Dave2 – It is pretty simple really. According to the OT, God gave instructions about how the Isrealites were to relate to the natives. There was no scripture instructing the Europeans to do any such thing, nor is there any general instruction to wipe out natives. Seeing the Europeans as analogous to OT Jews is a non-starter.

Well, at least you finally seem to accept that you have no basis to condemn the genocide of the various peoples who were exterminated in the OT according to divine instruction. I am making progress.

As for the applicability of OT moral teachings to the Indians, if you believe that the Bible is the inerrant word of God – a text given to mankind by the creator of the Universe – then it is all general instruction, either direct instruction or instruction by way of moral example.

The fact that these moral choices (to invade, conquer and commit genocide) occurred in the context of ancient Israel would not limit their application any more than historical context would limit the ten commandments to the Israelites or limit the application of Mark 12:17 (“render unto Caesar”) to Roman emperors named Caesar.

The Bible can be appreciated on different levels. It all points to Christ.

Debbie and Jayhuck are surely correct in saying that the purpose of the Bible is to point us towards the truth about God – a truth that is uniquely revealed in Christ* (so we who are Christians believe). It is a crying shame when people like Fischer use bits of text to ‘justify’ their own political agenda, and – I would submit – an abuse of scripture.

* the ‘Human Face of God’ (and the ‘Divine Face of Humanity’, of course)

The Bible can be appreciated on different levels. It all points to Christ.

I agree with you here! Despite many of the problems in the Bible. Historically, the Church didn’t have a bible for almost 400 years, then later it was the Church who put the Bible together and the Church that was responsible for understanding which parts are literal, historical and which are merely instructive or metaphor. Despite some of its faults, and the Bible does have them, I still feel it is a beautiful book that points to Christ 🙂

Very nicely put (although I’m not convinced that ‘there is no evidence that ANY [my emphasis] of the … events of Genesis or Exodus literally happened). What I DO think is that, just because it says that ‘God approved of such-as-such’, it cannot be concluded that this was actually the case.

Saint Paul is always most instructive: so often he asserts something, and THEN says ‘and yet …’ – precisely because that ‘great apostle’ and ‘fearless preacher’ knew that he DIDN’T have all the answers.