Comment by Magnus Mayus on May 18, 2013 at 3:53am

Surely God doesn't mind when two people love each other. That's what he set out in his directives to the world. Hasn't Jesus surrounded himself with just men? But yeah, seeing that the bible also talks that you should hold slaves, rape your daughters, and generally be ashamed of everything it doesn't surprise me that most Christians are confused...

Comment by brookelynn rainwater on May 18, 2013 at 5:22am

who's to say that a marriage that ends in divorce over adultry was ever joined together by God? and Jesus in His wisdom didnt correct every sin He came across, like when Mary the prostitute washed His feet. it doesnt mean He wasnt approving of any sin, but choosing His battles wisely and lovingly. King Solomon became known to christians as the king who got his three wishes, and then made the foolish choice to use his wisdom wealth and long life to juggle 1000 women successfully -.- not ok. We love his book in the bible because it was a manogomous story (the ideal, most romantic -a virgin and her fiance's shameless love story) and he was very experienced at marriage and good at romance and it mirrors Gods covenant with us beautifully! But taking multiple wives always led to strife and contention (jacob and abraham) and is not pleasing to God. when Jesus was having conversations where questions are being asked, He uses the questions to reveal more truth like "im glad you asked...heres the follow up.." Jesus had very keen insight into marriage, like the way He proposed to the desciples by serving them the traditional supper and drink that a young man would offer his lady of interest and her family- and if she partook of the food and drank from the cup, she was accepting the marriage proposal. then the fiance would declare that he would now go back to his fathers house and prepare a place for her and return for her when its time. Just like Jesus did and said as a romantic gesture to His bride- the church :)

Comment by Cathy Cooper on May 18, 2013 at 12:37pm

Simply put Brookelynn, every marriage that goes through the Judaic/Christian process, according to the Bible, was joined together by God.  If Yahweh did not approve of multiple wives, why did he permit it?   If divorce was not to be permitted, why did Yahweh permit it?  However, as you would have it, the fact that the Bible says it, does not make it true anyway!  As you will read further, you provide us with the answer!--which is, it is not the word of God, it is the word of men who are just being expedient, and choosing their battles wisely.

We expect a god to say what is right, and not what is in his best interest.  By choosing his battles "wisely" and being expedient, he sweeps what is right under the rug when it suits him.  If this is the case, then you have an epistemological problem.  How do you know what Jesus is saying is true, as opposed to just being expedient to his well being. i.e, "choosing his battles wisely"  This puts EVERYTHING he said and did into question, as we cannot trust whether he said or did it because it was right, or he was just being expedient. i.e., choosing his battles wisely

Let me give you an example.  Malcolm X during the 60's was speaking out against the Vietnam War instigated by the United States.  He was becoming quite popular as a result, compared to ML King.  He was pointing out that ML King was an "Uncle Tom" and a traitor to the people for not speaking out.  King eventually came out and said he could no longer keep quiet on the Vietnam War, and he spoke out against it.  As Malcolm X pointed out after this, why was he keeping quiet in the first place?  The obvious answer is that he was being expedient and choosing his battles wisely--he was not necessarily doing and saying what was RIGHT.

Your example is an equivocation.  For it to be an analogy, it would have to go something like this:

Since the Jewish laws say NOT to commit adultery, then Jesus would be saying you CAN commit adultery--therefore prostitution is ok.  Then the Pharisees would come up and say, "But Jesus, the laws say that adultery is forbidden!"  Then Jesus would reply, " The minds of men were closed in those days.  But now I say to you, open sex is good, unless you are younger than 12."

See how that goes, and how ad hoc that would be. 

As you have shown, when Jesus is confronted with a question that would expose his ignorance, he just does and says what is expedient--i.e., he chooses his battles wisely.  In this case, to hide his mistake and the contradiction that the Pharisees pointed out. 

If Jesus had, as you say, "a very keep insight into marriage,"  that is to say that Yahweh was a dumbass who couldn't get things right.  Isn't that odd, as according to Christians, Jesus IS god!!  See how far the rabbit hole goes?  How ironic.....

Comment