I just don't see the connection between the old and new testaments, other than the fact that they support the ideals of justice, forgiveness, mercy and charity that all humans possess somewhere within them, but which remain hidden through our ignorance. Of course, the old testament throws in quite a bit more fear and stories of war, whereas the new testament focuses on love, except when you get to revelations. So maybe it is revelations that ties it together into a cohesive whole for those in need of the war and fear factor.
The only reference to a future Jesus in the old testament is something very obscure in Isaiah which can be interpreted in numerous ways - it appears there was a human sacrifice for sins at some point. Furthermore, there is absolutely no reference to God being born in the flesh, walking the earth, healing people, or sacrificing himself for the sins of the world. I assume you view Jesus as God since that is seems to be the prevailing theory among believers.
If God really were to have meant the old testament to have had significance today, God would have planted clear scientific evidence for modern people to marvel at. Instead, we have worse than nothing - we have stories that contradict the evidence, such as a flood that covered the earth 4000 years ago. By the way, a clever God would have figured out a cleaner way to get rid of excess humans - without devastating the earth, that is. And how many millions of species fit into that ark? The writer of that story just didn't know how vast the earth was, did he?
Spring Break
anonymous864
posted 10/16/05 @ 3:36 PM MST
The only reference to a future Jesus in the old testament is something very obscure in Isaiah which can be interpreted in numerous ways - it appears there was a human sacrifice for sins at some point. Furthermore, there is absolutely no reference to God being born in the flesh, walking the earth, healing people, or sacrificing himself for the sins of the world. I assume you view Jesus as God since that is seems to be the prevailing theory among believers.
If God really were to have meant the old testament to have had significance today, God would have planted clear scientific evidence for modern people to marvel at. Instead, we have worse than nothing - we have stories that contradict the evidence, such as a flood that covered the earth 4000 years ago. By the way, a clever God would have figured out a cleaner way to get rid of excess humans - without devastating the earth, that is. And how many millions of species fit into that ark? The writer of that story just didn't know how vast the earth was, did he?
Mike O'Brien, grad student
biomedical engineering