What do you think about Abraham's story

I absolutely agree with you. If God exist, He could not be so cruel. It is interesting how many Christians are mentioning the Bible as a sorce of guidlines for good life but ignore the horrifying stories in it. Personaly I am a Humanist, but I do respect other peoples faith as non of us really know yet. For the perpose of education I am reading the Old Testament and I can't believe that people are taking it as a source of goodness. In my view it has to be written by humans to contain so many desturbing stories.

Ahhhhhh, alas! How sad it is to think God's Love could be "lost". The only way His Love can be "lost" is if His children run away from it. He doesn't "force" it on anyone. Rather, He wants us to seek it, to want it, to appreciate it. He wants us to ask for help. He wants us to pray for guidance. He wants us to make requests to Him for strength and comfort and peace. "Ask, and you will receive" "Seek, and you will find" "Knock, and it will be opened unto you" God Bless!

Thank you. However it does give me any idea what do you think about the story.

The Bible is full of inconsistencies and should not be taken seriously.

And the Bible says: YOU SHALL NOT KILL. How is that consistent?

Isaac's response was equally revealing of his maturity in his father's - and his - faith. How old was Isaac then? Probably he's in his youth, nearing his prime. How about Abraham? He was old in the literal sense of the word. Before reaching the site of the sacrifice, Isaac had asked where the lamb for the sacrifice is. In faith Abraham replied that God will provide. Abraham prepared the altar and turned to his son. And he bound Isaac. How easy was it for Isaac to escape? Very easy. He can easily overpower his father and make a run for it. But there was nowhere in the Scripture that it was hinted that he struggled. Had he done that, it would be written - it is too logical a reaction not to warrant a mention at all. But Isaac didn't do anything. He laid atop the altar, trusting his father, trusting God. Even then, Isaac had the faith of a true man. Jephthah and his daughter is about a vow he made with God - and a vow is never meant to be broken. He had assumed that the first thing to greet him would be any of his animals, not taking into consideration the possibility that it would be his daughter. Oh, I'm not offended, dear.^^ I am happy that you are interested enough to learn that you would ask. Many people can, but not many will.

Thank you for the response. Yes I am aware of the story of Jephthah. But my point was that God did not saved her and she dye in a horrible way. I also don't know if Isaac could and tried to escape or not. The whole Bible is based on not natural (supernatural) and therefore we can't chose a natural behavior where it is convenient. Whether we take Bible as it is or not. Maybe he did trust God, I am not saying that it is not possible, but so did Jephthah and his daughter.

Hmmm. Interesting responce. I actually get the part of test, but what about Isaac ? How horrible that must been for him! There is another story about Jephthah and his daughter. God did not save her. I absolutely respect anyones faith and please take my challange only as a try to understand where blelievers are coming from.

I don't know that hymn and I'm glad I've never sung it. Some horrible text.

Thank you. That is better. fair enough. He did call the sloter off. But what about the story of Jephthah (Judges, chapter 11) who scrifice his young daughter as a bargain with God, if God would guarantee him victory over the Ammonites? God did not resue her this time. I stress I do not debate the faith as I respect people having different opinion to my. I just can't take Bible as a source of goodness.

Please correct me if I am wrong. Did you said that you approve some atrocities pictured in the Bible and excuse that with not understanding the God's bigger picture? I stress, I am not intending to discuss anyones faith, only the Bible. Another example: The book of Numbers tells how God incited Moses to attack the Midiates. His army slyed all men, and burned all the cities, but didn't kill the women and children. This merciful restraint by his soldiers infuraited Moses, and he gave orders that all the boy children should be killed, and all the women who were not virgins. 'But all the women vhildren, that have not know man by lying with him, keepalive for yourselves' (Numbers 31: 18) In my views the Midianites were victims of genoside in their own country. Yet their name lives on in Christian lore only in that favourite hymn: Christian, dost thou see them On the holy ground? How the troops of Midian Prowl and prowl around? Christian, up and smite them, Counting gain but loss; Smite them by the merit Of the holy cross. Do you know this hymn?