The Old and New Testaments are separate books, and not Science

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Most people who debate- actually most are name calling and smearing contests-religion have no idea of what religion is or why the books were written. The sole purpose of religion or a religious book is to teach its followers how to get to heaven or to whatever good afterlife that religion teaches. Religious are not meant to teach a linear history or to teach science or political systems or any social or ideological way of life.

History is a means of putting a story together and is not meant to be complete but gives only a narrow glimpse of the moment by one observer who saw only a part of the events of that time period. The main focus is the teaching of that religious leader, not what he said or when he was born or who were his relatives. Of course the amount of history varies by books. The Old Testament contains much more history than the New Testament, which has little history except for Acts.

A story about a farmer planting seeds is not about agriculture and not a scientific discourse on the size of seeds. It is presented to provide a moral lesson based on that religion's doctrine. A story about a king going to war is not a justification of war. A story about execution does not endorse capital punishment. Each is presented in the context of teaching an ethical principle.

The writing of the Old and New Testaments differ by 500-2000- years, written by and for different cultures and religions. Comparing the Old and New is like comparing a book on English to one on cooking. While many Christians consider the Old as scripture and from God, no Christian follows all 613 laws of the Old Testament. Jews clearly state Christianity is not a continuation of Judaism but is a separate religion based on a leader not accepted by Jews.

The OT contains several pages and details of creation, giving specific details. The New has three verses in John, Ch 1

1. In the beginning God created all things 2Jesus was with God in the beginning.

3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made in the beginning.

In criticizing the Bible, one must choose the OT or New, not compare the two. It would be like in science comparing the steady state theory to the M theory, saying they are from the same source instead of being from different eras.

Please remember this when discussing religion. One other point. What some preacher in Montana says or what some TV preacher says is only his opinion unless it is found in the teaching of Jesus. One instance. The NT says don't commit adultery. That is a commandment. Some preachers say any sex outside marriage is adultery. That is not in the NT so that is his opinion, nothing more. Only what Jesus taught is doctrine, nothing more, nothing less.