If God states in Genesis that all he created is "good," then the serpent too is good. Evil does not exist. Evil is a mind concept of KNOWLEDGE only! If we acknowledge evil has power, than we have created a 2nd Power in the Universe, and that cannot be, because there is only ONE power, ONE presence everywhere...God, the good and omnipotent!
If you acknowledge there being any other power in existence, you are worshipping TWO powers in a universe where only one exists!!! Do you believe in two Gods (a power of all good; AND a power of evil), or one God?
"God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." - Genesis 1:31
"...In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." - Genesis 2:9
Instead of evil ... only "error" exists ...man is responsible for wrong ...not the "devil" or an evil outside force!
The Devil doesn't make people do anything. INSTEAD, people are responsible for their own action, and the errors they do
2007-04-16 16:06:44 · 12 answers · asked by Crassidy 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
AQUILA: By saying "she (the serpent) caused" ... you're giving the entity power. You believe in TWO powers! You're not Christian by your own admission.
WISDOM IN FAITH: Your response doesn't answer MY question! Your tangent about who lied & who didn't has nothing to do with my question! For comprehension you get an "F"
AINTNOBEANS: says "There is definitely evil in the world." You believe in TWO powers! You're not Christian, there's only 1 Power, God the good omnipotent!
RESPONDER: You believe in a power (other than God) that will "harm and destroy the people of the Earth." You believe in TWO powers! You're not Christian, there's only 1 Power, God the good omnipotent!
BOB T: You state your belief in a Power (evil) "That caused all mankind to be sinful by nature" You believe in TWO powers! You're not Christian, there's only 1 Power, God the good omnipotent!!
When will MAN take responsibility for his errors INSTEAD of putting blame on a nonexistent outside force?
2007-04-16 17:22:32 · update #1
DR. GNOSTIC: You called me a hypocrite!!! For your information...I'M AGNOSTIC! How the heck can I be a hypocrite then? My question is meant to increase dialog on this matter and (if possible) produce a significant answer.
Christians say they believe in only ONE Higher Power, yet I have proven that they believe in TWO Higher Powers. They are acknowledging the presence of an Evil Higher Power that has bearing over their lives. By their sheer acknowledgement of a 2nd Power, they are worshipping the existence of a false God. Today's followers of Christianity are following a belief that contradicts itself.
Perhaps the truer message from Genesis is that "man must take responsibility for his own actions, and not put blame on others for his own errors. He should learn from his mistakes & do better by it (call it repentence, if you want). To say, 'THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT!' is a storybook fairytale belief. There is no 'evil,' just error consciousness. Life lessons to live by."
2007-04-17 12:06:53 · update #2
WISDOM IN FAITH: You can't give me an "F" for doing God's job poorly! How dare you! I'm agnostic...And you think I'm trying to be doing the work of a God?
You didn't finally get around to answering my question until you added your "EDIT" later on!
So you believe in 2 Higher Powers. I can only imagine when you do something good you say "Thank God" and when you do something bad you say "The Devil made me do it!"
Your "F" I gave you still stands, and now I draw a red circle around it ... with a "See Me After Class!"
It's time you start taking responsibility for your own actions, and quit putting the blame on others. This is what The Bible (Genisis) is pointing out (to you Christian followers). There is NO evil. All the God made was good! He says so in Genesis.
Now on that premise, read the whole Bible with the understanding that evil does not exist. Evil is a man-made concept. Man did it so he wouldn't have to feel responsible for his own actions. ..Apple?
2007-04-17 12:24:58 · update #3
CASHELMARA: How dare you cut & paste your cookie-cutter answer on my question page!!! I just checked your profile, and you used that same exact lame answer on at least 10 other questions!!! Your answer has nothing to do with my question. With all the evil powers I can possible conjure up, I now damn you to Hell!!!
2007-04-18 20:33:50 · update #4
When God first created the soul of satan, He made him the full pattern. He was beautiful. He even gave him watch over the mercy seat from one side. satan turned evil when the mind set became to take the mercy seat for himself. There is definitely evil in the world since that time. Ephesians 6:11-13 (King James Version) 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
And a comment to the person who said God lied because Eve made it longer than that day, remember that a day with The Lord is as a thousand years with man. No man ever made it past or even up to the exact 1000 years.
12For 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.
13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
2007-04-16 16:19:35 · answer #1 · answered by aintnobeans 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, acknowledging is not the same as worshiping. But monotheists insist that it is wrong anyway, because they are monotheists. Actually, as I recall the first commandment was about having no other gods BEFORE me. Doesn't say anything about lesser gods. One of the things you learn here on R&S is that there are many, many different ways to view religion and spirituality. You can believe a god or goddess exists in some form or another, and not worship it. You can believe it MIGHT exist. You can believe there are no such things at all, or no creator uber-god, or whatever seems most real to you. Creativity is perfectly valid in some religions, especially paganism. But if you join a religion that has you recite a creed during services, you are a hypocrite if you do not believe that creed. However, depending on your reasons for being there (such as going along with the dominant belief in the town where you do business for the good will), that may not be such a big deal. Or perhaps being honest is important enough to you that you make decisions like I have, to remain silent when the pledge of allegiance says "under God." The choices are all yours, and the consequences of your choices are all yours, too.
2016-05-17 06:04:39 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sweetie, that is your belief, not fact. It is certainly not the only belief out there, and not the only one supported by the very same text.
If you look carefully at the text, who lied in the Garden and who told the whole truth? Yahweh told Eve that if she ate of the tree she would die THAT day (KJV). She and Adam went on to live into their 900's, Yahweh lied. Now, look at what the serpent told Eve would happen. Everything that the serpent said would happen, did happen. He told the truth. There is nothing in the text about "original sin," or the fall of mankind. Yahweh banishes the first couple from the Garden not for disobedience, but because he fears that they will eat from the Tree of Life and become as gods (just as the serpent said would happen).
Sometimes things aren't always what you have been indoctrinated into believing.
EDIT: Wow a little judgmental there aren't you? The answer to your question is that I believe in two entities, one all good and one seriously flawed. Let me save you time of judging me as not being a Christian, I'm not. You get an "F" for trying to do God's job, poorly.
2007-04-16 16:15:08 · answer #3 · answered by Wisdom in Faith 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Lucifer was once a beautiful angel, but aspired and conspired to ascend above God. He fell from his high position and became Satan, who is now at war with God 's creation. He uses temptation, lies and deception and acts of destruction to harm and destroy the people of the Earth.
The serpent was incidental, but because it was used by Satan to tempt the human race, it was cursed to crawl upon the ground. Satan himself was told that "the seed of the woman would bruise his head." (this reference is to Christ).
A lot can be learned here if you have a mind open to the Word of God and a heart ready to obey the Lord.
2007-04-16 16:20:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
In Response to Bob T's answer..doesn't God quote in the bible that he is a jealous God and that no one shall worship any other Gods "OR" false Gods. Doesn't that quote there say alone that God is-(in not so many words) saying that there is more than one God. Remember God says "OR" false Gods. So it's safe to say in this text that he is referring to other Gods and Maid up ones? Makes you think doesn't it???
2007-04-16 16:59:28 · answer #5 · answered by Ray Ray 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You are ignoring the choice that Adam made to sin. That caused all mankind to be sinful by nature. God is good and His creation was too. Sinfulness spoiled that.
Satan does not equal a second god.
There is one God. He IS good.
2007-04-16 16:26:35 · answer #6 · answered by Bob T 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Though no one can prove or disprove God's existence, our history reveals the unmistakable footprints of something greater than man.
2007-04-18 11:25:28 · answer #7 · answered by cashelmara 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The serpent got a bum rap.God couldn't accept the fact that he'd created a couple of brats.
2007-04-16 16:13:41 · answer #8 · answered by Resident Heretic 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
When did God die and put you in charge? Judgmental hypocrite.
2007-04-16 19:28:56 · answer #9 · answered by Dr. Gnostic 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The serpent was not only good, she was a heroin. She caused original enlightenment.
2007-04-16 16:14:40 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋