This proves that the first chapters of Genesis are metaphor.
Of course the Bible has important messages in it. Of course it contains the word of God.
However.
Since it was filtered through generations of fallible humans in an oral tradition, and filtered through more as it was written down, and still more when it was translated, we Christians cannot take it literally when we read. What we're reading for is a focus through which the present-day voice of God can make itself heard through the rebellious children sticking their fingers in their ears and screaming "I can't hear you, God! Are you trying to talk to me? Oh, well, guess I'll do what I want, since He's not telling me I can't."
And still, most of us don't listen. And that's the gift He's given us: the choice of whether or not to listen
1 minute ago
We don't need an old patch of dirt to know Genesis is fable. Ingersoll alluded to some other clues:
ReplyDelete"You will find by reading the second chapter that God tried to palm off on Adam a beast as his helpmeet... God caused all the animals to walk before Adam in order that he might name them. And the animals came like a managerie into town, and as Adam looked at all the crawlers, jumpers and creepers, this God stood by to see what he would call them. After this procession passed, it was pathetically remarked, "Yet was there not found any helpmeet for Adam." Adam didn't see anything that he could fancy. And I am glad he didn't. If he had, there would not have been a free-thinker in this world; we should have all died orthodox. And finding Adam was so particular, God had to make him a helpmeet, and having used up the nothing he was compelled to take part of the man to make the woman with, and he took from the man a rib...And then imagine a God with a bone in his hand, and about to start a woman, trying to make up his mind whether to make a blonde or a brunette."
--Robert Ingersoll, Mistakes of Moses, (1879 ed.) J.B. McClure. pg. 103
Oh, and the talking animals are a good clue too.
D.
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Fable: A story with talking animals in it.
Bible: A story with talking animals in it.
You're right, but the news story about the patch of dirt was interesting, nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteSometimes, I just ignore politics for a bit, especially when it's the same-old, same-old.
And sometimes (like last week), inland hurricanes takes out my electricity and internet.
Wow, sorry to hear that. We had a doosey of an ice storm in January and we lost power and all for 3 days. Neighbor lost it for eight. Fortunately, we have wood heat. Everybody camped here.
ReplyDeleteD.