Commentary: ie, priests.
This isn't rocket science. Either the bible is a source of moral instruction, and somewhere in it lurks an actual declarative sentence that, standing all by itself, constitutes a legible claim about what one ought, or ought not do, or it is a miasma of vague notions out of which I am supposed to sniff out what's moral by crystal ball gazing--with, of course, the help of whatever priests are currently profiting from expostulating on this theme.
Let's consider a current example: does "thou shalt not suffer a witch to live" mean you should kill witches whenever you find them? Does that not apply to the 14 year old daughter of my neighbor who proclaims she's a wikkan and casts spells? Whereas, it does apply to child murderers? Just how much silly, irrelevant torque do you think you can apply to a phrase from the bible to bend it to your will, without getting called out by the referee?
There's no law that says you can't chase the meaning of quotes from the bible around until they turn into sticky residue on the road you can mold into anything you please--but don't be expecting to impress those who expect actual moral guidance from their lynch-pins of moral guidance. If you need an interpreter, you haven't got a lynch-pin of moral guidance; you have a confidence game that's been highly successful for a long time.
The command to kill witches was given to Israel, but is a moral guide for the rest of us. Even in Israel their was a legal process. You didn't go out and kill a witch unilaterally on sight, you hauled them before the community, which tried them.
We aren't under Israeli law, but if we did adopt a law outlawing witchcraft and spiritism, I would not consider that law immoral.
We've been through this before. You seem to think I should have some objection to Israel killing witches. I don't.
Does that not apply to the 14 year old daughter of my neighbor who proclaims she's a wikkan and casts spells?
Again, there is no law against witches in this country. To kill a witch here would be against the law, and therefore immoral.
Whereas, it does apply to child murderers?
Child murderers are prosecuted under the law for murder. That didn't even make sense that you brought them up.
Just how much silly, irrelevant torque do you think you can apply to a phrase from the bible to bend it to your will, without getting called out by the referee?"
What torque? The Bible says Israel should kill witches. And I'm fine with that. Are you the referee?
The command to kill witches was given to Israel, but is a moral guide for the rest of us. Even in Israel their was a legal process. You didn't go out and kill a witch unilaterally on sight, you hauled them before the community, which tried them.
We aren't under Israeli law, but if we did adopt a law outlawing witchcraft and spiritism, I would not consider that law immoral.
We've been through this before. You seem to think I should have some objection to Israel killing witches. I don't.
Does that not apply to the 14 year old daughter of my neighbor who proclaims she's a wikkan and casts spells?
Again, there is no law against witches in this country. To kill a witch here would be against the law, and therefore immoral.
Whereas, it does apply to child murderers?
Child murderers are prosecuted under the law for murder. That didn't even make sense that you brought them up.
Just how much silly, irrelevant torque do you think you can apply to a phrase from the bible to bend it to your will, without getting called out by the referee?"
What torque? The Bible says Israel should kill witches. And I'm fine with that. Are you the referee?