Elliott5779
Member
i was curious whether or not people believe the Garden actually exists and why they believe one way or the other.
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do you believe that the Garden of Eden is a real place?
- Thread starter Elliott5779
- Start date
Unveiled Artist
Veteran Member
No. Biggest reason is the time gap is very small for anything distinct like that would exist. Life on earth wasnt around until 4.5 billion years ago. People didnt believe in one-god religions until way way way later. Like other religions, they are stories to help understand the role of how others view one theory of creation. Like Native Ameriacn stories etc. its pretty much for that purpose. Im sure Hindu creation stories are arond the same purpose.
I dont understand how the supernatural can be when abraham lived around in the 7th century BC (as so looked up) but then in the 21st century, nothing!
It all doesnt add up. I dont know if The Catholic Church believes these things are literal. Many Fundamentalist (JW included) surely do.
Elliott5779
Member
i had a similar thought regarding this. i considered that since i know Torah to be true that maybe we are lacking something today that Abraham had in his time. i continue to research the matter.
What is JW?
I never ask the question "does such and such exist" given if I can ask the question, the answer is already yes. I accept the reality of all worlds, apparent or otherwise, whether they are part of my traditions or not. And let's be clear - I do not accept that the Garden of Eden was a thing in the apparent world, presently or historically. But it certainly is one of the many countless otherworlds out there... one that has some powerful intersections with our own through story and song of one of the dominant mythic traditions of our age.
Unveiled Artist
Veteran Member
I'm not a theist, but yeah, it could be. We would have to do a lot of brain hopping. Evidence doesn't bother me either way. But I do wonder why many of you want to prove these stories are historical. Im sure that's not the point of scripture.
Are you jewish? As for Judaism, I don't know of they believe in the literal stories of the Torah. Not many answer my posts to know much of what they believe beyond basics.
JW is short for Jehovah's Witnesses. They are a christian sect but not considered Christian (or followers of Christ) since they disagree with the trinity and most of what's in Christian history that make Christian, Christian. I don't know where to put them outside of being a follower of Christ. Very fundamentalist in their views.
Epic Beard Man
Bearded Philosopher
The story of Eden is definitely allegorical with some truism involved.
Earthling
David Henson
I couldn't vote because of the wording. The garden of Eden was (past tense) a real place. It no longer is, probably after the flood.
No, I don't believe it exists(ed). I think it's a metaphor and allegory the loss of innocence of childhood, or general loss of innocence... a rude awakening.
Twilight Hue
Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
According to the Bible it should still be around.
Given we pretty much mapped the entire world and didn't see it anywhere, it's pretty apparent it's something that had never existed except in the annals of ancient Mythology.
Sounds like a pretty cool Garden though.
metis
aged ecumenical anthropologist
Some do but most don't. Even one of the greatest Jewish sages, Maimonides, felt that much of what's in the first dozen or so chapters of Genesis likely are allegorical, thus not literal.
Of course not.
The reasons are the same I have for not believing in a real Pinocchio.
Ciao
- ciole
sealchan
Well-Known Member
Not real, but may be that this mythical place was meant to be understood as the original temple of God.
Thief
Rogue Theologian
PureX
Veteran Member
Yes.
'Eden' is all around us, and it always has been. What we lost when we decided to presume ourselves to be demi-gods (according to the story) was our ability to see it and appreciate it for what it was, and for our natural, humble place within it. And so instead we now toil and labor our lives away endlessly trying to "correct" our world because it will not serve us exclusively as we presume it ought to be doing.
Thief
Rogue Theologian
aaahhhh......no
the story speaks of one event
a manipulation to alter the mind and spirit of Man
the specimens were then released into the environment
the garden dismantled having served it's purpose
Viviane LaFrance
Member
As a metaphor for the Fertile Crescent?
Elliott5779
Member
i am Jewish and the Torah has many levels to it, The literal being one of them.