Hi Michael,

I think as far as the Bible content and what we choose to believe of its essence in some ways we are just going to not really agree totally and that is a faith choice so that is ok.  I understand what you mean I just don't believe quite the same way you do about these scriptures.  Even though they were initially written to the Jews and are about the Jewish people, as a Christian, I believe God intended gentiles would come to know and believe in these scriptures too and how they support the initiating of Christianity.  However, I do believe that both Jews and Christians have often misinterpreted these scriptures, and often intentionally, to support all the ills you brought up in the end.  So we are agreed that scripture is often used to wrong ends and certainly our church has twisted it to excuse great wrongs and oppression and bias.