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The slaughter of non-Christians and forced conversions in the name of Christ was as wrong as wrong could be. Any reading of the Sermon on the Mount would have shown that practice to be wrong (Matthew 5-7.)

Sadly, however, no one seems to know in what order of precident one part of the bible trumps another. Why is Matthew 5-7, for example, supposed to take precidence over, say, the doctrine that witches should be stoned to death? Where is the schedule of precidence, if there is one? Apropos to this question, one of the posters here just gave us a verse that seems to equate witchery with arcane orthodox jewish practices. How am I not, therefore, to take the commandment to kill witches to be a license from God to hunt down orthodox jews?

Thank you for your posts!

Why is Matthew 5-7, for example, supposed to take precidence over, say, the doctrine that witches should be stoned to death? Where is the schedule of precidence, if there is one?

The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) is given by Jesus Christ directly and personally. He describes His authority with regard to the law in Matthew 5:17-22 (emphasis mine)

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

And with regard to passing judgment (Matthew 7:1-2):

Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. With the following exception for knowing whether or not to listen to spiritual instruction (Matthew 7:15-20) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

I have surveyed the various dates that have been given for the writing of the various gospels, and nearly all historians put them toward the middle or end of this conflict.

I believe Mark has the earliest dating for a completed Gospel account of the life of Jesus. However, the Pharisee sect did not become dominant overnight.

Moreover, the (New Testament) scriptures were in progress prior to the fall of the temple - and the letters of Paul - who clarifies what it means to be Pharisee - were considered Scripture (II Peter 3:14-16):

Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

And account [that] the longsuffering of our Lord [is] salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

As also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.