It's a bit baffling the absolute insistence that Christians cherry-picked the (for lack of a better term) Jesus-peace-and-love NT era over (again for a lack of a better term) a polar opposite fascist-style OT era. My guess is that if the book wasn't labeled a religious document, or represented a political rivalry, I think people would understand this to be another example of simply solving a puzzle through among other sciences, the science of linguistics.
It's true Jesus never changes, but this does not mean nothing as expressed in the bible changes. There are seasons of change. The book of Ecclesiastes makes this clear.
Right now, if you're living in the free world, you're in a place for opportunity. You're not subject to any religious theocratic dictatorship. If you're looking for religious oppressors to harass you, particularly in America, you'll probably have to search far and wide. Maybe you can find some snake handler in the deep south to oppress you. But, don't cross your fingers.
What you're facing now is an opportunity to find God for yourself. No one is ultimately going to do that for you. The problem with doing this though, is you might actually find him.
I like to believe though, that those who participate on debate forums arguing against Christianity are actually seeking.
A question.
Which is preferable?
Living in a free pluralistic society where you butt heads with people you disagree with?
Or, a totalitarian dictatorship that tells you that you had better not even consider the existence of God?
