I have not made a verdict on such a conclusion. Yet sometimes I wonder if the Garden of Eden never really exsisted and it was simply a story to teach us about WHY God created the world and that there is consequences for our choices in life.
God created the Garden as a classroom where Adam and Eve and thus all mankind can learn about being moral creatures and begin on the trajectory of becoming better moral creatures.
2007-04-05 10:14:24 · 43 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
So far lots of great responses. Thanks!
2007-04-05 10:24:01 · update #1
No, it is not bad. It is actually the sign of an inquiring and critically-thinking mind.
You might want to look up some historical and literary criticism about the "creation story." There are several interpretations that are a little too long to get into here, and which I didn't learn until I went to seminary. Basically, the creation story is a creation myth, similar to creations myths that many cultures have. However, don't get alarmed by the word "myth," just because something isn't literal doesn't mean that it doesn't teach some kind of eternal truth. The judeo-christian creation story differs from other creation myths in that it features one God that purposefully created "everything" vs. myths that feature animals, etc.
Anyway, I don't want to get into a lecture here, but the point is that the myth was used by the Jewish people to point out the existence of a loving and purposeful God that created heaven and earth, rather than an impersonal force of nature. Many Christians interpret the Bible this way, and don't take Scripture so literally - and that's why it is completely possible to believe in Christianity and evolution.
2007-04-05 10:26:41 · answer #1 · answered by thedrisin 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should realize that the Bible contains many theological parables -- including the story of the Garden. Throughout most of the history of the Church Christians have understood that some parts of the Bible are not literal history. It was only in the 19th Century that the Fundamentalists began to misunderstand the Bible as a literal story. The Garden story is a parable about creation and a parable about how sin became a part of human life. The basic question is -- why do we disobey God and what are the consequences for our disobedience? It is a question that is real for modern life.
2007-04-05 10:24:13 · answer #2 · answered by Mr Wisdom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends, if you are a New Christian that has not done must studying of the Word, then this is not a bad thing, you just need to dig a little deeper into the Word. If you have been a Christian for more than 2 or 3 years then you need to go back to Bethel, that is the first place you say you became of Christian and see if you really trusted Jesus as your Savior or if you just got excited for a moment or two.
2007-04-05 10:24:52 · answer #3 · answered by PREACHER'S WIFE 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Garden of Eden existed in what is now known as Ethiopia, the land of Nod is Asia. Revelation 12 tells the true story concerning Eve and the 13 children she was to conceive through the Holy Ghost. Just as they were conceived in the time of Jesus born of the Holy Ghost.
As were Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Jacob's 12 Sons, Abraham's first born Son Ismael also had 12 Sons as did Noah's Son Ham.
2007-04-05 10:33:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Garden of Eden story is symbolic of the transition from hunter gatherer to an agriculture based society. The next fable is Cain and Abel, herding versus planting.
There is nothing literal about these stories, and no supernatural being had anything to do with them.
Most cultures created stories to explain transitions that their peoples experienced. Some just kept better factual records because they were more sophisticated, while others remained storytellers.
2007-04-05 10:21:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should never be ashamed to question your belief, or to question what you have been taught. It is only right that you would want to get the correct information in order to become a better christian. There are many biblical reference you can find online and in libraries to help you draw your own conclusion, but whatever you decide about the Garden of Eden, (exist or not) it does not make you less of a christian or lover of God.
Good Luck!!!
2007-04-05 10:22:17 · answer #6 · answered by ILuvDollz 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No it is not bad, and yes the Garden existed. I guess that maybe the Ark was just to teach us a lesson as well. By questioning you learn and build your own value system. But you are right the story does teach us about the consequences of our choices in life.
2007-04-06 05:42:41 · answer #7 · answered by Pastor D 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the Garden of Eden was just a story, then Adam must have just been a character in the story, and if when the bible says that sin entered the world by one man it's not to be taken literally then that brings into question whether or not we are to take the resurrection of Jesus Christ literally. The things in the bible that are to be taken figuratively are revealed to those who believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When a believer questions that which is to be taken literally confusion and doubt follows. The bible was written in the power of the Holy Spirit and we won't fall if we read it with by his power because he reveals its truth to us.
2007-04-05 10:36:24 · answer #8 · answered by hisgloryisgreat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
science have proved the garden of Eden existed or the bilabial location that was described in the bible. Don't feel bad we all often find are selves questioning things.
We live in gods classroom and will be judge by him when are time is up if you believe then you will enter into the very kingdom you question
2007-04-05 10:45:12 · answer #9 · answered by mightlioness 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you walk by Faith or by Sight?
The NKJV of the Bible says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1).
Faith is a spiritual substance. When you have this spiritual substance in you, it communicates to you a certain inner knowing that the thing you are hoping for is certainly established, even before you see any material evidence that it has happened.
Faith in God must be from the heart. It is not merely intellectual. It is spiritual. "For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:10)
Faith causes you to know in your heart before you see with your eyes. "For we walk by faith, not by sight." (2Cor 5.7)
Some say, "Seeing is believing." Once you see the thing hoped for already existing in the natural order, you don't need faith.
Remember, a two letter word can cause great speed bumps
in your walk - IF - you allow it to do that.
I prefer a three letter word - WOW
That's how God did it?? Who could have done that - except for God!
Had a freshman friend in college - was he ever sarcastic - we laughed till we cried about things he pointed out in the Bible.
But when we got to be juniors - some of our faith was on really SOLID ground - because of our studies - Mr Sarcasm
wore more black, was morose, and not fun to be around.
We graduated as seniors - he dropped out in his last semester! HE was nearly THERE!
If you question - don't get your answers from a peer -
let a theologian help you -
best of luck, O Theophilus!
2007-04-05 10:30:40 · answer #10 · answered by tom4bucs 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋