Is Genesis to be taken literally Part II

Impressive.I usually have to warm up before gymnastics.

And your point being? This message has been edited by Jor-el, 22 February 2005 23:37 AM

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We are the sum of all that is, and has been. We will be the sum of our choices.

That your post was an amazing example of the sort of back-breaking mental gymnastics that literalists often have to engage in to warp the Bible into saying what they want it to say.

so the tree of life wears off?and the tree or knowledge does not?

you know it's funny. i've come the conclusion that *I* am a literalist. i think the bible means what it says. i don't always think it's RIGHT or ACCURATE to REALITY per se, but i read it very literally.more so than the literalists, who seem to just make stuff up on a regular basis.

That's a very good point, Arachnophilia.

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We are the sum of all that is, and has been. We will be the sum of our choices.

Each to his own, my friend.Each of us are influenced not only by what they know (or think they know) but also by the culture that surrounds them. To you it might seem like I'm stretching to prove a point, to others who may look at my post, they''ll say, finally, I can relate to that and agree.Now in my opinion a good rebuttal to my post can be found in post 34 by Arachnophilia.This message has been edited by Jor-el, 23 February 2005 18:41 AM

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We are the sum of all that is, and has been. We will be the sum of our choices.

Do you have a reply to that rebuttal? What are your thoughts on the matter? Please.db

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Theology is the science of Dominion.
- - - My God is your god's Boss - - -

My thoughts on the matter are posted on post 30 of this thread.As for a rebuttal, one can consider that since God introduced death at the begining of creation and not in the account of Genesis (since in my opinion those two things are seperate occurrences)and since the account of Genesis deals with the physical world and not directly with the spiritual, one can take a further step and say that the only reason that Adam and Eve didn't die like all the rest of the animals and plants is that they had to continue to to eat of the tree of life.The effect of the tree of knowledge in this context is different in that it gave them a new perspective on life that they were ignorant of before. The knowledge of the difference between good and evil. That knowledge once attained was irreversible so that they only had to eat of that tree once to be changed forever.

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We are the sum of all that is, and has been. We will be the sum of our choices.

So the tree of life was inaccessible to other animals? To fruit eating insects? To bacteria?Adam and Eve threatened with death, should they forget to eat the magical fruit?And what about that fruit? Did it die? Fall and rot? Return to the dust from which it came?Story Book World!

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Theology is the science of Dominion.
- - - My God is your god's Boss - - -

According to many (of which I am not one) the whole concept of the bible is a story book world.Since you put it in those terms I ask you the same question you asked me, What are your thoughts on the matter? Please.It is quite easy to scoff at what a person believes, especially when they can say it's just a fictional story, and that the person who believes is mixed up in the head, as I've seen through many indirect and cheap shots posted by many on this forum. I many times wonder if they are here to discuss with or insult those who do believe.

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We are the sum of all that is, and has been. We will be the sum of our choices.

The problem is that those who do believe don't do so from a basis that can be discussed, so what is left?

The only question I could possibly ask at this time is, what is the basis according to you that can then legitimize such a discussion?Without there being a continuous hail of reproof from those who always seem to think they know more than the others. ( as can be seen from your post 31 in reply to mine.)My teachers always warned me against bible bashing, but I see that quite alot here.

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We are the sum of all that is, and has been. We will be the sum of our choices.

There is a difference between saying that Genesis is not to be read literally and unbelief. That is why almost every Christian Church does not consider Genesis as a literal truth.As a believer and Christian I can honestly say that even a quick look at the books of Genesis show they are a compilation of many different tales and in many, many places the tales are mutually exclusive. If Genesis 1 is literally true, then Genesis 2 is untrue. If Genesis 2 is literally true then Genesis 1 is false.This trend continues throughout the book. If the first flood story is accurate (and they are even more mixed up than the creation myths) then the second is untrue. If the second is true then the first is untrue.Reading Genesis or any other book in the Bible in a non-literal fashion does not mean non-belief. It does not challenge Christianity or weaken in anyway the message. In fact it strengthens belief because there is no need for the mental gymnastics and dishonesty that a literal reading requires.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

I believe it is an allegory. Some might say fairy tale and that's OK too because the function of a fairy tale is to teach and/or warn. The lesson is no less valid because of the medium. The warning is no less urgent because of the Story Book style of telling.The characters and situations given are as unreal today as they were back when, but the lesson and the warning are eternal. Whether Holy Bible or Brothers Grimm, the story book style with its exciting, fantastic, and deadly serious themes has appealed to children from time immemorial.db

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Theology is the science of Dominion.
- - - My God is your god's Boss - - -