Did god really not know Adam wouldn't want an animal for a mate?
Well, thank you for calling us goddesses. That's the nicest thing anyone's said to me all day
Many people see it as you do, that the Bible oppresses women, and that Jewish and Christian culture oppress women. I can certainly see what you mean. I have also been a Christian for many years, and experiencing God has been the best and sweetest thing in my life, and i have experienced this through Christianity. (So I am biased.) Because the Bible does address deep issues, (I am not one who thinks the Bible is straightforward, I think it is very complex) I think it is a text which is particularly prone to people reading their own hangups into it. After all, those who wish to oppress women and promote slavery were convinced the Bible supported them. John Calvin felt justified in executing men who taught a somewhat different theology from himself regarding predestination. There really is no end to the self deception humans can fall into, as any student of history learns. -My own opinion: don't let religion (or the church) get in the way of experiencing God in this life. That would be letting the chauvanists and bigots win.
About the rib thing. I got that from a book I read some ten years ago. I think it is still on my shelf, and i'm going to go dig it up & see if I can shed some light....
OK, I'm back. The book is "Fashioned For Intimacy" by Jane Hansen, published 1997. I just checked Amazon, and the book appears to be out of print, though I see a bible study that may be based on the book. Like i said before, I know no Hebrew, so i depend on what i read for any insight into original languages. I'm going to quote directly the passage I was thinking of:
"We are told here that God took one of Adam's ribs to make the woman. It is interesting to note, however, that this reference in Genesis is the only time the Hebrew word sela is translated as "rib." This particular word is used many times in scripture as "side" or "side chamber" and is generally an architechtural term, refering to the side of an object. In 1 Kings 6:34, this word refers to "two leaves of a door." (KJV) Concievably then, according to The Theological Wordbook Of The Old Testament, this means that when God created the woman by taking a rib, He took a good portion of Adam's side."
When I read the first 2 chapters of Genesis it sounds to me as if women are made just as much in the image of God as men, so i think this is an example of people reading themselves, or their experiences, into the text. My own reading of this is that God removed some physical matter from Adam, but also a part of Adam's nature. That "other side" of Adam then became another person. What this means is that neither male nor female is a full representation of God: only together do they have all the attributes of the divine nature. It means humanity is interdependent: we need each other to understand God. I also think that patriarchal societies which devalue the feminine are devaluing some of the attributes of God, though they often think they are doing God a favor but suppressing femininity.
But anyhow, this is long enough, I'm writing a book here. I want to go read your hub, sounds interesting."Well, thank you for calling us goddesses. That's the nicest thing anyone's said to me all day"
And it should go without saying
"My own opinion: don't let religion (or the church) get in the way of experiencing God in this life. That would be letting the chauvanists and bigots win. "
Well that's the funny part of all this. I'm an atheist who has experienced god, so to speak and experience it all the time. I say it because to me it is the process of existence itself. I see a unity in all things and I can show it to be so through science. I am a Pantheist. To me, god is not a conscious being, it is the totality. How much more personal can a relationship get? There is nothing but god, in a metaphorical yet real sense.
I think most people mistake numinous feeling and the sense of natural unity with the totality, for this strange relationship with the mythical Jewish god and his son. It is the same relationship, but without the anthropomorphism or dogma.
Yes, an atheist can have a world view that some call religious.
"Fashioned For Intimacy" seems to be an interesting take, But really, two leaves to a door or taking a portion of Adam's side instead of a rib, still makes woman made of man, not god. At least the way I read it. I think other passages a few lines in concerning man being woman's master back me up.
That's the problem for me. Would you have to reach so far for an interpretation of any other book? Probably not. You would accept the word on the page. And you are right. People do read in to it what they want. That includes believers, and think more so than people reading it as they would read any fiction novel or any other ancient text. for that matter.
There are implications of not being created the same way at the same time. Eve is like a female version of Adam, cloned from him. Now you can take cloning one of two ways. One is the way you see it, as an exact duplicate though in the feminine. Or you can see it as the fact that the clone is not exact. Each time you clone from a previous clone, the pattern degenerates a bit. The quality decreases. Same as when people used tape instead of CDs. Each copy of a copy got worse, and it happened quickly.
A woman made from a man would be a lesser position than had god made them at the same time. And again, god made MAN in his image. He only made one human. That elevates him as being unique. Something taken from him to make another being would be lesser than he. Woman are less physically strong and often smaller in stature. It's obvious to the ancient Jew that she is less than a man.
As to your other point. I think the name of god in Hebrew does have both male and female connotations which some scholars have remarked on. But this would only natural since he is the creator. Even so, it may be an indication of a much earlier pagan influence.
I do like your interpretation. Though I don't agree with it, I think it's better than what I think is the original intent of the story.
I was gonna say sure, just as soon as you become the last man on earth; but I decided Nope not even then.
Ah. So I am the snake now? Well that IS funny.
Slarty, You are too funny. I couldn't help but laugh.
No, I will not bow down to men. I understand God did not create man to be superior over women. We are all equal. Lastly, I only bow down to the creator of this world. I hope that clear things up.
Sheep herders were famous for it.
How can I say this is not even worth a comment, without actually commenting?
Not really.
People making absurd comments about the Bible (should) bother me, BUT
considering the source, I understand. I truly do.
I mean, what else should I expect from a nonbeliever?
On second thought, maybe a little respect for others. But I guess that's too much to ask.
Oh well, I will keep on "not posting".You do that. lol... Like a train wreck you can't look away from, eh?
How about you actually read the words and what they say instead of making excuses for your bible and pretending it says something else? I can read and comprehend what I read. Can you?I see, you certainly can.
Go right ahead, read and comprehend to your little heart's content.
Don't let me interrupt the fun you are having.Nothing to add, I see.
Why DO you bother posting? lol....I'm not posting. Remember!
That's why it's empty.
If you really want to have an intelligent discussion, we can.
That is if you consider me at all intelligent enough. Dunno?
Yes I do, in fact, think you are intelligent enough to have conversation.
Ah. Nothing to say. No problem. I understand
There is nothing you can say that wiill knock my faith.
- brotheryochananposted 13 years ago
0 
Tell Them NOTHING!- just_curiousposted 13 years ago0
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