In Reply to: Re: A feminist Commentary on the Torah posted by Oldtimer on October 04, 2006 at 20:17:04:
It makes a lot of sense to listen to Rabbis and followers of the Talmud to help understand these stories. I think you are right, I think I heard that too. The understanding is that this was a vision rather than an actual happening. That would make a lot more sense because that story always troubled me. I couldn't understand that kind of God that would put his own creation through such a horrendous ordeal just to prove something. In fact, much of the old testament is considered very mystical in many ways.
I think certain Christian leaders use such stories to keep their flock following closely, but this is not a good idea as we know how horribly wrong that goes. Better to find the truth that God has made plain to see than dressing it up for reasons beyond the initial story and/or writing and for ones own particular agenda. This is when I think that verse comes in handy, "better a millstone be hung around your neck and you be dropped into the sea then offend one of these little ones." It sounds like God takes it pretty serious when pastors or leaders take innocent followers and subvert or abuse them in God's name.