Home | Be a Christian | Devotionals | Join Us! | Forums | Rules | F.A.Q.


Go Back   Christian Forums > Ministry > Outreach > Exploring Christianity > Questions by Non-Christians (Archived)
Register BlogsPrayersJobsArcade Members List Calendar Mark Forums Read

Questions by Non-Christians (Archived) This forum is for non-believers seeking to know more about Christianity. This forum is NOT for Apologetics or debates.

 
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 2nd October 2003, 05:11 AM
Newbie

Member For 5 Years
 
Join Date: 2nd October 2003
Posts: 1
Blessings: 34,001
Reps: 10 (power: 0)
Butchie has disabled reputation
Question about the Bible?

Ok God made Adam and Eve, then they get kicked out of the garden
of Eden, then they have two sons(this is from what I remember sorry if
I get it wrong), then the sons go out and get married and have children.
Ok here is the question if the only people on earth were Adam and Eve and there sons who did they married and who did they have children with?
Ok second question why do christian not follow all the rules that God states in the first testment?

I am new here so hello to everyone.
Thank you
Become a CF Site Supporter Today and Make These Ads Go Away!

  #2  
Old 2nd October 2003, 05:27 AM
Senior Member

Member For 5 Years
 
Join Date: 27th May 2002
Posts: 958
Blessings: 34,041
Reps: 41 (power: 0)
lared is on a distinguished road
Adam and Eve had many other children. And it is reasonable, that since they were closer to perfection, marrying one's sister or brother did not cause defects. Also, there was no law at that time against such arrangements.

Jesus fulfilled the Law and thus Christians are not under the Mosaic Law. It served its purpose.
  #3  
Old 2nd October 2003, 08:13 AM
Rafael's Avatar
Only time enough for love

58 Gender: Male Married Faith: Christian Country: United States Member For 5 Years
 
Join Date: 25th July 2002
Location: Midwest
Posts: 4,392
Blessings: 112,478
Reps: 6,053 (power: 18)
Rafael is a name known to allRafael is a name known to all
Rafael is a name known to all
Lared's right on the money:

Genesis 5:4 says, "Then the days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years, and he had other sons and daughters." We see that Adam and Eve had many sons and daughters. The genetic lineage of Adam and Eve was perfect so marrying a sister wasn't going to cause birth defects. It wasn't until much later, during the time of Moses, that incest was forbidden as the genetic pool became less and less able to stand interbreeding.
__________________
Galations 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
  #4  
Old 2nd October 2003, 09:27 PM
Rising_Suns's Avatar
'Christ's desolate heart is in need of comfort'

29 Gender: Male Faith: Catholic Country: United States Member For 5 Years
View Profile Pic
 
Join Date: 14th July 2002
Location: Norwalk, CT
Posts: 11,662
Blessings: 41,758
Reps: 41,878,324,579 (power: 41,878,343)
Rising_Suns has disabled reputation
good answers...

welcome to the boards butchie. Make yourself at home.
__________________
"Holy Mother, may you inflict the stripes of the Crucified One deeply on my heart." -- [Stabat Mater, G.P da Palestrina, 1525-94]

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
  #5  
Old 3rd October 2003, 02:19 AM
Regular Member

Member For 5 Years
 
Join Date: 30th September 2003
Posts: 419
Blessings: 34,009
Reps: 16 (power: 0)
WayMan has disabled reputation
I prefer the original version.

"In the Beginning

In the beginning there was nothing. All was but void. There was darkness all about and eternal emptiness. There was a great noise within the void and the first light was there. There was no man or beast to see that first great light and no ears to hear the great noises that were made. The Earth was made out of that turmoil and she entered her existence, as do all things, with much noise. Dust that was there in the darkness was brought together with a great force and great heat and so was the Earth made. Also was made in the same way the Sun, the Moon and the stars: so was the Universe formed as one Universe. There was great heat and as the heat was cooled, there came water upon the face of the new Earth. From the waters came life and the Earth was made to turn about the Sun and so was day and night divided by the turning of it.
The light gave force to the living things so that they grew. And one thing grew from another and yet did more things and beings form one from the other. And some things died and gave life to other things in that dying, as it was then and shall always be. The Sun drew up the waters of the great seas and let them down again as rain and the rains watered the living things so that they coludest live and it was good.
The Earth rumbled, for she was not yet at rest with herself and she bubbled forth her liquids and she did tremble greatly and so were the mountains born. The Earth trembled still and made the mountains yet bigger and so were the valleys made to appear where there was none before this. The tops of the mountains were thrust into the heavens and it was cool and so was that white blankets of snow caused and is still now and shall forever be.
The heat was made to rise and the coldness to sink. And the white snows melted in the heat of the Sun and gave cause to rivers within the valleys and fresh water rose from springs within the very rocks. And life was born within all the waters upon the face of the Earth.
And the valleys were green and therein life flourished. Grasses and herbs were born and they cast forth seed, as did the trees. And some plants and trees bore fruits, each to its own kind, each seed a seed within itself. And the seeds fell to the good earth and grew and all was good.
Then came beasts and greater beasts and some lived and some died and some appeared from other beasts in differing form over a great time. One of these beasts was the beginning of men, and the man was called himself Adam Edam. And when Adam Edam stood upright, walked upon the Earth and gained reason, so was the beginning of humanity, for he had within him good things, unlike other beasts who knew of nothing and had not feeling of mind as did he. And so was the ending of the first day.

Adam and all his kind walked with the other beasts for a great time and they walked in the ways of beasts for a great time; and so did his reason grow slowly. And the growing of reason was painful slow. Adam saw the lights within the heavens and saw that they moved in mysterious ways and he studied them. He saw that the seas rose and fell according to the movements of the Moon and that the natures of men were charted according to the stars and the Sun and the Moon according as they did show themselves as children of man were born. And so was the ending of his second day.

He learned that the bodies of the firmament controlled many things. And he noted that there were twenty and eight days in the thirteenth part of the year, each part being of four weeks to each month. And there are thirteen months to the length of the year, as is the number of many things that he numbered twelve plus one, for her cycle is near twenty and eight days, the remainder being added every fourth year for balance sake. And this number of ten would be the final sign of man and a warning that the last of the seven angels walks, for in his time much will be numbered to the number ten. This would be the greatest number that shall be, for it shall bode so much in that time of him that is the last to come before men, for man shall know no reason even then. And his number shall be ten.
From this number men learned to count all things and to calculate all things and to give them numbers between the first and the last. And he shall be the first and the last according to his number, and no more shall come before men in the great purpose. For because men are born and think themselves great, he cannot see his stupidities and so cannot see his own end brought about by them. And so ended Man’s third day. Men had learned to put up stores in times of plenty for the days when there would be shortage. Because of this, he learned that he must rest and while he rested he could dream and use his mind and so had leisure to follow his spirit. And Man learned that there was much about him and he did use his mind to higher reason. And so was the ending of the third day.

Then did he map the seasons and the months and the weeks and the days and so he divided the days so that he should better understand and keep time. And the days of the weeks were named and the names changed over time.
And all came to pass that many shall only believe and not follow The Way nor contemplate upon the star nor the circle about the star nor the points of the star nor the center which is as the hub of a wheel nor all the meaning thereof. And all to such men shall be unreason and though they shall have learned much they shall still believe; and so they shall know of no thing. And so ended Man’s fourth day. And so did he give division to all things. He calculated time both for the day and for the season and for all its divisions. And man did he make belief of these divisions, but some did not; and they were wise.

Great fishes were there in the deep in Adam’s time and great birds that came from the deep flew in the air. Adam Edam was well fed, as there was plenty. There was all manner of things growing upon the dry land and all manner of beasts roamed the hills and the valleys. The seas were abundant with fish and with all sorts off good uses. There then came cattle and they followed after their own kind, and Adam saw this. The creeping things, of which some were harmful, followed after their own kind, and Adam saw this.
Adam at this time held dominion over the beasts and as he grew strong within his mind he gained even more power over all that there was. But he gained little wisdom in such matters, for this wisdom would profit him little.
And so ended Man’s fifth day. Adam was no longer partly beast and partly man; he became man. But some of him stayed beast and some of Man stayed beast. And some men were lost in time because their advancement bode them not well and they survived not, for they were not able to pass over from that form nor from whence they came. Those who stayed beast were a great tousle to those who had passed over, for they preyed upon men in their beast-like ways. Men became clever and became fruitful and goodly in nature and did no harm to any thing. Man was happy. He ate of the green herb and of the fruits of the trees and killed beasts only when he was hungry and in need. But the beast did not follow in his goodly ways, for the beast was too strong within many of him; and all that he was and forever shall be, is base.

And it was good. And Man entered his sixth day upon the Earth, and so was Man’s progress marked. And the days were counted, as he learned to calculate and to use some reason as he progressed into his new form which was more than his form, as it was the measure of his mind that was so measured, as is shown written upon his hands and within his hands. Man’s body is formed by his mind, and so he is marked according to the workings of his mind for those wise enough to see.
After so great a time that it took Man to reach his sixth day, he forgot his first day. That was the day that he emerged as a beast and lo and behold, the beast was still within him and he was full of vanity. It was laid down that he would not shake the beast free from him until his tenth day when he shall either live forever or shall die by his own stupidity which shall offend so much against the design of the Force of the Earth. The beast that he is shall kill all men if it not be shaken from him; and so shall be his own ending. And such was the ending of Man’s sixth day
  #6  
Old 3rd October 2003, 02:20 AM
Regular Member

Member For 5 Years
 
Join Date: 30th September 2003
Posts: 419
Blessings: 34,009
Reps: 16 (power: 0)
WayMan has disabled reputation
Man then entered his seventh day, which was his greatest time of changes and transitions. The ethers that were breathed by men changed, and at this time so changed his thinking and he started to learn of higher things. And some learned nothing and some learned much. Women were plentiful by this time as there was now war amongst men and they did kill and even eat each other. Woman caused much trouble as she was highly prized because of the needs of the loins of men. And so did the great shame come upon us.
Men plotted and killed for no reason and lost all reason. They saw things as powers that they coldest use over other men, without thought of consequence. They saw in the stars and in the movements of the Moon that which was good but they used it for evil. And so was evil born in the minds of men and the shame grew until men were so used to shame that shame was no more.
Men learned of good and of evil and learned he evil best, for it suited his purpose better; and so did evil become his mark. Some things gave forth poison and men learned of this quickly and did not learn of the medicines and ointments contained therein nearly so well. When men learned the power of the knowledge of medicine, then he learned well, but for evil purpose; he learned this for the ransom of men. Such was the mind of the beast called Man.
Because the beast was the stronger part of men in that time, the beast did prevail over the better man and did kill him. The beast was strong of body while the better man was troubled by his conscience and had no will to kill, for such is the nature of the good. The beasts were afraid of the better men lest they should prevail over them with their knowledge and strength of mind, which he knew was a greater strength than the strength of his brutality. Better for all that the better men did rule over the beasts. Better it was so. Alas it was not to be and the seventh day was a day of great wrong and evil and shall last a long time, even to the ending of Man’s days. It may be the cause of the ending of him who stays and walks in the way of unreason.
Those who were still beasts hid the knowledge of both good and evil things, both that that was good and that that was bad, from the better men, so that they might not know of it. But the better men learned in spite of this and kept their peace, for they knew that they would be killed for the prevention of this power: for the force of the brute is all that the brute shall know; and in the ending of men it shall kill him. Yea shall it kill even the most powerful of beasts and the lowliest. The force of good shall be understood by but a few that shall outsmart the beasts with their wisdom, and they shall live at the coming of the Seventh; and after him should they hear him. Strength of force shall be not enough without the strength of knowledge and of reason.

Men named the beasts of the field and the fishes of the seas and the fowls of the air. He did this so that he might know them better and use them for his own ends better. Shame was great in men of that time. The beast dug gold from the land and then copper and precious stones which he could not eat and yet valued more than food, even when he starved. He knew no better, like the child knows no better. But who shall be father to the beast and teach him, for he does not wish to learn and so must stay ignorant, as is his choice? And his shame grew even more and shall grow yet even more.
Men were still naked at this time and then they entered the eighth day when they were clothed against the cold and against the heat and the thorns. Men learned very slowly and still feared the better men. Men took them wives and killed each other for the love and for the lust of these wives. Women knew well of men, for they are mothers and they used what they knew in evil ways. Thus was woman cursed by her own evils, as men were cursed also by theirs. And women became harlots in all matters and there shall be no longer good in them lest they learn of better.

The first day of man was when he first emerged from the water.
The second day was when he stood upright and gained reason.
The third day was when he learned to calculate.
The fourth day was when he learned to measure time.
The fifth day was when he learned the knowledge of good and of evil.
The sixth day was when he learned by his reason to use tools.
The seventh day was his day of greatest change so far and used goodness and knowledge to evil purpose.
The eighth day was when he learned about mechanical things.
The ninth day he learned about his fellow man and how to manipulate this knowledge.
The tenth day is his final testing, which he shall perchance fail. And so shall it be his end. He shall not see the greatness of ten, for it shall hold the warning and the blessing of the first and the last of seven that shall come before men as the ending of his days draws nigh.

And in time men and women learned to love one another and not just be a use to one another, for they learned that they were in need of each other in order that they should live and that their children might live. And both men and women loved their children.
The beasts that called themselves men did not follow in this manner, for all to them was power even to the distraction and harm of their own children. And still men learned not and slithered in the ways of the serpent and upon their bellies did they stalk their fellows. They neither stood upright nor did they show themselves. Such was their new found cunning, which did no good to any.
Women ate of the fruits that men gave to them but they ate not of the wisdom of the better men, for it held no value to their bellies and less to their avarices. Men learned to fashion gold into trinkets, and so were women bought with such trifles and they became more valuable than the life that they had or the lives of their children. And such were women, and so shall they be for they learn not; there is none to teach them of better. So did woman tempt men and demand ransom from him from the weakness of his desires.


Cain and Abel

It came to pass that a son of the Earth sought out the High Lord again and brought as an offering some of the fruits of the land that he tilled. And his brother brought an offering of a lamb before the High Lord. The fruit of the Earth was accepted gladly by the High Lord as was the offering of the lamb also accepted gladly; for he had little and little gladdened his heart. Alas this did not please the tiller of the soil as he thought that his offering should be favoured above that of his brother. The High Lord, seeing that his countenance had fallen and he was sad, asked him why for. The tiller of the soil answered not, as he was much vexed and showed shame. And the High Lord said to him, “If a man has done well, shall you not accept that you who have done similar has also done well? And should you have done well, then should you not accept that your brother has done well also? If you do not see this, then the wrong if there be any wrong, layeth at your door and not at the door of your brother. Is it perchance that you seek to be above him and fear that he mayest be above you and you shall not rule over him?”
And the tiller of the land talked to his brother as they journeyed home and he spoke badly to him. And it then came to pass that he did murder his brother in a jealous rage that was of his own making.
The High Lord heard of this and came upon him in his field and asked him where was his brother. And he said that he knew not, “Am I the keeper of my brothers place?” And the High Lord pressed him and asked him, “What have you done my son? Your brother cries to me from the Earth wherest you buried him. You are now cursed from the very Earth that has opened her mouth and received the blood of your brother from your very hand. In future when you till the Earth, it shall not yield onto you and when you sow it shall not give forth onto you. You shall be known of what you have done from the envy of your mind that was not born of reason or of justice. You shall be cursed and your name shall be spat upon for all time, for you are the vilest of the vile and I turn my face from you.”
And he was called Cain and his brother was called Abel. The man begged, saying that he could not stand the punishment. The High Lord answered saying, “Today you have driven thy brother from this life and I shall drive you also from the pure life and you shall know no peace. And I shall turn my face from you, as shall all good men. And it shall come to pass that some will find you; and knowing of what you have done they shall slay you.”
And Cain begged the High Lord that he should not die in this manner. And the High Lord said, “Whosoever shall slay this man shall suffer seven times his slaying.” And he was sorry for the man and put a mark upon his forehead so that none would slay him. The High Lord then sent him away from his presence to dwell in a far off land."
  #7  
Old 3rd October 2003, 09:09 AM
Let It Be Done

Faith: Catholic Member For 5 Years
 
Join Date: 5th September 2003
Posts: 237
Blessings: 34,011
Reps: 40 (power: 0)
Fiat is on a distinguished road
There is mention of "Giants" being present on Earth at the time of Cain and Abel......so where did these "Giants" orginate?
  #8  
Old 3rd October 2003, 09:23 AM
Part-Time Bible Scholar

39 Gender: Male Faith: Pentecostal Country: United States Member For 5 Years
 
Join Date: 3rd October 2003
Location: Yorba Linda, CA
Posts: 258
Blessings: 33,527
Reps: 19 (power: 0)
PRMan has disabled reputation
Originally Posted by Butchie
Ok second question why do christian not follow all the rules that God states in the first testment?

I am new here so hello to everyone.
Thank you
Hello, Butchie, I'm new here too. I'll take the second question if you don't mind.

When the disciples (all Jews) experienced new life in Christ, they quickly realized that the Jewish law was not really what made them holy, since they couldn't follow it. In fact, all it did was show them they couldn't be holy on their own. Paul summed up their feelings in Romans chapters 5-7. I won't post it here because it's too long.

So, when God showed Peter that he also needed to reach the Gentiles (non-Jews--read Acts 10), they understood that there was no point in forcing them to follow all the Jewish customs, because that isn't what saves you. So they made a very short list (Acts 15:20 NIV):

"Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood."

Other than that, Christians should do what's right out of their new spirit that comes from being a believer: loving others and treating them as they wish to be treated.

Also, we should follow the laws of whatever society we are in, so long as they aren't in direct contradiction to following Christ, although I can't find the verse at the moment. And we should be "above reproach", meaning that people should find it difficult to say anything bad about us, including our work ethic and things like that.
  #9  
Old 7th October 2003, 03:15 AM
ps139's Avatar
Ab omni malo, libera nos, Domine!

Gender: Male Faith: Catholic Country: Italy Member For 5 Years
View Profile Pic
 
Join Date: 23rd September 2003
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 19,055
Blessings: 139,303
Reps: 37,540 (power: 63)
ps139 is a splendid one to beholdps139 is a splendid one to beholdps139 is a splendid one to beholdps139 is a splendid one to behold
ps139 is a splendid one to beholdps139 is a splendid one to beholdps139 is a splendid one to beholdps139 is a splendid one to beholdps139 is a splendid one to beholdps139 is a splendid one to beholdps139 is a splendid one to beholdps139 is a splendid one to beholdps139 is a splendid one to beholdps139 is a splendid one to beholdps139 is a splendid one to behold
Fiat, you asked about the "giants." Here is my personal theory:

I think the "sons of God" in Gen 6:2 were fallen angels. Gen 6:4 states that these fallen angels mated with human women, and their children were the Nephilim, or Giants. "They were the heroes of old, men of renown." I personally think that false gods may have been based on these people. I think that the myths of gods, demigods and heroes in the Greek pantheon were based on the Nephilim. A few verses down, Gen 6:6 describes God's decision to wipe out the earth with a flood. I believe this was to get rid of the Nephilim. I think that the flood altered the earths environment and atmosphere, and the post-flood world was one in which Nephilim could not survive, a world where demons could not walk around physically but had to resort to posession. Remember, when Jesus cast out the demons "Legion," they HAD to go somewhere, and so Jesus let them go into the pigs. I think that the antediluvian world had become so wicked due to the influence of the Nephilim that God decided to flood the earth.
 


Return to Questions by Non-Christians (Archived)

Thread Tools
Display Modes



 
Become a CF Site Supporter Today and Make These Ads Go Away!
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:05 AM.


vBCredits v1.4 Copyright ©2007 - 2008, PixelFX Studios