DocM
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Alan
I noted that you dated this 2007? Well, anyway, it is overly simplistic to believe that the Bible is merely a sacred text of a word-for-word transmission from an all powerful anthropomorphic God on a throne to his messengers and then us. The Bible is a collection of stories and teachings designed to enlighten when their meaning is discovered.
In some ways, the "messages" from God in the Bible had to come through messengers and be interpreted for the most part. But what message got through so to speak? And when were we ready to hear the message about peace, love and turning the other cheek?
In the early days of Israel, with Phillistenes and war, there was an "eye for an eye" mentality to survive. Was this truly God talking, or was it what the prophets of the time were able to hear? Perhaps, God has always been about love, but in our infancy as a monotheistic people, we were only able to get the message about our covenant with him, along with the strategic use of war at that time.
Perhaps, God is always about love, but our notion and understanding of him evolved as we evolved. It is just like afterlife contact, where, when you let go of limiting belief systems (such as war and violence) you are suddenly open to much more communication and understanding.
Matthew
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