1. Why is slavery not deemed to be completely unacceptable? Why is it even at times divinely sanctioned?
Remember that slavery was VOLUNTARY back then usually to pay off a debt. It was limited to 7 years I believe, however, the slave could choose to be a slave for life if he wished. Anyone caught stealing other men or placing them in slavery were to be put to death. It wasn't like forced slavery that you are thinking of. It was very different.
Ex 21:16 And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
2. Why are women not treated equally to men? Why are men allowed to "take" wives? Why are women considered unclean during menstruation, which I imagine is a natural process created by God? Why is the kidnapping and rape of women at times divinely sanctioned? How does it make sense to consider a baby impure because it came from a woman?
God didn't allow those things, men just did them. God hadn't dealt with it yet. Sometimes He waits to deal with things to prove a point later. Women are considered unclean during menstration because of the blood. Blood spreads disease as you should know. They coudn't have known that back then without God. Regarding kidnapping women If you are referring to conquering of nations, the reason for them making the women their wives is so that they would be taken care of instead of left to die. I don't follow you on when a baby is called impure. I would need a verse.
3. Why is the Bible so violent? Is it directly related to a desire to control? Is that why God insists on being feared?
The Bible is merely re-telling history of what actually happened. A better question would be "why were the people so violent back then"? The answer would probably be that they weren't as civilized back then as we are. God isn't controlling, the devil is. God leads gently, the devil tries to force his way in while accusing God and His people of doing exactly what he himself is doing. God wants us to fear Him, not in an AFRAID type of way, but it's more of a RESPECT of His authority and who He is as KING of the Universe.
4. Why does God say to honor your mother and father, then ask you to forsake them and anyone else for him?
What God wants is for us to place Him above everything else. If we place God above all else, including our parents, family, ect. Everything else will fall into place. You WILL honor your Father and Mother, ect.
5. Why does God need to be constantly worshipped and glorified?
Because that's why He created us. Because He is King. With that said, He is worthy of this worship.
Why does he demand such intense devotion?
Because He cannot lead His Kingdom with people who aren't faithful to Him. As long as sin is in the world, there will be pain and suffering and chaos.
Why would he let Satan destroy Job's life just to prove how devoted he was to him?
Because God doesn't just look on this life as we do. He sees all the way into eternity. He knew that Job would exist for all of eternity and was actually demonstrating what a great man Job was to Satan. Remember that God and Satan are in a war for the souls of men and the devil would love to steal God's glory. My question is that are you asking questions about the devil? Why does the devil want to trick people into going to hell forever? Why does the devil try to steal God's glory, Kingdom and worship? Why does the devil try to control everyone while accusing of God of doing it, when God doesn't do it?
Why did he feel it was so important to prove Satan wrong? Why was God so easily tempted?
Because He is in a war with satan for the souls of men. God wants to give you eternal life in heaven and make YOU personally ROYALTY with Him. It's a HUGE deal. Satan wants you to worship him and be destroyed with him in hell forever. satan knows his fate. when the unsaved die, the demons are the ones pushing them into hell. Did you know that? They LOVE it when people go to hell.
6. If the only way to reach God is through Jesus what happened to the souls of people born before Jesus?
They were under the law. They sacrificed animals to cover their sins. It was a symbol of Christ's blood that would be shed to not merely cover our sins, but cleans them forever. Yes, they could be saved. They went to paradise at that time, which was located in the center of the earth. They could actually see hell from where they were. It is believed that when Jesus rose from the dead, that paradise it's self went up into heaven. I believe that there are different cities in heaven. Paradise is now located there. The New Jerusalem is another city, which is where Chritians go when they die at this time.
7. Why are some of the stories and persons from the Bible so similar to the stories and persons from other ancient civilizations?
They aren't. There is a hoax out there that the story of Jesus was copied from earlier stories. If you look at the actual writings, it's a lie. They have nothing to do with the biblical story. Horus is one example of a huge hoax. Don't buy into it. There ARE stories written AFTER the bible that parallel the biblical ones. Those were merely copied from the bible and twisted up. Look at the actual writings yourself, not what some liar says in a book.
8. Why does God seem so concerned with human sexuality? If I believe that homosexuality is not a chosen lifestyle through the experience of having a gay friend and knowing him since he was very young how can I reconcile that with what the Bible says?
God has a plan and purpose for everything. He created man for woman, not man for man or woman for woman. The purpose of sex is pro-creation, you cannot have pro-creation with homosexual sex. It's just self centered and pleasure centered. With that said, God does LOVE gay people and desire them to repent and be saved. Look, it's also a sin to commit adultry. I am tempted to look at women and have sex with those who are not my wife, but I don't because I know that that would be a sin. Just because someone is tempted with a certain type of sin, doesn't mean that it's no longer a sin.
9. Why do so many of the views and messages conveyed in the Bible seem to directly reflect widely held human views of the time it was written? That is to say why do views on things such as slavery, women, sexuality seem as though they are period specific and not timeless?
There are times when God deals differently with man to prove a point and set groundwork for His ultimate message. I believe that the ultimate message is that Man cannot rule himself, he fails time and time again and that we need God to rule over us. There are what's called different dispensations or ways that God deals with men. The first was concience, then the law was one...there were like 7, but I don't remember them all right now. We are currently under Grace, which means unearned favor.
10. Is it possible that the Bible is a collection of some factual evidence, stories, and beliefs of its writers produced as a tool to gain control of the masses?
Absolutely not. There is no way that the stories could all fit together as if written by one man the way that they do. There were 40 writers, living in different parts of the world over a 1500 year period, many of whom didn't know each other or have access to the others writings, they were from different walks of life. Some were rich, some poor, some educated and some not. It's truly God's word.
Why are there so many versions of the Bible?
There is actually only one version of the bible. The bible has many different Translations from the original language into English. Not all of them are equal. Some of them were translated specifically for the purpose of twisting it up to form a doctrine that isn't really in the original writings. Jehovah's Witnesses are a classic example of this. They have their own twisted translation of the bible, which was translated specifically to manipulate and change the meaning of the scriptures. You have to be careful which version you choose. The KJV is the most widely accepted, accurate translation of the bible by most all denominations. That's why it's so popular.
Why were people or institutions such as the Church of England able to produce new translations that seemed to fit beliefs more akin to their religious structure?
I just addressed that above. I told you that some do that. You have to be careful.
11. If I disagree with one of God's views on something because of what I truly believe in my heart what does that mean?
That means that you are not fully trusting in the Lord's judgement. If He is able to create all things that exist from nothing, create all men from nothing and hold all things together, see everything past, present and future, don't you think that He knows best? He's not trying to be mean or controlling.
Originally Posted by shrewsbury 
