this is a very interesting question. we as humans have come to believe that the up and downs of life is what makes it worth living. what is the value of eternal happiness? that is a great question meowgi.
Why do some people insist on a "literal interpretation" of the bible when Jesus spoke in parables? Why did God give people the ability to think while giving some religious authorities the platform to tell people that God doesn't want you to think? Is there a difference in faith and belief?
I've always found that the story of Adam and Eve is actually very similar to how mankind has evolved. Mankind was like most animals, just living to survive, then our minds evolved the ability to think and be aware of our surroundings. the samething happens in the story of adam and eve. the question is, is our ability to think, or more importantly, be self aware, considered the original sin that we need to be cleansed of? and if so, as rimrocker kind of gets at, does God want us to think? if he/she doesn't, why do we have that ability?
The illusion of ego and it's effect on human spirituality and other pitfalls of the Augustine-inspired concept of original sin is discussed quite well in the book Mystic Christ. I recommend it highly.
Also, Carl Sagan's "Dragons of Eden" presents a pretty interesting argument for how the book of Genesis can be read as a metaphorical/symbolic explanation of evolution. The two stories match up in some very interesting ways.
I've been taught that Jesus Christ suffered, died, and was buried for "our" sins. His unselfish act allowed all of us to be saved. If I ever meet him, I definitely want to thank him. That being said, why do we base a whole religion around him.......and not his father, the Lord God? I mean......without taking anything away from Jesus, many people the world over have done the same thing (suffered, died, and were buried) for FAR less. People have laid down their lives trying to save their child, spouse, some other loved one, or just some kid from another state who happens to be in the same platoon with them. And they're not even laying down their lives so that these people may live in eternal peace and happiness........they're doing it just so these people will have an extra shot here on earth. Why don't we worship these people when they are making the same ultimate sacrifice for so much less? Never made sense to me. I mean, I realize that Jesus' act gives us so much more............but it seems kind of oportunistic. I'd like to think the majority of people on earth--even the more cowardly ones--would lay down their lives if they knew they could save the world from eternal damnation in the pits of hell. I'm pretty sure I'd do it just for my family...........and saving the rest of you would just be gravy.
thanks again edit: the parallels are astounding actually, not just how man evolves, but the suggestion that the first thing god created was the sun, to bring life.
Wow! Where do I begin!?! Well.. off the top of my head... 1) Isn't it part of Christian belief that... if I die before I have a child with my wife, my older brother is supposed to marry her and have a child with her (and if he can't, my next brother is supposed to, etc.)? This is Christian law as stated in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 25 : 5) and, when Jesus was confronted with it in the New Testament, he didn't deny it (Matthew 22 : 24 - 31). 2) If we, as Christians, are to believe the story of Noah and the ark, mustn't we also believe that God sent two she-bears to maul 42 children for making fun of a bald man? (2 Kings 2: 23 - 25) 3) If it was not wrong for Abram to sleep with Hagar (outside of his marriage) for the sole purpose of having a son, why wouldn't it also be not wrong today? 4) How can the Christian church justify taking some scripture at its direct, face value, but disregard other scripture under such pretenses as "that was just how customs were back then, and doesn't apply now" or "that was part of the Old Covenant and doesn't apply because of the New Covenant" ? 5) Who are the "sons of God" that slept with the daughters of men? Who were the Nephilim? (Genesis 6 : 1 - 4)
Are people who have never been exposed to the idea of God, Jesus, Christianity or whatever doomed to Hell when they die?
1) If god is omniscient, he must therefore have knowledge of all that has been and all that is meant to be. 2) If god made man, and he his omniscient, he must have made man will the full knowledge of all that is/was to come. given 1 & 2 above, how can free will be said to exist? If 1 or 2 is not true, have you not placed limits on god? debate/discuss.
