@Katzenschinken, you’re right about everyday Christians having a wide range of thoughts about the Mosaic law. I was actually speaking of the orthodox interpretation of the passage you quoted, which one can find in sound Bible commentaries and which is what is taught by pastors. I was merely correcting the misunderstanding in your statement that “Deuteronomy 13 verses 1 - 10 directly order you to kill preachers of a different faith or your relatives or people near you when they suggest apostasy.”
Looking up that Hebrew word in the Sixth Commandment shows that you’re serious and curious, and I respect that. I’ve never heard of the translation “dash to pieces” but I’m not a Hebrew expert. Perhaps it’s a literal translation or what the word originally meant (maybe as a compound word?). I researched “Ratsach” briefly and it seems that in most cases in the Old Testament it meant murder, although in a few places it can also mean to slay, so I believe you’re right that the word can have two meanings. In ancient Israel, Exodus 20:13 was understood to prohibit murder. The prohibition did not include capital punishment nor legitimate deaths in war. Other laws distinguished between premeditated and accidental deaths. Exodus 20:13 shows the high value that God placed on human life.
... which brings us to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. I can understand and appreciate your concern for women in difficult circumstances. Something that people from outside the U.S. might not realize is that at the founding of this country, the leaders had serious disagreement about the balance between federal powers and state powers. Many would not have ratified the Constitution had it not been for The Tenth Amendment, which @clousems quoted in #51. So this actually is significant to let each state decide for itself. Each state has quite a different character and values, and it really is for the best in this very heated issue. Anyway, whether we agree or not, it is an ironclad justification and the decision was made by the highest court in the land, as clousems and you said.
I don’t wish to railroad this thread further off-topic, so if Katzenschinken or anyone else has any questions or comments about what I wrote feel free to dm me.
Looking up that Hebrew word in the Sixth Commandment shows that you’re serious and curious, and I respect that. I’ve never heard of the translation “dash to pieces” but I’m not a Hebrew expert. Perhaps it’s a literal translation or what the word originally meant (maybe as a compound word?). I researched “Ratsach” briefly and it seems that in most cases in the Old Testament it meant murder, although in a few places it can also mean to slay, so I believe you’re right that the word can have two meanings. In ancient Israel, Exodus 20:13 was understood to prohibit murder. The prohibition did not include capital punishment nor legitimate deaths in war. Other laws distinguished between premeditated and accidental deaths. Exodus 20:13 shows the high value that God placed on human life.
... which brings us to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. I can understand and appreciate your concern for women in difficult circumstances. Something that people from outside the U.S. might not realize is that at the founding of this country, the leaders had serious disagreement about the balance between federal powers and state powers. Many would not have ratified the Constitution had it not been for The Tenth Amendment, which @clousems quoted in #51. So this actually is significant to let each state decide for itself. Each state has quite a different character and values, and it really is for the best in this very heated issue. Anyway, whether we agree or not, it is an ironclad justification and the decision was made by the highest court in the land, as clousems and you said.
I don’t wish to railroad this thread further off-topic, so if Katzenschinken or anyone else has any questions or comments about what I wrote feel free to dm me.