• Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
    • Access to private conversations with other members.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!

The Tree Of Knowledge Of Good And Bad

Earthling

David Henson
The tree of knowledge of good and bad has been mistaken for everything from sex to knowledge in general but is the point often missed?

The tree was an ordinary fruit bearing tree. No celestial or magic powers. Some speculate that it was a pomegranate tree, but that's only speculation and irrelevant. Jehovah's prohibition was not only against eating but also against merely touching it or it's fruit. It was a representation, a visual reminder of Jehovah God's sovereignty. The Jerusalem Bible of 1966 says: “This knowledge is a privilege which God reserves to himself and which man, by sinning, is to lay hands on, Genesis 3:5, 22. Hence it does not mean omniscience, which fallen man does not possess; nor is it moral discrimination, for unfallen man already had it and God could not refuse it to a rational being. It is the power of deciding for himself what is good and what is evil and of acting accordingly, a claim to complete moral independence by which man refuses to recognise his status as a created being. The first sin was an attack on God’s sovereignty, a sin of pride.”

The tree was a visible reminder to newly created man that he needed God's guidance and protection.
 
The tree is symbolism illustrating the moral awareness gained by humans at a stage in their evolution. They lose innocence and are subject to God's wrath.
 

David T

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Why do you bother to think about such nonsense?
Can't create decent art unless you do.
A song by a musician about music. What the heck feel the music? He is nuts or is he? I like this one it's absurdly profane.
 

Audie

Veteran Member
Can't create decent art unless you do.
A song by a musician about music. What the heck feel the music? He is nuts or is he? I like this one it's absurdly profane.

Sorry-ah, but no way I am going to listen to that.

in the event, I kind of do not think our hero of the
OP is going to do any art. For sure, no tolerable
prose has been forthcoming.

But yes, some people have expressed their talent
in religious themes.

dunno if there is a recording to hear, but there is
a song about Jesus Marijuana

"I dreamed I had a talk with Jesus
late last night
And he said smokin' that marijuana
is quite all right"

That was on a 45 record that I ran across!
 

David T

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Sorry-ah, but no way I am going to listen to that.

in the event, I kind of do not think our hero of the
OP is going to do any art. For sure, no tolerable
prose has been forthcoming.

But yes, some people have expressed their talent
in religious themes.

dunno if there is a recording to hear, but there is
a song about Jesus Marijuana

"I dreamed I had a talk with Jesus
late last night
And he said smokin' that marijuana
is quite all right"

That was on a 45 record that I ran across!
Art comes in many forms especially music. Here is one with a reference to 40 days Nd 40 nights and mother nature all at the same time! Dylan said he didn't trust any artist who didn't play Gospel!!!! Gotta respect odetta James!!!
 

Audie

Veteran Member
Art comes in many forms especially music. Here is one with a reference to 40 days Nd 40 nights and mother nature all at the same time! Dylan said he didn't trust any artist who didn't play Gospel!!!! Gotta respect odetta James!!!

I find your post to be unresponsive.
 

Thief

Rogue Theologian
The tree of knowledge of good and bad has been mistaken for everything from sex to knowledge in general but is the point often missed?

The tree was an ordinary fruit bearing tree. No celestial or magic powers. Some speculate that it was a pomegranate tree, but that's only speculation and irrelevant. Jehovah's prohibition was not only against eating but also against merely touching it or it's fruit. It was a representation, a visual reminder of Jehovah God's sovereignty. The Jerusalem Bible of 1966 says: “This knowledge is a privilege which God reserves to himself and which man, by sinning, is to lay hands on, Genesis 3:5, 22. Hence it does not mean omniscience, which fallen man does not possess; nor is it moral discrimination, for unfallen man already had it and God could not refuse it to a rational being. It is the power of deciding for himself what is good and what is evil and of acting accordingly, a claim to complete moral independence by which man refuses to recognise his status as a created being. The first sin was an attack on God’s sovereignty, a sin of pride.”

The tree was a visible reminder to newly created man that he needed God's guidance and protection.
nope.....not buying that

Man as a species (Day Six)
was up and moving and multiplying.....dominating all things

but had developed (and retained in everyday practice)
a snatch and grab.....me first approach to everything

not much more than an ape
and would overrun the planet and it's resources without
developing a spiritual quality

Chapter Two is a story of manipulation
alteration of mind and body

the chosen specimen was cloned
living in ideal conditions
and the first couple ( I believe) were the first to walk with God
(not the first to walk this earth)

the forbidden fruit was as you say......nothing special
except for the curiosity that swelled in the mind of Adam and Eve

would they partake?......even as death is a pending consequence
yeah

is Man that creature ?.....of curiosity
even if the quest to know could result in death
yeah

we have what it takes to consider the pending event
and we are curious about spirit
 

Thief

Rogue Theologian
oh yeah.....having passed the test.....
the specimens were released into the environment

no more protection
 

columbus

yawn <ignore> yawn
nor is it moral discrimination, for unfallen man already had it and God could not refuse it to a rational being.

I couldn't disagree more. God obviously does create humans without moral discrimination, every time. And humans are commonly quite irrational as well.

The only way we become any more morally sophisticated than our great ape forebears is to learn better, from other people. Our many and strong immoral impulses are what we get from our creator. Morality is what we get from other people. Some people are better at learning morality than others, and some people develop under circumstances that foster moral improvement better.

To me, that is the true "Problem of Evil". If God loves us, why does he keep creating us so ignorant, needy, impulsive, and stupid?

Why do we so much resemble the monkey house at the zoo? I think that is mostly why people reject Evolution. It hits a little too close to home.

Tom
 
But how does that make any sense?
Innocence is the garden of eden. Adam and Eve eat the fruit is humans evolving beyond innocence and becoming morally aware. They are banished from the garden of eden. God must punish evil that which is done in awareness. That is why Jesus provides a way by sacrificing himself. Those who believe in Jesus receive a new body and mind and can one day share eden once more in God's presence. It all makes sense.
 
Gaining the mind of christ you are fully aware yet you are innocent. You get a foretaste now and experience it fully in heaven as a child of God.
 

David T

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
I find your post to be unresponsive.
Of course some students would be unhappy tearing out pages of a book Why that sacreligious!! You would love systematic theology if you were religious!! Here is exactly what I, and kierkegaard think of systematic!! Not much. Theory is not primary.

 

Earthling

David Henson
Of course some students would be unhappy tearing out pages of a book Why that sacreligious!! You would love systematic theology if you were religious!! Here is exactly what I, and kierkegaard think of systematic!! Not much. Theory is not primary.


Carpe diem!
 

David T

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Carpe diem!
Loved that passion of robins character. Poets and artists all embraced Darwin at the time. Not because there is no God, science simply affirmed its all the family of God. Funny that doesn't seem to be clear to everyone. Even to Darwin at the time!!! It apparently is a secret only artists are allowed to fully experience I guess. Shamans they are.
 
The tree of knowledge of good and bad has been mistaken for everything from sex to knowledge in general but is the point often missed?

The tree was an ordinary fruit bearing tree. No celestial or magic powers. Some speculate that it was a pomegranate tree, but that's only speculation and irrelevant. Jehovah's prohibition was not only against eating but also against merely touching it or it's fruit. It was a representation, a visual reminder of Jehovah God's sovereignty. The Jerusalem Bible of 1966 says: “This knowledge is a privilege which God reserves to himself and which man, by sinning, is to lay hands on, Genesis 3:5, 22. Hence it does not mean omniscience, which fallen man does not possess; nor is it moral discrimination, for unfallen man already had it and God could not refuse it to a rational being. It is the power of deciding for himself what is good and what is evil and of acting accordingly, a claim to complete moral independence by which man refuses to recognise his status as a created being. The first sin was an attack on God’s sovereignty, a sin of pride.”

The tree was a visible reminder to newly created man that he needed God's guidance and protection.

If the story of Adam and Eve is an actual narrative and not a parable. Then I would have to guess the fruit gave Eve and Adam self awareness of their own mortality. It reminds me of this saying "A baby cries because it's alive and that's the saddest thing."
 

Deeje

Avid Bible Student
Premium Member
The admonition not to touch the tree is where?

Genesis 3:3...."But of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, God said, "You shall not eat of it, and you shall not touch it, lest you die.'"
 
Top