Why Won't God Heal Amputees
"Understanding Original Sin" - article link provided by Liebling.
I just wanted to make a few comments regarding the article.
Here we are faced with an enigma -- a talking snake.
I find it odd that the author started by calling the creature a 'serpent', but then change the word to 'snake' for this sentence.
Please witness the assumtions the author makes about our talking snake -
Yet the Bible makes no mention of the serpent's creation nor does God provide any warning to the serpent to stay away from the tree.
The author had just finished saying that the creation of man occurs in Genesis 2. However, Genesis 1 explains the story of creation. God cleary creates living creatures in Genesis 1:24, and then creates humans in Genesis 1:26. I'm sure the 'serpent' is considered a living creature, as mentioned in Genesis 1:24.
Second, Why would God care if the 'serpent' ate from the tree? I don't see how that argument has any relevence to the author's point. God set up a special relationship between humans and God. Genesis 1:26-27. The 'Do not eat the fruit' rule was for humans only.
The story seems to be saying that God created not one but two sentient species
The story makes no such claim. In fact, many (including Liebling), believe that the 'serpent' was possessed by an angelic being.
A final note about the serpent - It is very possible that the creature mentioned in this story is no longer in existance today. Many species have become extinct, Dinosaurs, Dodo birds, other animals. It is very possible we have nothing resembling the creature in this story. I will not deny the possibility that it could have indeed been a 'snake', but there is always the possibility, this creature was not a 'snake'.
However, the author moves on....
-God is the all-knowing creator of everything.
-Since God is all-knowing, it means that at the moment that God put the tree into the garden, his omniscience would allow him to instantly know the entire course of human history.
-If God did not like what he knew that Adam would do, then why did God set it up that way? And why would God be at all surprised by what happens?
Nice! I like the way the author used the phrase 'let's take this one step further'.
So, let's take the author's perspective one step further.
Let's pretend God is All knowing. God Knows what will happen if Adam and Eve eat the fruit. However, God also knows what will happen if Adam and Eve don't eat the fruit. God knows all outcomes of all posibilities of every situation.
So now it is left up to Adam and Eve to decide what will happen, God knows both outcomes.
However, the author points something out -
God created Adam, so God designed the placement of every cell in Adam's body and brain. Therefore God knows all about human nature, and how Adam and Eve will think and react in every situation -- God is the one who created human nature.
Before I explain a logical explanation for this, I want to deal with a very subjective point of view.
You have choice. At some point you get to make your very own choice. Wether you choose to stop reading, wether you choose to go eat a sandwich, wether you choose to go check your Neopet, you have choice.
Imagine for a moment I told you that you have no choice. You have no will of your own. Imagine that every movement you make is controlled by a being who is goinng to punish or reward you depending on the choices he makes for you.
Doesn't make sense from a personal perspective.
Here's why it doesn't make logical sense.
God created humans to be in a loving relationship with him. If he forced all humans to love him, and follow him, and worship him, that's not real 'love'. Thats being a robot. If God wanted us to truely Love him, he had to give us the FREE choice to do so. Humans have the Free Choice to believe or not believe.
The author seems to disagree:
If God has pre-programmed Adam at the level of a five-year-old, or even a teenager, then it would be hard to get too mad at Adam for making a mistake.
if God has pre-programmed Adam at the level of a twenty-something, then Adam's entire world view, attitude, moral code, political stances, attitudes toward women and so on have been pre-set by God.
Other than the ability to speak, God had no reason to program anything.
Everything was new. Adam was free to develop his own view of things.
Take a look around Adam's environment for a second. Trees to eat from, Animals to play with, a wife to love, and God himself hanging out. In fact, what was complicated about Garden Life? One Law. Only ONE RULE.
Who can't follow ONE RULE!
Why was God surprised that Adam and Eve ate the fruit?
Because how simple was the rule?
God Made them. All they had to do was trust God. They chose to trust a serpent. The chose to eat the fruit. They chose to accept the consequences.
They Chose.
You understood at last but why you call yourself as a Christian when you claim in your post like this? It sound Agnostic to me.. ? I said the same thing as you in my some posts at several threads?
