Tag: homosexuality

Categories
Discussions Torah

Genesis 12:1–17:27: Why God cannot be bribed

When you are called to move, what is your first question? Do I move to the next town, next state, across the country or to a foreign land? We usually want to know our exact destination before we move. 


We also prefer to plan how we will transport ourselves? Will we go by car, train, bus or plane? 


In the Torah section לֶךְ-לְךָ Lech Lecha (“get going,” Gen. 12:1-17:27), Abram was not given a destination. It’s a strange place to be when you don’t know where you’re going. It takes trust to make the first step. And this is the beginning of his journey to become Abraham, father of faith in God (Rom. 4:16-25).

We also learn through this Bible study why all cultures are not equal and what was truly the unforgivable problem in Sodom and Gomorrah.

Categories
Discussions Torah

Is the Bible B.S. or Truth?

An image titled "Is the Bible BS or the Truth?" features a striking contrast between two symbolic backgrounds. On the left, a serene and glowing depiction of an open Bible on a pedestal bathed in warm, radiant light symbolizes divine truth, guidance, and faith. On the right, a chaotic swirl of dark, abstract imagery, including jagged shapes and muted colors, represents skepticism, doubt, and confusion. The bold and centered title is displayed in a modern, timeless font, bridging the two contrasting halves, inviting contemplation on the tension between belief and skepticism.

The trustworthiness of the Bible has been under attack in earnest by skeptical scholars for more than 200 years. In recent times, there have been popularist attacks that use morality arguments to argue against the morality of the Bible.

Dan Savage, homosexual rights activist, columnist and founder of the It Gets Better antibullying campaign, spoke to a large national conference for high school journalists hosted by the National Scholastic Press Association and the Journalism Education Association in April 2012. In a profanity-laden address, he attacked those who quote the Bible as a reason for opposing acceptance of homosexuality.

Given incomplete knowledge of the Torah time period, we can either trust God’s prescription for the situation or feign complete knowledge that the remedy was worse than the condition. Compared with the secular view of existence, God’s view of existence presented in the Bible is a better representation of reality.

Categories
Discussions Torah

Genesis 9 — God blesses Noah

A black-and-white image featuring an elderly man with a long white beard holding a glass of red wine, gazing thoughtfully into the distance. The background depicts a lush vineyard under a cloudy sky. The text reads, "God blesses Noah" in large, bold letters, with "Genesis 9" displayed in the bottom right corner. The logo "hallel.info" is visible in the upper right corner. The image evokes a sense of reflection and biblical reverence, aligning with the story of Noah in Genesis.

How did God bless (literally, “kneel before” or “bestow honor on”) Noah in Genesis 9 following the Flood?

Categories
Discussions Prophets and Writings

Judges 19:1 – 20:7 — A Levite, his concubine & the life in Israel without the King

Judges 19-20 is a disturbing account of a Levite, from the tribe God picked to be His closest ambassadors to Israel and the world, who not only had a concubine but also callously let her get raped to death by a Sodom-like mob. The Bible’s detractors and defenders of liberal morality hold this account up as a key exhibit, but what does God really want us to learn in this no-holds-barred account?