In Reply to: Very good questions posted by Donny on July 06, 2003 at 19:30:18:
Just have to say that with translations, varying accounts of specific situations in different books, it is my opinion that the Bible is an imperfect book. But I would not throw it all out. I don't see a point in the covering of womens heads anymore then I do burkhas of today. (Other than male dominated societies where women were largely property.) In America's not too distant past, women had far less rights and were still basically property. Still today, true equality is sorely lacking. In fact, if I remember correctly, black men who were freed slaves got the right to vote before women did. So yes, culture plays a factor in events recorded. The interesting thing is that Jesus is reported to have appeared to Mary Magdelene first to show himself as risen from the dead. The other disciples (males) would not believe her. Hmm. Seems Jesus was more pro-person and less bound by tradition and rituals that so influenced others. (Like Paul, imo). I think God is bigger than any box that any religion can put God in.
I believe Jesus is an example of a person that walked the earth and lived spiritually, like Ghandi. IMO,He was plugged in to some force that saw beyond the need for rigidity and legalism or totalitarian control. I don't see anything in what is reported to have been said by Jesus that condemns anybody except for an outburst of anger towards people making money off of spirituality. Healing and feeding seemed to be more his forte. Healing broken spirits, minds, bodies. Not raping them, taking advantage of them, making money off of them.
Also imo, I see Paul as a strong character who led the early church, but who probably was greatly influenced, culturally speaking, by his past upbringing regarding how he viewed women, etc. Most of the legalistic stuff of the new testament seems to come from him.
I don't see why he would have been perfect or infallible. Or that things haven't been lost in translation. Not to mention the fact that the bible was not this book that jesus carried around with him and had his disciples quoting...