Quote:
Originally posted by fable:
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"Family values." It isn't in the bible. The OT believed explicitly that a father commanded his sons, and while wives could be loved, they were essentially owned, like any other property. There are many casual references to women being own, and treated like any other piece of merchandise. Not very family-oriented, that. And the NT, despite Christ's off-repeated Golden Rule, doesn't focus on the family. In fact, at one point Christ speaks of coming to break up the family, that what he preaches will cause families to lose their ties. He doesn't mean, of course, that he preaches discord, but that his message will surplant the message of the family as a unit.</STRONG>
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1. I agree that family values as we define them isn't to be found in the OT. But, those were considered the best values in that place/time/social circumstances/etc. etc. Things have changed. If someone from back then saw what we call family values today they'd be positively shocked. Of course we think we're the ones who got it right...but one has to consider cultural influence for what was considered right and proper.
2. I don't think Christ meant that his teachings would supplant the message of the family as a unit. I think what he meant was, that some members of a family would believe in him and some would not, naturally causing discord. This was written in a climate in which indeed family members were turning each other over to the authorities when a persecution of Christians hit the area...