(Ian 4/13) David, what do you mean how should one behave? If there is one god,
and this one god is infallible and perfect, the rules need only be laid out once.
We should have the same rules throughout with certain exceptions which would
be for man made laws such as speed limits and other things to do with man's
ingenuity. Slavery should always have been wrong. Sacrificing should have always
been wrong. The Sabbath should always be the same. Of course, these apply only if
there is one true god. If there is not one true god, all bets are off. Then it
depends on each country as do the laws concerning man's ingenuity.
> >
> >(Ian 4/8) Abraham's devotion to his god? Are you kidding? Do you mean to say
> >that if I tied up my son (or grandson considering my age) and placed him
> >on an
> >altar, raised my knife, ready to plunge it into his heart when someone
> >stopped
> >me, I could claim that god told me to do it? Oh! Well, I'm not a religious
> >person. I'm not a true christian. What if Jerry did it? Do you think he could
> >pass for a true christian?
> >
> >(DAVE 4/11) Ian: You didn't argue his devotion, just an act of his, in a
> >culture where this might have been looked at a little differently than here.
>
> RALPH
> So morality is just a matter of cultural differences, Dave?
>
> (DAVE 4/13) Ralph: Yes, maybe it is. Or even to different personalities.
> Is that what you believe?
>
> Ralph
> Maybe you would
> like to tell us just who it was that told Abraham to kill his little son
> Isaac.
>
> (DAVE 4/13) Ralph: God.
>
> DAVE
> > I'm not sure the connection you all of sudden made to Abraham and being a
> >Christian - can you explain it?
>
> RALPH
> For starters, Dave, read Matthew 1:1; 22:32; Mark 12:26; John 1:1-4;
> Galatians 3:6-9; etc. I was always taught that God was the same, yesterday,
> today, and forever. Now you come along and tell us that what God says and
> does depends on the cultural setting.
>
> (DAVE 4/13) Ralph: I didn't think I was saying this, but I won't argue it
> - it could be true. I think God may even treat us as individuals
> differently, within the same culture.
> I think it is important to know the cultural setting to better understand
> the context in which things are said - this goes for any analysis of any