Seeing how Adam & Eve had the innocence of children before acquiring the knowledge of good and evil, what God in their right mind would leave a tree of fruit within reach of them?
And while you're at it, would you mind telling me what a talking snake was doing in the Garden of Eden? I keep hearing these theories that the snake was actually Satan but if that's so then why did God then punish all snakes to crawl on their bellies hence forth?
2006-10-09 00:45:47 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm not disputing your beliefs, I'm just asking do you think it was wrong of God to punish all of mankind for his own error?
2006-10-09 00:51:03 · update #1
It is clear you are an Atheist, so is no point to argue with you.
2006-10-09 00:49:08 · answer #1 · answered by bigonegrande 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Having the innocence of children does not mean they had the intellect of children. God told them that if they ate of the tree, they would die. He gave them one rule to follow in order to develop their character. If they hadn't eaten of the tree, they would have gained a knowledge of good and evil, it just would have taken longer. Look at God: He's never sinned, yet He knows what it is. However, they chose the quick route to wisdom and suffered the consequences. Were they naive? Yes. Did they know the FULL consequences of their actions (the entire human race after them would be suffer as a result of their decision)? No. What's done is done. God accepted their decision and didn't smash them but He did provide a way for them (and us) to get back into His favour.
As for the snake: It was Satan, a spirit who needs a body to inhabit because he lost his when God kicked him out, in the snake. God gave Satan access to the garden so that Adam and Eve would have somebody else to serve. He wanted them to CHOOSE to follow God (not because it was their only option but because they wanted to). I'm not sure why God would punish all snakes for Satan's doing but judging by their numbers I don't think they are suffering all that much. That is a good question, however.
2006-10-09 08:26:18 · answer #2 · answered by Seeker 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Very good points! It appears that when Adam and Eve were created that this God had already decided that there was going to be a problem. He also created that tree of knowledge, didn't have to, could have left it out, could have protected it, didn't have to tempt the residence. The snake well, evidently this God also created evil. The prideful nature of Lucifer who was the most beautiful angel in heaven, threw him down into where, our paradise. This was another temptation that he created for us. He was suppose to know what we can take, his bible even says that he won't allow us to be tempted more than we are able to withstand. Somehow I think that we got the raw end of the deal, the dumping ground for all his rejects. Yeh, and the snakes, they were created creatures, why did they have to get the bad rap for the evil doing. Why not cockroaches?
2006-10-09 07:57:47 · answer #3 · answered by ImMappam 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Adam and Eve were warned to not eat from the tree (they were adults). It wasn't just left there in the open, hoping that they wouldn't find it.
Was the snake the only talking animal? As the whole earth was one language.
Maybe the snake was punished for letting Satan go into him? There are pictures of snake fossils showing legs on them.
2006-10-09 07:53:01 · answer #4 · answered by RB 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The tree didn't represent just knowing right from wrong; it representing deciding for yourself what is right and wrong. Independence from God. It was a very simple command, seeing as how there were many, many trees around, but they were to remain humble to their creator. That was the only form of worship that was commanded of them: just please, please be obedient to your father, don't be hardheaded, do this one simple little thing for me and don't eat from this one tree out of the thousands of trees around you. Arrogance and an independent spirit was the sin.
Adam and Eve were created with free will. God chose not to look into the future to see what they would have done; that would make Him very cruel, and make us robots. They chose not to listen to their father.
As for the snake, Revelation calls Satan "the original serpent." There is actually a lot in the Bible that identifies Satan as the one who spoke for the snake; too many to put in this post here.
God is not the idiot. Satan was the first idiot, wanting independence for himself which will eventually lead to his destruction. Eve was the second idiot for listening to a talking snake rather than to God as to what would happen if she ate from the tree. Adam was the third for not manning up and saying "no" to his wife.
Asker, you need a humble heart. The Bible really is the only thing that makes sense. There are many lies and misconceptions that people tie to it about what the Bible says, which makes it seem as if the Bible contradicts itself, or doesn't make any sense. That is because Satan has been running the world ever since the garden of eden incident and he does everything he can to make people think they can rule themselves, independently of God. Which is evidently where you get your viewpoint of the Bible from. But I'm telling you, man, the Bible is God's word.
***Jehovah's kingdom has drawn near!***
If you want, you can contact me for more info
2006-10-10 14:00:12 · answer #5 · answered by Nothin wrong 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is always a purpose to GOD'S plan that we mortals can not see. if a different theory is correct then GOD placed the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden so that Eve would eat of the Forbidden Fruit in order that HIS creations would receive wisdom, knowledge and free will. after eating the Fruit mankind became aware and had the choice to do GOD'S will or disobey. without free will mankind was just another creation who was unable to understand anything except instinct just like other animals.with the eating of the Fruit mankind became a reasoning creation.
2006-10-09 07:57:40 · answer #6 · answered by Marvin R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You forgot one key issue, that of the free will God gave Adam and Eve to either act on what the snake recommended, or to reject it. They decided to follow the snake, and reject God's warning about the forbidden fruit.
2006-10-09 09:33:17 · answer #7 · answered by WC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably for the same reason many of us do not remove our what knots. We teach our children what not to touch. God punished the snake because it allowed itself to be used by Satan.Until the fall of man no animal was violent by nature.
2006-10-09 07:57:22 · answer #8 · answered by Debra M. Wishing Peace To All 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not just any idiot, one who can see the future as well, and fully understand the consequences for his children. Lets just say this wouldnt look good on his resume if he went for a babysitter interview.
2006-10-09 07:54:49 · answer #9 · answered by Eureka! 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are alot of losers out there. The snake in the garden of eden was the devil speaking to us.
2006-10-09 07:50:07 · answer #10 · answered by bor_rabnud 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I've watched enough cartoons to know that when the parents leave the kid alone for ten minutes and caution him not to break the antique lamp...guaranteed that lamp's not gonna make it.
2006-10-09 07:48:55 · answer #11 · answered by angk 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋