Thanks so much for your response! I will try to respond the best I can!
Well, key to this idea is the original meaning of the word "sin." Which meant to "miss the mark" or to err. It has become loaded with other connotations, moral ones, but that doesnt mean it was intended that way.
I see! If what you say is true, that the original definition of the sin is not what it is today, why did God not specify this clearly, because a HUGE majority believe it has the connotations you say it was not intended to have.
This also does not change the fact that God was aware they would disobey, but allowed it to happen anyway.
As I see it, God when giving Adam and Eve what many feel was their "punishment," is simply reading off a list of natural outcomes of the new form of thinking they had infected themselves with.
Reading off a list of natural outcomes, I can agree with this! However, being sent out of paradise for going against God (something God knew was going to happen) does feel like a punishment to me.
I think judging things "good/bad" "good/evil" is what causes us distress.
I agree, sort of! I think something is good if it is beneficial to society, and it is bad if it is not beneficial to society. It gets deeper than that, but that is the basics. I do think you shouldn't judge something 'right off the bat', but should examine it first.
I personally dont think the Bible can be read as a literal truth, but I think there are clues to "truths" in there.
I have a problem with this. Why would God 'hide' his truths in the Bible? A much more logically Bible would be one that gave a set of rules to follow. Stories showing examples would be fine, as long as it specifically cites it's just a story.
I believe this because you can see similarities, (flood stories, an original man and woman) in most of them, though other things have been added in, and others left out.
You make a good point! It is quite interesting that these similarities appear in so many different cultures! However, you say some add and some left out. I do not understand how God would allow what would become his word to be changed in any way.
I think that when you sift out the common elements, you begin to get an idea what the original point of the whole story was, which seems to me about how to live here on this Earth in harmony with it, and with internal harmony as well, so that it would be joyful, rather than stressful and sad.
I agree with you! However, I do not think one should HAVE to sift out the common elements. As stated above, the Bible should be more clear so it is easier to accept for EVERYONE. It would cause a lot less controversy over the subject.
I think it is a different form of judgment than just the basic "danger" kind of judgment.
For this paragraph, I pretty much understand where you are coming from and retract my previous statement. I have to say that in the sense you put it, I act 'like a child'. I do not 'make up big stories' about other people if I get angry. I like to put negative things in the past.
Because he is not the only son. We are all the sons and daughters of God.
In this paragraph, you didn't necessarily address my point. I now accept it was not saying Jesus was the only son of god, but what of my other point? Why would God let the true meaning of Jesus to be twisted by anyone?
I often think I dont fear death either.
For this paragraph, I have to agree. I really have not experienced the threat of death, so I can't say how I would feel.
Thanks so much for your time, and I am very glad to have this discussion with someone who seems to be much more experienced than I am!
Kind regards
