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Welcome back AV. How was your time away?
I think a better question would be the reason for leaving.
We believe in Santa Claus because people we trust tell us that he exists. God is not Santa Claus and those trusted adults don't believe he exists either.
God is something that once you know He exists you are not going to un-know it.
The reason for leaving doesn't matter, if they're just using it as an excuse and not the reason.
Luke 15:12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
Luke 15:13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
I wonder what excuse the prodigal son gave for leaving?
I wonder what are these stats for China are. At one time the MiddleEast were mostly Christians.
Jesus when told the truth many of his disciples stop following him. So the Truth itself will run people off.
Also, as Hitchslap said, welcome back AV.
I've been away for a while myself just returning a little over a week ago since the first of the year.
In my opinion I do think it matters why they left.
For example, until I encountered YEC science I had no problem with any part of the bible.
It is YEC science that has brought many parts of the bible in doubt for me, not my belief in God and Jesus as my Savior.
The truth is I'm not a Muslim.
Been there. Done that.
Where in Genesis 1 does it say anthing about Adam or Eve?
Who would be his cousins?
You could be right. But there is no way of knowing is there?
19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
19:18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19:19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
19:20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
I was told by my parents to believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. I was born a scientist as I tested put much everything. I ended up breaking most of my toys trying to figure out how they work. Mom told me not to touch a plug-in and I learn why and never forgot it. I remember testing the "Easter Bunny" theory by getting up early in the morning before my parents and seeing nothing in the living room. After they got up they told me to get up and see what the Easter Bunny bought me. I keep it to myself for a couple of years that I already knew SC didn't exist. I wasn't raised in church and there were only occasional mentioning of God in rare moments. I drove my mother crazy with my questions until finally she would reply " cause God made it that way." I thought OK. I already came to the conclusion there was a creator but didn't know anything about Him.We believe in Santa Claus because people we trust tell us that he exists. God is not Santa Claus and those trusted adults don't believe he exists either.
Doesn't change the fact that I really did believe in Santa Claus. You can go from true belief to disbelief.
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Since all was finished by chapter two, that means it was Adam and Eve.
Ge 1:26 - And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Ge 1:27 -So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Any female that was born of Eve and later had more girl(s). Even if Adam was a dad of some. The rules of incest were not there till Moses.
That man was to breed with his kind is pretty well known. Once we start inserting imaginary races of non evolved thingies, we enter the strange la la land of surrealism that starts to infect the whole book.
Like I said you might be right. But I don't know which of us have it right or if either of us are.
Why would Cain fear for his life if he was going out among his kin?
Well I appreciate that. I was adding mine too.