James-Jacob-Yaqub
September 19th, 2009, 2:48 am
Well there seems to be a difficulty here according to my Bible which is a 1972 edition of KJV.
The purpose in this thread is not to argue against creation by God. It is, however, to try to reconcile the seeming contradiction in the printed word.
To get right to it please look at Genesis 1:26-31. In these chapters God creates man, male and female, and bids "them" have dominion over.....etc. So here is day six of the creation and mankind is well established on the earth.
Now. On day seven God recaps and rests. Then a narrative begins which seems to tell over again the story of the creation of the earth in somewhat different terms.
Is there recognition of this quandary in Christian circles?
I have here an idea which might well explain and make better sense of this. Chapter one of Genesis is correct, regarding man, as written except that I would argue that it is greatly oversimplified. But on the subject of mankind I think it's correct.
The next story where we hear of Adam and the Garden is, I think, in Heaven. This is not a new idea. But consider the text. The serpent is a metaphor for the earth. Ask any native American about this. The reality is that Eve sees the earth and finds it very attractive because there many things can be experienced which cannot be in Heaven. The bit about the apple tells this tale. The earth is a pleasurable place compared to the Heavenly Eden where order and discipline reign. So Adam and Eve fall for it and go to earth in physical form where they begin a harsh existence. A little while later Cain needs a wife and is able to find one in the Land of "Nod". Genesis 4:14-17 clearly and unambiguously indicates that Cain was concerned about being slain by others whom he might meet. But then he found a wife.
Anyway this goes on. The point I want to discuss is the agreement of both these narratives if we consider that the earth was created and populated by mankind who had evolved through all the early physical stages which we see so much evidence of and that, in about the same time and when mankind on the earth had evolved to the point where they were suitable physical vehicles for a human soul, the first REAL humans from the standpoint of spirit or soul were created in spiritual form in Eden from whence they descended to the earth after screwing up. Of course God had to know all this would happen because why create the earth and populate it if there was no need for the human souls to go and actually live there?
Two more short points here:
1. The NT often uses parables to teach an underlying reality. This argues against the literal truth of the Word and could we not see parables also in the OT?
2. Older Bibles (pre reformation) include two separate stories of creation where the difference is better described. In the KJV the two seem to be combined in Gen 1 and 2.
Does anyone have any interesting ideas about this? Is this sort of thing ever preached or is it sort of just ignored as being too cerebral for the average guy and gal?:naughty:
TT
The purpose in this thread is not to argue against creation by God. It is, however, to try to reconcile the seeming contradiction in the printed word.
To get right to it please look at Genesis 1:26-31. In these chapters God creates man, male and female, and bids "them" have dominion over.....etc. So here is day six of the creation and mankind is well established on the earth.
Now. On day seven God recaps and rests. Then a narrative begins which seems to tell over again the story of the creation of the earth in somewhat different terms.
Is there recognition of this quandary in Christian circles?
I have here an idea which might well explain and make better sense of this. Chapter one of Genesis is correct, regarding man, as written except that I would argue that it is greatly oversimplified. But on the subject of mankind I think it's correct.
The next story where we hear of Adam and the Garden is, I think, in Heaven. This is not a new idea. But consider the text. The serpent is a metaphor for the earth. Ask any native American about this. The reality is that Eve sees the earth and finds it very attractive because there many things can be experienced which cannot be in Heaven. The bit about the apple tells this tale. The earth is a pleasurable place compared to the Heavenly Eden where order and discipline reign. So Adam and Eve fall for it and go to earth in physical form where they begin a harsh existence. A little while later Cain needs a wife and is able to find one in the Land of "Nod". Genesis 4:14-17 clearly and unambiguously indicates that Cain was concerned about being slain by others whom he might meet. But then he found a wife.
Anyway this goes on. The point I want to discuss is the agreement of both these narratives if we consider that the earth was created and populated by mankind who had evolved through all the early physical stages which we see so much evidence of and that, in about the same time and when mankind on the earth had evolved to the point where they were suitable physical vehicles for a human soul, the first REAL humans from the standpoint of spirit or soul were created in spiritual form in Eden from whence they descended to the earth after screwing up. Of course God had to know all this would happen because why create the earth and populate it if there was no need for the human souls to go and actually live there?
Two more short points here:
1. The NT often uses parables to teach an underlying reality. This argues against the literal truth of the Word and could we not see parables also in the OT?
2. Older Bibles (pre reformation) include two separate stories of creation where the difference is better described. In the KJV the two seem to be combined in Gen 1 and 2.
Does anyone have any interesting ideas about this? Is this sort of thing ever preached or is it sort of just ignored as being too cerebral for the average guy and gal?:naughty:
TT