What does Leviticus 19:18 mean to you? Does it apply to only a specific group of like believers, or all of humankind?

To me it’s only a mere quote. But I do agree to it and think everyone should try it out; why waste time bearing grudges and seeking revenge when you can use that time to do something good for yourself.

It means you don’t follow the book you preach so much about.

To me it means just about as much as other mythologies—nothing.

This is OT and appropriate then, as to preserve the lineage resulting in the Christ. But it is not ‘Love the lord thy God with all thy heart and soul, and thy neighbor as thyself.’(NT) It is predicated by of of your people, a particular group of like believers…Does this leave room in such a belief for not loving one who is not of the same belief system? ‘Hate the sin, but love the sinner..’ (NT) Christianity makes allowances to love those Outside the group, in addition to protection from unbelievers, and exhortations of believers who are wayward and/or hypocritical and unrepentant.

My people includes everyone.

Matthew 7:4–6.

I think it’s a bit more appropriate for your questions.

Are you trying to use the Bible as justification for your bigotry?

So am I reading the question correctly when I hear you asking if it is ok for Christians to bear grudge against anyone who is non-Christian? Being somewhat familiar with your presence on this board I would guess your answer to your own question is yes. Wow, that doesn’t sound very Christ-like to me.

Reason number 6,781 that I am no longer Christian.

@SuperMouse
Again, this is the OT, contrasted with the NT in a later post, aquaint yourself with this previous post, then consider judgement. And, the reversal is not effective either, as to Love the Sinner negates such grudges.(Yet Hate of the sin protects the believers..) This is the NT.

@Crusader, if I am understanding you correctly, the “Love the Sinner” thing is saying that one cannot hold a grudge? So if you cannot carry a grudge why even ask this question? Also, pointing out that something is not Christ-like isn’t judging, it is merely stating a fact.

FYI, here is information on God’s manifestation for our day.

that depends on how you define “your people”.
– your family
– your family and friends
– your city
– your country
– your continent
– your culture
– your species
– your genus, etc.
– your type of biological life

which one fits your definition?

All religions teach that which is Good, also they were written for all times. That being said, as ones awareness of humanity expands so does the neighborhood. So to me it means all of humanity.
Also most, if not all, religions have a affectiveness on many different levels… in that sense, the above quote also helps one not only live at peace on a communal level, but there is also a psycological element to it. Taking revenge and holding grudges erodes one’s own mental peace and serenity…living such a life benifits one on personal level as well.
My 2¥a

@MrGeneVan: You need to pick which side of the hypocritical fence you want to stand on. In another thread, you just said, in response to 5 year old being pushed by another child: “I would beat the shit out of that boy and walk away; no one messes with my daughter or son and gets away.”

The New Testament seemed aimed to bring the best of the Old Testament to a wider group of people and I believe early Christianity was probably preached to include non Christians, the emphasis on accepting and being open to non Christians rather than haranguing and condemning non Christians as often goes on now.

@bythebay different circumstances, someone touches the family? revenge isn’t enough.

@bythebay Right on brother!!!!!!

@evolverevolve What do you have in mind other than forgiveness or revenge…........
just curious.

@Cardinal: I’m a sister! :)

It is quite clearly originally meant to apply to Israelites – “the children of thy people”. As the Bible was later consecrated into Scripture, it now applies to all Christians.

Leviticus has lots of interesting goodies, one of my favourites it the fact that it makes it quite clear that there are other Gods and that the Christian God will get pissed off if you worship them. See Leviticus 18:21 / 20:2–5 Christians keep using the Bible to claim that there is no other God, not that you should only worship this one particular God.

And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
(Leviticus 18:21)

Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him
(Leviticus 20:2)

And I will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name.
(Leviticus 20:3)

And if the people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from the man, when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, and kill him not:
(Leviticus 20:4)

Then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all that go a whoring after him, to commit whoredom with Molech, from among their people.
(Leviticus 20:5)

God seems to get a bit twisted when anyone sides with the opposition. Not very Christian is it?

I am certainly not a biblical scholar, but the way I read it is that “your people” and “your neighbor” are the same thing. It could be rephrased as, “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against others; instead, love them as you love yourself. You should do this because I am the Lord and I say so.”

Even if that is wrong, I am one of those who believes the bible may or may not be a holy text and, therefore, is open to personal interpretation and that’s how I choose to read it.

It is a good rule to live by.

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your fluther but love your fellow jelly as yourself.

@Cardinal whatever it takes to make me feel whole again. who knows what that could be.

It means the same to me as these quotes:

Hindu: This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.
Mahabrata 5:1517

Judaism: What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. This is the law: all the rest is commentary
Talmud, Shabbat 31A

Buddhism: Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.
Udana-Varga 5:18

Christianity: Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Matthew 7:12

Muslim: None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.
Hadith, Number 13

Baha’i: Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself.
Baha’u’llah

Everyone!!!!!!!!!

MMmmm I read that quote in my language Spanish… Funny… it use other words that make the sentence very different.
Supermouse: touché...

I do not HAVE to love anyone as I love myself
but I can certainly choose to do so
but I won’t love my neighbors
you clearly haven’t met them

It’s the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”

@Supacase I second what you said.

@ChazMaz It’s the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

Isn’t it “Do unto others before they can do it to you”?

This is true, but only applies to A-holes.
I see turning the other cheeck, not as giving the other to slap. But, a turning motion as you walk away.
At that point all bets are off. :-)

@Crusader Why on earth would you assume that your people or neighbor in this context could possibly mean people who believe just what you do? You might just as well ask if “your people” refers to those who can read English since the quote is in English and they are the only ones who can decipher it.

Honey, put down the Bible, go out into the world, mingle with real people and learn about what God means by experiencing the goodness of the world around you.

@galileogirl I want to lurve you a million times for that last sentence!

@essieness I’ll get my camera

@Simone_De_Beauvoir Down girl. ;D

the atrocious part of this all is the mere thought that anything worth worshiping would permit hating a certain group just because they don’t agree with you… religion is such manure.

@ABoyNamedBoobs03 . . .I am by no means a religious man but I do hate hypocrisy.

How does referring to religion as manure make you any different from them?

well because I’m always right… obviously… we handed out memos like 4 and a half months ago…

@ABoyNamedBoobs03 . . .You’re always right?

My bad. I assumed from your posts that you leaned to the left.

as in continuously and unquestionably correct a severely high percentage of my existence. but the humor is appreciated.

And to answer your question. Take Catholicism for example. Or Christianity as a whole, I’ve never seen a religion contradict itself so much in any other field of my experience. “Do what I say and agree with me or I’ll smite you to an agonizing fiery eternity in which you’ll experience nothing but the most painful existence one could possibly imagine…. but I love you…” seriously now? that’s just a microcosm of what I’m getting at but I’m sure you can get my drift.

@ABoyNamedBoobs03 . . .I get your drift but I feel that your name calling, inflammatory comments against Christianity mirror the methods of the very people you are trying to vilify.

it sounds like a lovely quote until you get to the ‘your people’ part. it feels like an implication that you shouldn’t seek revenge on people who agree with you, but if they don’t, let all hell loose (on second thought, i did not mean for that last part to be as ironic as it is considering the source of the quote, but it shall remain).

@Blondesjon yeah I’ve been a little cranky, I’m not normally that cynical about everything.