"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Ephesians 6:12
Evil is Eve's fault. Adam was just not paying attention. You know how that goes.
None of that is in Chapter 1, btw.
Chris (10-23-2018),IMPress Polly (10-24-2018)
I did a little brief reading last night in bed on this subject and there are some other perspectives on this passage that I find interesting and agreeable but I just don't understand what I'll call the anthropomorphic interpretation. I think this is a good example of how an understanding of the Ancient Near Eastern cultural context can help illuminate the Bible for Christians. For example, kings were generally believed to be in the image of god. This phrase referred to the office and role of the king. It was not meant to indicate a physical likeness to the deity. There are inscriptions stating that the Assyrian King Esarhaddon was "the perfect likeness of the god". What was meant by that is that Esarhaddon possessed the some of the qualities and essence of the god. After all, it was the king's role to mediate between the heavens and the Earth. I think it's most likely that the ancient Hebrews would have understood the phrase in much the same way. One aspect that makes the Genesis passage unique is that Adam and Eve are archetypes or at least represent us all in some fashion (don't want to get into an argument with anyone about the historicity of Adam and Eve) and this would seem to suggest that all mankind is made in the image of God. There's something egalitarian about that passage.
I'm drawing heavily on Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament: Introducing the Conceptual World of the Bible by John Walton. I read that a long time ago and (probably a decade ago) and you have inspired me to reread it, Thanks.
Whoever criticizes capitalism, while approving immigration, whose working class is its first victim, had better shut up. Whoever criticizes immigration, while remaining silent about capitalism, should do the same.
~Alain de Benoist
Obviously I'm not as informed on this book you bring up. I can understand why they would see it that way though when you explain it. I suppose the reason why Christians view it the various ways they do is because of the interpolations of men throughout the ages. Although that to me seems rather simple when the Arrival of Christ occurs. A living God among us, walking as a man walks and so forth. Naturally theistic Jews might differ.
But if you sprinkle in the Trinity...well, there are are differing opinions on that as well.
However, for Christianity I'd think it a simple argument - Christ came in the form of a man, why such a struggle to belief that God the Father has flesh and bones like unto his begotten son? And if we're children of God...? So the varying sects differ as they will.
One of the earlier posters remarked on the rib being the source of Eve, I've heard of varying thoughts as to why this is. The one I personally subscribe to is that the rib is close to the heart, to be cherished above all else. Women in Christian societies (or rather societies built by them) presently enjoy the greatest protections and freedoms on this planet. And interesting thought if one cares to examine it.
Last edited by Cthulhu; 10-23-2018 at 08:51 PM.
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Ephesians 6:12
Mister D (10-23-2018)
But why cannot God create something out of what may seem to be nothing, when it is God who was always in the beginning, because with Him, there is no ending, so if there is no end to Him, there can be no beginning of God, just that He always was. And since He always was, always will be, always is, He has the capacity to create from what appears to be nothing, but even to God, nothing is something. He created it all by Himself, and none of it with the 'help' of man, who was His later creation.
Plant farms and animal sanctuaries with just compensation: Genesis 1:29-30, 2-3, Lev. 24:18-22, Psalm 50, Isaiah 1, 11:6-9, 65, 66, Daniel 1, Hosea 2:18, Revelation 20-22.
Creation of horses: Zechariah 6:1-8, 14:20. Wild Horses, burros persecuted, parted out in violation of Public Law 92-195:
https://twitter.com/WildHorseEdu
Jesus was a Vegetarian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx6J6jh1Dzo
I want to give a thoughtful reply particularly with regard to the Incarnation so I will wait until tomorrow. One question: is this a tenet of Mormonism? I must confess that I know very little about the details of your denomination although I do watch the BYU station from time to time.
Whoever criticizes capitalism, while approving immigration, whose working class is its first victim, had better shut up. Whoever criticizes immigration, while remaining silent about capitalism, should do the same.
~Alain de Benoist
Plant farms and animal sanctuaries with just compensation: Genesis 1:29-30, 2-3, Lev. 24:18-22, Psalm 50, Isaiah 1, 11:6-9, 65, 66, Daniel 1, Hosea 2:18, Revelation 20-22.
Creation of horses: Zechariah 6:1-8, 14:20. Wild Horses, burros persecuted, parted out in violation of Public Law 92-195:
https://twitter.com/WildHorseEdu
Jesus was a Vegetarian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx6J6jh1Dzo