Genesis 1.10 - The Human Dilemma

[baqashchokmahelel]

Bravo. Alot of people don't realize how radical the biblical view was compared to other ancient view on our origins as well as life & the universe. And the Bible still holds up today.

[lizazoon]

@baqashchokmahelel -- And the Bible still holds up today. -- The bible still holds up as the greatest compilation of nonsense( OT ) ever assembled.

[baqashchokmahelel]

@lizazoon With all due respect, that's a rather broad and simplistic statement.

What leads you to that conclusion?

[lizazoon]

@baqashchokmahelel : Read the OT . What god in his right mind would write an instruction book, essential to reach eternal life, in such a pile of nonsense. Where in the OT, do you find clear instructions how to lead a life pleasing to god ?

[baqashchokmahelel]

@lizazoon I do read the OT. The obvious answer to your question would be the 10 commandments. They're very clear. Much of the OT is by the example and history of Israel, the application of God's instructions. When they keep God close in their hearts they prosper. But when they seperate themselves from or forget God then naturally bad things befall them, like getting carried away to Babylon.

[lizazoon]

@baqashchokmahelel Yes, the 10 commandments are OK. Clear instructions. Don`t do this and don`t do that. Who needs 3.000 pages of allegory ? Do you know that when we were growing up, we were forbiiden to read the OT ? Why, because the meaning is not clear, you have to stretch your imagination, you can easily get mislead. What omniscient god would write an instruction book like that ?

[baqashchokmahelel]

@lizazoon What faith (or none if the case may be) did your parents raise you in that you weren't allowed to read the OT?

The OT is definately more than just a list of instructions, and well it should be. A list of do's & don't by itself isn't enough given the complexity of the human condition/nature. The stories/events in the Bible deal with those. I wouldn't label the whole OT as allegorical.

What do you think of Dr. Neiman's lectures?

[lizazoon]

@baqashchokmahelel : Reading the old testament was forbidden by the cath. church., not by our parents, Did you know that out of 106 bible colleges, 101 teach that Genesis is allegory? Who needs all this silly stuff, IMPOSSIBLE stories etc. A few pages, how to lead a life pleasing to god, is all we need.

[baqashchokmahelel]

@lizazoon Ok, I see. I wasn't raised catholic, but my dad was.

But despite the cath's backing off from a subject they can't agree on, the subjects are still valid. I agree that the first chapters of Genesis are more allegorical. Adam & Eve for sure. The geneologies however are fascinating to me. The first chap is beautifully poetic and very practical compared to other creation stories before (sumer) & after (greek). Rather than calling it silly, I call it awesome!

[Pasqh]

Like a lion must control zebra population. There is an agent that exist in nature to control human beings from wiping them selves out because humans work against God.

[conradleviston]

This was a very interesting lecture. However I disagree with some of his comments on the uniqueness of man. Many other animals morn the loss of their loved ones. Most chimps owned by humans suffer severe psychological problems because they have usually witnessed their mother being murdered. The more we understand the psychology of animal the more we realise that our differences are largely a matter of degree.

[vampirefastcode]

This was interesting, thank you. It's good to see a lecture on this book that doesn't have some kind of ulterior or political motive.

[Allyredstar]

I think I am a Zebra.

[hairybear2704]

Is this a kind of a mix between religion and science? a kind of modern view on the bible?