Steve, I wonder why you are focusing so much upon the old testament. Jesus' mission had the purpose to get beyond it and is described in the new testament. The bible contains both old an new testament.
Sure I too wonder why the old testament is still a part of the bible. It has mainly an historical value, since it is based upon obsolete religious concepts.
Do American Christians base their faith on Jesus' preachings or on the obsolete and obscure passages of old testament?
The historical reference to the Assyrians is interesting though. They usually burnt cities and deported Whole populations. Maybe Stalin learnt from them about mass deportation.
We have the Second Coming of Christ from Yoganananda's writings to draw from for an understanding of the life of Jesus Christ. i have a main point here Mccoy. That is that we are literally brainwashed by Christianity here in the states and most likely in Italy (where you live) as well. There are Christian churches on most all the major city blocks in all the towns of our country. The question i have is this: What influence does it have on the lives of others (social, political, moral) and what is it that they/we are actually following? As you see much of it reads quite like a Steven King book. Yet this is the book we follow to guide our life? Most all 'religious' people i have met in the common people in this country for decades have not been able to quote any guide line for their spiritual life accept from the Bible. If i quote anything from any other source they act like i have come from a different planet. They immediately redirect me to this same old book which is supposed to be a guide line for my spiritual life as well. As a people we need to understand that God worked thru many people and any many different ways not just thru the Bible.
As to your question of what Americans base their life on; Obviously Jewish Americans base their life on the Old Testament. If other Americans base their life on the new Testament - and have no understanding of any other spiritual teaching in the world - it shows a lack of spiritual perspective and open mindedness to any other religious views but their own.
