From: saruman@cats.ucsc.edu (Friend of Entropy)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Question on the Bible
Date: 28 Sep 92 01:15:42 GMT
Organization: University of California; Santa Cruz


	
	Well, I came to a conclusion recently that i wished to share,
and hopefully get a reaction on.  I cannot possibly accept Christianity
simply because its tennants, as expressed in the bible, violate many
of my most deeply held beliefs.  That is, that women and men are equal,
and that slavery is inherently wrong.  
	I have gathered some quotes that i was espesially surprised by
in my readings in the bible.  What are your reactions to these?  I just
cannot believe that anyone could possibly follow faithfully a book, and
a god, that expresses these beliefs.

Bible on slavery:
	Exodus 21:1-7

2	If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years; and in the
seventh he shall go out free and pay nothing.
3	If he comes in by himself, he shall go out by himself; if he comes in
married, then his wife shall go out with him.
4	If his master has given him a wife, and she has borne him sons or
daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall
go out by himself.

Bible on Punishment and slavery:
	Exodus 21:12-21

12	He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death.
15	And he who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put
to death.
16	He who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand,
shall surely be put to death.
17	And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to
death.
20	And if a man beats his servant or his maidservant with a rod, so that
he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished.
21	Notwithstanding, if he remains alive a day or two, he shall not
be punished; for he is his property.

	Deuteronomy 21:20-21

20	And they shall say to the elders of his city, "This son of ours is
stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and
a drunkard."
21	Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones; so
you shall put away the evil person from among you, and all Israel shall hear
and fear.

Bible on Women:
	Genesis 3:16

	I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception;
	In pain you shall bring forth children;
	Your desire shall be for your husband,
	And he shall rule over you.

	1 Timothy 2:9-15

9	In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest 
apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or
pearls or costly clothing,
10	but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.
11	Let a woman learn in silence with all submission.
12	And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man,
but to be in silence.
13	For Adam was formed first, then Eve.
14	And Adam was not decieved, but the woman being deceived, fell
into transgression.
15	Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in 
faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.


	I find these opinions increadibly offensive, and not merely isolated
parts of the book, but built into the basic ideas i found:  guilt and
punishment.
	I am interested in hearing any possible justification of the book
that bears these expressions, or of the ideas themselves.

-Nick