Genesis and reality - could there be a bigger mismatch?

1. 60

   peterxdunnposted 14 years ago

   Genesis and reality - could there be a bigger mismatch?
   
   Our galaxy: the Miky Way, is over six-hundred-thousand-trillion miles across. This does not, however, make it in anyway exceptional. There are even bigger galaxies out there among the untold trillions of galaxies in existence. My question is why - in the Book of Genesis - didn't God inform Moses as to the true nature of this staggering reality. Was this too big a reality for an Omnipotent God?
   
   The picture, by the way, is of one galaxy devouring another. Even St John the Divine couldn't envisage an apocalypse on this scale.
   
   

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2. 60

   peterxdunnposted 14 years ago

   Moses is supposed (or surmised) to be the author of Genesis.
   
   The Universe, or Heavens, was thought to be - around the time Genesis was written - a dome with lights: the stars (hosts of Heaven), stuck on it. It was also thought - by some - that the dome could be reached with a ladder and that it had doors in it.
   
   (NB: I know some will argue that Jacob's Ladder and access doorways/stairways to Heaven etc to be metaphorical. To them I say - then the whole Bible is a metaphor. You cannot pick and choose which bits of the Bible are to be taken literally and which aren't. It 's all or nothing - you cannot have it both ways - sorry!)
   
   In Genesis - where it says,' God created the Heavens and the Earth,' It is this dome that they are talking about - not the Universe as we know it today.
   
   They also thought that the Earth was located at the center of this Universe and that the entire Cosmos - as it was then understood - was created, for us, by God. We now know this World view to be preposterous yet - for centuries - anyone that argued with this view of things would be burnt alive , by the Church, as a heretic.
   
   The Church is now, of course, trying to incorporate the findings of modern, empirical science into its doctrinal teachings. This is being blatantly dishonest.
   
   Genesis is supposed to represent the 'Word of God'. To attempt to edit - or reinterpret - it now shows that it was never true in the first place and that, futhermore, those trying to 're-invent God' are doing so to preserve the power of the Church along with their own wealth and influence.
   
   To put it bluntly, anyone that thinks that they can edit Genesis - or any part of the Bible (change Holy Writ as they see Fit) - cannot truly believe in God.
   
   But then this has already been demonstrated - hasn't it.

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3. 45

   ibbarkingmadposted 13 years ago

   This is based off of the assumption that the creation story as translated should be taken to mean literal days. Imagine trying to explain to a person from one of the isolated tribes of the Amazon about space, time frames, distances and sizes you mentioned. It would be really, really hard. Still, in the original Hebrew text indicates that instead of referring to days, it rather refers to period. Did all the things happen in that exact order. I don't think so, but try writing a story where everything is happening at once. My purpose in answering this question is not to convert you to my faith or view, but to point out that it is possible. I have met so many people who say what God can and cannot do and I keep asking them, "Who are you to say what God can do? Are you a prophet?" I think God is a god of science. I think he abides by his laws. I think there is so much more we need to learn before we can understand him. Could I be wrong? Sure. But I am happy to keep trying to learn and the hope of a loving God and Father-in-heaven keeps me going in a world full of people who use their free will (which he does not interfere with) to do evil things. I hope my answer helps. Thanks for asking an awesome question!

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