Explain the analogies

[Ark Guy]

So they say Genesis is not literal...that's good news for mankind.

The six day creation never occured...It was an anaology.

Adam never existed...he was an analogy of something that the Theo-Evos can't explain.

Eve also never existed. She was never formed from Adams rib....That to is an analogy for something that the Theo-Evos won't explain.

There was no garden....this too was some form of anology that the Theo-Evos can't explain.

There was no serpent in the garden...for starters, no garden for the serpent to talk to Adam and Eve in. The serpent must also have be some sort of analogy that the Theo-Evos can't explain.

There was no tree of knowledge of good and evil in the garden...this too was an analogy...which meant what?

So, here's the good part. If there was no Adam, if there was no Eve, if there was no garden, if there was no talking serpent, no tree in the center of the garden...the there was no fall. No curse to follow the fall. IT'S ALL SOME BIG ANALOGY!!!!!

No fall, no curse...then who needs Jesus?

Then again maybe Jesus wasn't real. Perhaps He's just an analogy for something.

Of course I expect the Theo-Evos to rant and rave now...but instead I would really like to know what all of these analogies mean. Now I don't want to know what you think it means but rather I would like some theology that speaks of the analogies presented to us in the book called Genesis.

 

[notto]

Nice strawman.

Non-Literal does not equate to not theologically important or true. The scriptures mean exactly the same thing from a theologial point of view regardless of if they are literal or not. The meaining does not change.

Of course, you have been told this before.

We need Jesus for exactly the reasons the bible states and the reason God sent him. We are all sinners.

 

[Ark Guy]

According to the analogy...sin doesn't exist. There was no real historical fall. There is no need for Jesus.

 

[seebs]

When I was a kid, my mom was treated for what might or might not be cancer. I didn't know what cancer was. I was told that cancer was sort of like she had gotten a parasite that would eat her if they didn't treat it. This allowed me to understand important things:
* Mommy was sick
* Mommy would get better if treated
* That means Mommy will be in the hospital for a couple of days

Now, it turns out that, in fact, there was no parasite; cancer is a failure of the mechanisms that regulate cell reproduction.

Does that mean Mommy didn't need to go to the hospital after all?

When we try to understand the creation story as it has been understood by Jews and Christians alike for over two thousand years, we learn about our relationship too God, who made everything we see. Turning it into mere history, with no deeper meanings, destroys this.

To put it another way: God made my cat. I can tell you who owned the cat that gave birth to my cat, we could probably guess at which cat was the father, and all that, but that doesn't mean my cat is not a creation of God. The mere fact that I understand the process by which this thing was accomplished does not change that it was accomplished.

 

[notto]

According to the analogy...sin doesn't exist. There was no real historical fall. There is no need for Jesus.

Sure sin exists, the bible tells us that. The bible also tells us there s a need for Jesus.

Why do you continue to use this strawman of other people beliefs?

 

[Ark Guy]

If your mom didn't have cancer then there was no need to treat her.

If there is no sin because it is an analogy, the event didn't happen, then we don't need Jesus.

I do find it rather ironic how you can analogize cancer with a parasite...but fail to explain the analogy of Genesis.

Why didn't God explain his analogy?

 

[Ark Guy]

Sure sin exists, the bible tells us that. The bible also tells us there s a need for Jesus.

Why do you continue to use this strawman of other people beliefs?

Where does the bible tell us that sin exist? Do you have a chapter and verse?

Where does the bible tell us we need Jesus? Once again do you have a chapter and verse?

 

[notto]

If your mom didn't have cancer then there was no need to treat her.

If there is no sin because it is an analogy, the event didn't happen, then we don't need Jesus.

I do find it rather ironic how you can analogize cancer with a parasite...but fail to explain the analogy of Genesis.

Why didn't God explain his analogy?

Just because the origin of sin is given to us as an analogy in the scriptures does not mean that sin does not exist or that those who interpret the bible differently than you do not think that sin does not exist.

Why do you continue to use this strawman of other peoples beliefs?

 

[notto]

.. dp

 

[notto]

Where does the bible tell us that sin exist? Do you have a chapter and verse?

Where does the bible tell us we need Jesus? Once again do you have a chapter and verse?

Come on Ark Guy - we both know the bible says that sin exists and that we need Jesus - you mentioned it in your opening post.

 

[Ark Guy]

Show me notto. Where does it say sin exist and where does it say we need Jesus.

 

[seebs]

If your mom didn't have cancer then there was no need to treat her.

You miss the point.

If what my mom had was cancer, but the analogy used to explain cancer to a small child was not the literal truth, she needed to be treated, even though my understanding of why was incorrect.

 

[Ark Guy]

You miss the point.

If what my mom had was cancer, but the analogy used to explain cancer to a small child was not the literal truth, she needed to be treated, even though my understanding of why was incorrect.

Nope, you missed my point...if she didn't have cancer then why treat her?
If sin isn't real, then why treat it with Jesus?

 

[Ark Guy]

You miss the point.

If what my mom had was cancer, but the analogy used to explain cancer to a small child was not the literal truth, she needed to be treated, even though my understanding of why was incorrect.

Now to address your point, why did God need an analogy? Why not just present the truth?

When will one of you guys explain the analogy? You know like cancer and the parasite...make the correlation?

Is there a seminary that teaches and explains this great mystery?

 

[notto]

Show me notto. Where does it say sin exist and where does it say we need Jesus.

Only if you promise to quit suggesting that a non-literal interpretation of the bible suggests that sin, Jesus, and the nature of salvation are not real or needed.

 

[notto]

Is there a seminary that teaches and explains this great mystery?

I'm guessing most of them do, even the ones that don't follow a theology that a literal interpretation of genesis is required to understand the theological truths the scripture contains.

There really is no great mystery. The meaning of scripture doesn't change if it is figurative or an analogy. Of course, you've already been told that but still continue to use a strawman of others beliefs.

 

[Ark Guy]

So your guessing most of them do?

Am I then to understand that you really don't understand this analogy that you speak of with such a great assurance and passion?

Oh, where are the verses that say sin exist and that we need Jesus?

 

[notto]

So your guessing most of them do?

Am I then to understand that you really don't understand this analogy that you speak of with such a great assurance and passion?

Oh, where are the verses that say sin exist and that we need Jesus?

First promise that you won't keep repeating the stawman that those that do not intepret the scriptures literally do not accept sin, Jesus, and the need for salvation as real.

 

[Ark Guy]

I think the problem is that notto can't find and present the verses...or else he would.

Just for the record, it is not a strawman view I have been presenting. A Genesis is an analogy concept calls for the events presented in Genesis to be an analogy. Seems pretty simple to me.

So notto, the verses?

 

[seebs]

Nope, you missed my point...if she didn't have cancer then why treat her?
If sin isn't real, then why treat it with Jesus?

I think you're the one missing a point.

If the story told to us about how sin came into the world is an analogy, it is an analogy for something, that being the way sin actually came to be.

Sin still happened; what's wrong is not the idea that there could be sin, but the dogmatic adherence to a specific "just so" story about how it came to be.