no evil people and murderers in the first place, it would have been much better.

God also punished His own when when they go astray: the Northern kingdom (Israel) was swept away by Assyria; and the Southern kingdom (Judah) went into exile to Babylon.

Put in proper context, God is the ultimate judge of all. And even if someone commits great injustice on earth, there is justing awaiting in the next world. So either way, all mankind come under the justice of God --- "It is APPOINTED unto men once to die, and after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27).

-----------------------------------
For the context of Exodus 22:20, the people came out of an idolatrous nation (Egypt), and now they are about to enter an idolatrous land (Canaan). For that, to prevent idolatry, a new culture has to be drilled in the hearts and minds of the children of Israel: so God sanctioned the death penalty for disobedience in this regard.

And because of idolatry Israel perished; and because of idolatry Judah went into exile. For the sake of the world, the people of Israel went through all the disciplines of the Almighty.

[Hattushil]

Poetic expression....

This one was really good one, Theja....Thanks for making my day....

So, you mean that you have to find your way in a mess (the "Bible", in this case) which consists of poetic expressions and the real orders of God all together...Oh my God !!!! It seems the Christianity is a potential religion of terror since a Christian "Bin Laden" may appear and interpret it as it is written in book.....

[Theja]

I think you are looking for comfort in passages out of context to make the bloodshed carried out by Muslims look tame. But we know, and even the world knows, that Christians are not interpreting scripture and behaving in the way you wish to portray it.

At least the thought that you find temporary, if misleading, comfort by citing isolated passages gives you a sense of victory. In light of the terrible acts Muslims are carrying out in different parts of the world, I can understand your desire to escape to some comfort like this.

[rocam]

Those passages prove that the Bible is not what you would like everyone to believe it is. Christians have killed more lives in the name of Christianity than Muslims did. So just because Muslims are on the hot seat right now doesn’t wipe away the crimes committed by Christians.

Just think about the morons who claim that the war in Iraq was prophesized to justify the deaths of thousands of innocents.

[rocam]

Originally posted by Hattushil
Poetic expression....

Hattushil, notice how instead of addressing the issue, she attempts to twist the subject. So typical…