The Old Testament And Morals

[Rivers]

In another thread Cinepro stated

I'm not so sure I want to be basing my moral code on the Old Testament at all.

I agree with Cinepro to an extent. A lot of atheists love to point out all the horrible and immoral aspects of the Old Testament and claim that the Bible is a terrible place for a moral basis.

I believe that the Old Testament and other scriptures aren't designed to give us morals in the first place. When I read the scriptures I don't see any comprehensive list of rules and guidelines on how to live morally. What I do see in the scriptures is directions on how live in a covenant relationship with God.

The Old Testament tells a story of a people who are in a covenant relationship with God. The Book of Mormon tells of a group of people who are in a covenant relationship with God. The New Testament is about becoming part of the kingdom of God. The Doctrine and Covenants contains directions to church members on how to be God's covenant people in these latter days.

Of course there are moral guidelines in the scriptures, but I just don't think that is the main purpose of scripture. Everybody already has morals built into them. We call it a conscience. The Book of Mormon calls it the light of Christ. I side with the atheists in saying that we don't need religion to be moral. But I do believe that religion is important if we want to have a relationship with our creator.

[Zakuska]

What I find funny is how many people claim the Bible to be the end all discussion and debate about living a Moral Christian life and then turn around and relegate so much of it the trash heap of out moded practices and council.

For example... how many churches do you know of in our day and age that follow Paul council and have the women pray with their head covered? (1 Cor 11:5)

I guess its one more place where Mononism follows the Bible more closely than those who claim a superior understanding of it.

Edited August 2, 2011 by Zakuska

[Rivers]

What I find funny is how many people claim the Bible to be the end all discussion and debate about living a Moral Christian life and then turn around and relegate so much of it the trash heap of out moded practices and council.

For example... how many churches do you know of in our day and age that follow Paul council and have the women pray with their head covered? (1 Cor 11:5)

I guess its one more place where Mononism follows the Bible more closely than those who claim a superior understanding of it.

In the words of Simon and Garfunkel, "Man hears what he wants wants to hear and disregards the rest."

I think that's kind of how religion works. We take what we feel to be good things from the scriptures and apply them in our lives. But we disregard the not-so-good parts.

Now I am not saying scriptures are useless. Scriptures help us come closer to God and reinforce living with good morals in our lives.

The covenants that we make with God are key to everything in the gospel.

[Zakuska]

In the words of Simon and Garfunkel, "Man hears what he wants wants to hear and disregards the rest."

I think that's kind of how religion works. We take what we feel to be good things from the scriptures and apply them in our lives. But we disregard the not-so-good parts.

Now I am not saying scriptures are useless. Scriptures help us come closer to God and reinforce living with good morals in our lives.

The covenants that we make with God are key to everything in the gospel.

Paul would have felt right at home at Woodstock.

1 Thessalonians 5:21

21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

[Nenahnezad]

I don't believe that the Old Testament and other scriptures aren't designed to give us morals in the first place. When I read the scriptures I don't see any comprehensive list of rules and guidelines on how to live morally.

LOL! Amazing. "Ten" Commandments? It's a list. The Prophet Abinadi quoted from the Books of Moses. Lehi taught about moral agency from the brass plates.

"Bloody savages." - Lawerence of Arabia