Just a couple of questions...

Three actually, they're dissimilar topics, but I didnt want to start three separate threads.

1: How would Adam know he was misbehaving if he didn't know right from wrong till after he ate from the tree of knowledge, 2: Granted, 3 1/2 billion years is a long long long time, but is it long enough for all the animals and plants to have come and gone, not to mention completely changing from one species to another, and 3: (probably directed at former christians like myself), why do I find Christianity far more interesting now, than I ever did as a christian?

Do you think Adam and Eve were AWARE of what the penalty eating said fruit was (billions of human souls would suffer an eternity of torture and pain?), because if I was in Adams (shoes?), I'd put a little more thought into going againts Gods wishes, than it seems he did. It doesn't seem to make sense.

And the serpant conning Eve looks more like shooting fish in a barrel than anything else. Had anyone ever lied to Eve before? Maybe she thought what the snake said was the truth, and not a con job? Why didn't she seemed surprised when the snake started talking?

I don't know if theres any FINAL answers to questions like this, or if we're all supposed to go on a gut feeling? It just all takes so much explaining.

Zunalter, I was neither a 100% driven church member, nor an on again, off again christian. I attended regularly, studied the bible because I enjoyed it, really liked the fellowship of christian friends (still do), and can not remember a single negative experience I had as a christian.

Since Ive lost belief in the inerrancy (sp?), of the bible, I've become almost obssessed with finding out about the history of christianity. No offence, but many things I took on faith in the bible now seem utterly absurd to me. Events from the bible that seemed at least plausible when I was a christian, now seem impossible as an agnostic. (Actually I still pray to God everyday, asking for the guidance and strength to do his will, so I don't really know what label to attach to myself). Sorry for the long answer to the off the cuff question.

I think my morals may have changed too since I'm no longer a christian, but I'm not sure what you mean by moral demands. I don't see myself now as being a worse person than when I was as a christian (nor better), just much more questioning.

unkern said:

What happened with Eve is she felt that God was holding out on her, so the devil convinced her to try it. Then when Adam saw that nothing happened to Eve he ate it.

I understand that you feel some of the stuff in the bible is a little out there, at one time I did as well, but when you really look into it its amazing what you will find. In fact a very eye opening book for me was a case for faith.

God be with you

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Thanks for the reply Unkern,

Still....I think the wise old devil wouldn't stand a chance of talking Eve into trying the fruit if there wasn't some kind of sin already lurking inside her. Maybe greed for what she thought God was holding out on them? Adams sin seems to run into the gullible (stupidity?) catergory. If thats a sin at all.

Actually, I used to find amazing things in the bible as well, but they were more in line with some of Jesus' teachings, as well as Pauls letters of course. When I asked my pastor and christian friends about events in the bible that seemed far fetched, it was suggested I take it on faith. Which to me seemed like a good idea at the time, for hadn't I not believed in the ressurection of Christ, only later to become convinced of it.

I have been reluctent to give the christian perspective a fair sounding since my (de-convergence?), partly because I thought I had expierenced enough christianity to look back and have an accurate view of it, and partly because of fear. Not so much fear of having made the wrong decision (de-converting), but fear of not being able to discount the opinions of the christians who know much more about the bible than I do.

I said all that to say this Unkern, I think you are saying theres a book called "A Case for Faith"? If you let me know the authors name, I'll buy it, read it, and tell you what I think of it...OK?

Ciao

Thanks for the suggested readings and opinions Salida, I'm going to go ahead and buy the Strobel book you and Enkern recommended to begin with (I'm a bit of a slow read).

However, my questioning some things about evolution doesn't mean I don't believe in it, as I certainly do. I've become skeptical of many of my beliefs in the last few months, especially those I hold strongly. I think there are many truths in evolutionary theory, as well as many truths in the bible, (as I stated earlier in this post). I just refuse to take either at face value, having been burned before by both my faith in religion and in science.

I guess you are talking about the Holy Spirit being within me during my time as a Christian. As a christian I would ask daily for the discernment of the spirit, and depending on my own spiritual clarity, recieved usually seemingly clear and sometimes inspirational guidence. So now that I'm no longer christian, I won't be able to understand the bible?