Hi EMA,
I was reading the thread and thinking that things were going around in circles. This seemed to me to be due to a difference in understanding regarding what exactly is being debated which has lead to frustration. I noticed that you expressed this frustration more keenly in your posts.
So I'd first like to ask you to try and maintain an emotive distance in your debate. That isn't to say you can't express emotions, but try to separate your points and your frustrations because otherwise I fear it will only lead to further confusion and further frustration.
I was going to suggest you try taking a different course of argument in an effort to move the debate forwards, maybe revisiting the older issues later when new understandings have come about. However, you seem to have anticipated this in your latest post and it looks like you are trying to make your points in a different way, so that's good.
I know that you are eager to discuss the totality of the Christian Holy Bible, using later writings to interpret meaning of earlier writings. That is fine, and I understand the reasons for doing this. However, purpledawn stipulated that this topic was how the concept of spiritual death stems from the Greek writings - which she believes to have been influenced by Greek philosophy - and is a concept that is not plainly described in the Torah and the writings of the prophets.
If you think this approach is meaningless or nonsense, then attempting to debate is probably not going to be productive.
You complained that purpledawn was evading questions. I agree with purpledawn that the questions you seem to be demanding are irrelevant, but once again I understand why you think they are relevant.
So think about it like this: Imagine being an Israelite without access to all of the writings in the Christian canon. How would such a person come to the conclusion that the much discussed death verses in the Adam and Eve story meant 'spiritual death' rather than just plain 'death'? Is there something in the texts under discussion that suggests that God meant 'spiritual death'? That is to say, purpledawn's beliefs are not what is in question, but the beliefs of the early readers/earthly writers. Even if you believe that they did not have at their disposal enough of God's revelation to understand fully everything that was being revealed. Perhaps from this perspective, it might be easier for a meeting of minds to take place?
Now - it seems with your latest post, the one I am responding to, that you are putting forward something of a case in this avenue.
As such I think the debate still has the potential to advance in interesting directions. I merely stress the need for all to remain civil, whatever the disagreements may be. I'll be watching the thread's progress.
Normally I'd ask that you don't respond to a moderator's post. However, I appreciate that you might feel that my assessment is unfair or onesided. And that would be a fair thing to feel. If you feel there is some specific thing that you believe purpledawn can do to advance the debate, or any other moderator requests I will happily read your concerns.
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