One often hears Christians refer to the OT as if it were an accurate chronicling of events and practices in those days.

Any Jewish scholar can tell you that when Christians cite the OT, they almost always get it wrong. Not surprising--they're using their citations to justify some nutty idea they have.

Here's an example. Leviticus mandates that a child who curses its parents should be put to death. If that practice were followed, there'd never have been a second generation of Jews!

One scholar whose book on this subj is fairly easily available is a fellow named Samual Sandmel. He is (or was) a scholar at a university in England--Leo Beck (? Baeck?) college. He wrote abook (I forget the title, but it can be easily looked up) showing how Christian twisting of the OT is common. And he's not the only Jewish scholar to make this claim--there are lots of Jewish scholars making similar claims and analyses.

"One often hears Christians refer to the OT as if it were an accurate chronicling of events and practices in those days."

I'm not sure that is an accurate picture of the situation. From personal experience, I know that there are Christians who regard the Old Testament's claims as highly accurate in a historical sense, or even completely correct. However, the vast majority of Christians I know seem to take a far more open view on this subject, having no problems with treating the OT more as 'food for thought' than 'literal truth'.

Perhaps fundamentalism is simply more common than usual in the area in which you live, or unusually uncommon in my neighbourhood?

Could you give some more examples of wrong interpretations of the OT by Christianity?

Toto

Mendeh - I believe you live in England. Fundamentalism is much more common in the USA. (I think England got rid of most of its religious nuts by exporting them to this country.)

For more examples, check out the Separation of Church and State Forum. Look up threads on Reconstructionism.

To the Queen:
Dammit, your Majesty, they're onto us!

Anyway, I'll check out the thread. Thanks for the info, Toto.