An Eye for An Eye.

[sky]

What was the purpose of the Eye for an Eye Rule ?

[SimpleMan]

Originally Posted by sky123

What was the purpose of the Eye for an Eye Rule ?

Humanity, on its path of spiritual evolution, trying to create some kind of justice system.Of course it was a bad system of justice, it's like a vicious cycle of evil that keeps repeating again and again.

Jesus came and said: "Turn the other cheek"; that's it, don't go on, it's of no good.

How big is the difference between what the rest of the bible says and what we hear from Jesus, it feels like the rest of the Bible has nothing to do with Jesus's real message, which is, simply, love.

[davidmartin]

there is also a progression to be found in the old testament
viewed in isolation you can see something as harsh, but it was really a progression. like child sacrifice was common in the region, and this was outlawed in the old testament. Jesus pushed further forward in the progression. I don't mean to equate this with modern day 'progressive' stuff, I mean it in the non-political sense of the word of progressive understanding.
So its a mistake to take pieces of the OT in isolation whether to critique it or embrace it, when there is a historical progression being described, and compared to what was common in the historical context the OT is actually reformist in many respects and Judaism has a long tradition of this

[Still_Waters]

Originally Posted by davidmartin

there is also a progression to be found in the old testament
viewed in isolation you can see something as harsh, but it was really a progression. like child sacrifice was common in the region, and this was outlawed in the old testament. Jesus pushed further forward in the progression. I don't mean to equate this with modern day 'progressive' stuff, I mean it in the non-political sense of the word of progressive understanding.
So its a mistake to take pieces of the OT in isolation whether to critique it or embrace it, when there is a historical progression being described, and compared to what was common in the historical context the OT is actually reformist in many respects and Judaism has a long tradition of this

There is indeed a progression to be found in the traditions of many religions, including but not limited to the Judaic-Christian evolution.

[Still_Waters]

Originally Posted by sky123

What was the purpose of the Eye for an Eye Rule ?

Ghandi is reported to have said that "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" leaves the entire world blind and toothless.

[FallingLeaves]

Originally Posted by Still_Waters

Ghandi is reported to have said that "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" leaves the entire world blind and toothless.

but maybe then we'd be able to see and eat?

[Miss Hepburn]

Gee, this should be in the Judaism section.
How can a Christian truly know what it means?
It's an antiquated system as is blood sacrifice.

[sky]

Originally Posted by SimpleMan

Humanity, on its path of spiritual evolution, trying to create some kind of justice system.Of course it was a bad system of justice, it's like a vicious cycle of evil that keeps repeating again and again.

Jesus came and said: "Turn the other cheek"; that's it, don't go on, it's of no good.

How big is the difference between what the rest of the bible says and what we hear from Jesus, it feels like the rest of the Bible has nothing to do with Jesus's real message, which is, simply, love.

Jesus taught that love, not vindictiveness, would identify his true followers.​—John 13:34, 35.

Yes I agree that the OT is so far away from the NT's loving nature.


Deuteronomy 19.21.
"It meant that when dealing out justice to wrongdoers, the punishment should fit the crime. "


" Fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, the same sort of injury he inflicted should be inflicted on him.”​—Leviticus 24:20.


“You must not take vengeance nor hold a grudge against the sons of your people.” (Leviticus 19:18) .


So many contradictions. It could be interpreted as a rule that authorized a cycle of personal vengeance.

[sky]

Originally Posted by Still_Waters

Ghandi is reported to have said that "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" leaves the entire world blind and toothless.

Ghandi was a wise Man

[theophilus]

Originally Posted by sky123

What was the purpose of the Eye for an Eye Rule ?

It was to place a limit on retaliation. You could only inflict as much harm on one who injured another as he had done to his victim. This contrasted to the Mosaic law's punishment for theft. A thief could be required to repay four times the amount he had stolen. Someone who was physically harmed could only demand that his attacked suffer the same amount of injury he had inflicted.