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Author Topic:   If Genesis is Metaphorical, what's the metaphor?
Chiroptera
Inactive Member


Message 13 of 168 (187515)
02-22-2005 2:07 PM
Reply to: Message 12 by jjburklo
02-22-2005 1:51 PM


Re: The two creation stories
The stories were written down over two and a half millenia ago; the stories probably developed over a long time period before that. Long, long ago in a basically forgotten culture. Although some of the symbolism and intent may be obvious, the exact meanings of much would have been forgotten long ago.

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Chiroptera
Inactive Member


Message 18 of 168 (187535)
02-22-2005 3:47 PM
Reply to: Message 15 by Jor-el
02-22-2005 3:31 PM


Re: If Genesis is Metaphorical, what's the metaphor?
You seem to be assuming that Moses actually existed. However, there is little evidence that any of the events related in the first five books in the Old Testament ever transpired or that any of the persons mentioned were actually real people.

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Chiroptera
Inactive Member


Message 22 of 168 (187570)
02-22-2005 6:44 PM
Reply to: Message 21 by Jor-el
02-22-2005 6:32 PM


quote:
I suppose you have heard of Troy?
Yes, and I have also heard of Ulysses. Maybe we should assume that he really did sail home from Troy, that a sorceress turned his men into pigs, and he blinded a one-eyed giant.
I've also heard of Beowulf. Maybe he did kill a superhuman monster and died battling a dragon.
And I have heard of the Kushtaka, in the tales of Tlingit of South East Alaska. Maybe there really were people with arms growing forward out of their chests and whisker under their noses who would lure lost people to their homes under the sea.
Like you say, we assume many things when we hear these tales, faith plays a part here.
But, to be frank, I have trouble even considering the possibility that men turned into pigs, dragons existed, people had arms growing out of their chests, and that an entire nation of people walked through the Red Sea and lived off of magically appearing food for 40 years. These claims are a bit fantastic, and I would like to see some evidence before I consider the possibility.

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Chiroptera
Inactive Member


Message 28 of 168 (187582)
02-22-2005 7:27 PM
Reply to: Message 24 by Jor-el
02-22-2005 6:53 PM


quote:
In every story there is a kernel of truth.
This is false. Some stories are largely true, some only contain a kernel of truth, and some are completely false.
--
quote:
Saying that Moses didn't exist is just too convenient, don't you think?
Convenient for whom? It certainly doesn't matter to me whether Moses existed or not.
--
quote:
...Maybe Jesus didn't exist....
Indeed, maybe he did not. There isn't any evidence aside from the Gospel narratives themselves that he did.
--
quote:
So let's all become evolutionists and end the debate.
Why end the debate? Maybe there was a 1st century itinerate preacher who taught to love one's neighbor and that the kingdom of god was at hand. Probably not a miracle worker, and if scholars like the Jesus Seminar can be trusted, probably didn't teach much about damnation or that there is only one way to heaven.
Maybe there really was an ancient Semite law giver. If so, probably didn't lead an entire nation into the promised land after doing some magic tricks in front of Pharoah.
I'm saying that we should be like evolutionists -- let us examine the evidence, and base any definite conclusions on the evidence. Faith is fine, one shouldn't expect others to treat our faith as if it were established fact.

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