Well then I might say the fault is the pastors' who are commenting the bible, not necessarily the bible itself.
Also, an abridgement leaving only the new testament would be a drastic but satisfactory possibility.
Can you find anything which may be construed to encourage violence and cruelty in the new testament (Gospel, acts of the apostles, letters of the disciples, Apocalypse?
http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/cruelty/nt_list.htmlEven the New Testament-in many ways-is a continuation of hell fire, and brimstone gnashing of teeth and those who will go to hell. It is not Jesus. It is the way he is portrayed. How can this be taught in a Sunday School class? How is the psychology of fear going to help a new generation?
When i saw Amma speak; She never spoke this way. Her talks portrayed a God of Love... not a God of damnation and hell and fire. I am not saying I agree with everything in this link but let us look at few quotes from the New Testament as well. The language is used in a cruel way and the metaphors are also often menacing. My experience of Jesus is much different!
