EMW

^ It certainly does. I think we see God in the way our society/family see it. If we live in a conservative nation, we think of him to be stricter, because it's less acceptable to challenge beliefs, but since we live in a liberal country, our understanding is much more lax. Which isn't a bad thing.

Getting back on track.

Yes, praying to God definitely helps. Sending letters helps too. If you had to pick between the two actions, sending some letters and stirring up people would probably be more productive. God helps those who help themselves. In such a world that we live in today, being physically active will affect others more than a passive approach. Coupled together, both actions will impact greatly.

Neighborhood Studios wrote:^ It certainly does. I think we see God in the way our society/family see it. If we live in a conservative nation, we think of him to be stricter, because it's less acceptable to challenge beliefs, but since we live in a liberal country, our understanding is much more lax. Which isn't a bad thing.

So then is it likely that the Bible was written based upon the societal climate of the times?

Rackfocus wrote:Could it be possible that our view on God changes as society changes? And if so, does that mean the Bible is influenced by societal changes?

I believe in a way the society is not effecting the Bible, but rather the people who read it. I mean, every Christian has a different style of showing that. But I believe that Christians are not letting the Bible be changed. However, there are people who have changed the Bible, and therefor create a new religion, (I'm not going to name anything, and I'm not claiming that my beliefs are undistorted), that distort the Bible to make it relative to what they WANT to believe.

So then is it likely that the Bible was written based upon the societal climate of the times?

I would say so. It was written in a very conservative era, which has lasted for hundreds of years. The long-lasting conservative beliefs and actions of those who followed it for hundreds of years without changing prove that.

We can agree that the bible is conservative by nature but did the bible change culture or did culture change the bible. The world was in many respects much more "liberal" when the bible was written. It became very conservative and now we're going back to a much more liberal society.

VIP wrote:We can agree that the bible is conservative by nature but did the bible change culture or did culture change the bible. The world was in many respects much more "liberal" when the bible was written. It became very conservative and now we're going back to a much more liberal society.

The world may have been liberal, but those who authored the Bible were not, hence the harshness of the early Bible. As society progressed, a more tender God was needed which is why God softens as different publications of the Bible are released.