and cain slew able.

Does that mean we are all the sons and daughters of cain.

good question.

You forget there was Seth also

but was seth born of eve?

yes he was the third son of adam and eve. at least that is the
understanding of the biblical account i have

Not meant to denounce anyone’s belief, but just for the record, I don’t
believe that Adam was a real person. I believe that the stories told in
the early part of the bible were written by men who were trying to
explain morals using parables.

I believe that in some cases their intent was good. They were sages who
were trying to teach their offspring and tribes people good morals by
telling interesting stories. There are many good parables in the
bible, but I don’t believe that any of them should be taken as a serious
account of any actual events.

I also believe that many of the parables and stories were indeed
designed to make people feel guilty or put them in their place. I
believe that this is especially true with respect to men trying to make
women feel inferior and subservient to them. After all, if they can
get the whole tribe to believe that it is God’s will that women be
subservient to men then any woman who fails to abide by the wishes of
God would surely be accused of being a sinner. Pretty powerful stuff
this religion! Especially back when people could quite literally be
stoned to death for being recognized as a ‘sinner’.

Religious beliefs can be inspiring, but they can also be used to control
and manipulate the innocent. There is no question at all that men have
used religions and religious institutions to control the way people
think. over the ages, in fact, they continue to use it to control people
right up to this very present day.

So when we look back at these ancient stories we really need to consider
the possibility that they may not have actually been written by the hand
of god. After all, the bible is called the “King James” version for
good reason. King James actually decided what writings would or would
not be allowed into the bible. There is actually some interesting
history associated with that. King James’ own personal views on
religion caused him to reject certain writings and accept others.

So is the bible really the ‘word of god’? Should it be taken literally
without question? Or is it just a collection of ancient writings chosen
by a king named James?

Are people who read the bible putting their faith in god? Or putting
their faith in King James?

I obviously don’t believe that the bible is the literal word of god. I
believe it is nothing more than philosophies written by men who had
agendas, to either inspire, or control. There are many good things in
the bible, and many bad things.

When it comes to the creation of mankind I believe in evolution. It’s
just overwhelmingly convincing to anyone who seriously considers it from
a rational point of view without any pre-determined prejudice to deny it
in favor of unsubstantiated beliefs. Almost everyone who rejects
evolution does so because they’d simply rather not believe it. Not
because it’s unconvincing.

Well, I don't think this was meant to be a discussion of parabells.
This was meant to be a "if this is literal, then what" discussion.


But the bible states that Adam and Eve had many, many children. Like
almost 100 or so. (Although they did supposedly live to be almost 900
years old, so it's not all that horrible). Seeing as they sprang forth
as adults, or at least were adults by the time they ate the infamous
apple- not so harsh a prospect.


Plus, while Cain appearantly did have children- by the time he returned
from Nod- Seth and Inoch and the other descendents of Adam and Eve had
already formed an empire.

with all due respect Mr. AB
those are chararcters from a story written to represent a human sin
called envy.
Adan and Eve are also characters to represent the creation and the human
conditions as sinners

Thank you LW.

That is one point I have been trying to make.
and yet some people have based their lives upon those stories.
Believing them to be fact.

instead of the teaching tool that they are.

thousands of years ago human conciousness was not as evolved as now.
Therefore, the men who wrote the bible needed this stories as an
illustration, so people on those ages could understand the message
within.

Good point walker.

Given that point. What message do you think the human species is ready
to understand from your book (or any other good book) that will enrich
our lives in this time.

My personal opinion, and it may sound a stupid dream, but I do believe
that is the main message of the bible:
We need to stop killing each other, and i'm not just talking about the
physical killing. I'm talking the killing of the soul when I don't love
my brother and sister.
When I'm too busy with my work that I don't have time for my wife and
children (which I don't have lol).
When I have my parents in a retirement home, and I never go to visit
them.
When my ambition makes me talk bad about my co-worker reputation.
When I don't talk with my brother or sister for years.
My Lord says: "love your brother as much as you would like to be loved."
And Mr. AB to be honest with you, we don't need no religion to practice
this.

well walker in respons to:

'I'm talking the killing of the soul when I don't love
my brother and sister.'

The diference in our individual faiths means nothing I would be honored
to consider you my spiritual brother.

I feel the same way my good brother

Adam isnt the father of us all. According to the Bible lots of people
were created before Adam. Adam is the FIRST MAN that God revealed
himself to.

Even if you dont agree that Gensis Chapter 1 & 2 preceed Adam, then look
at Cain's words when he got caught murdering "I'll be banished, I'll be
miserable, ppl will kill me..." And he got special dispensation from
God, "Nobody will touch you..." and he went off into the other lands and
married. Clearly, intentionally, undoubtdely, there were other ppl!

TLW wrote:
‘Adan and Eve are also characters to represent the creation and the
human
conditions as sinners’

That’s just my point though. Why would a god created sinners? And then
hold them responsible for sinning?

That makes absolutely no sense to me at all. If god created humans as
sinners then who should be blamed for their sins?

This is why it makes so much more sense to me that these early
documents were written by men to keep their tribes people in line. If
you can convince people to do as you say under the pretense that some
higher deity will consider them to be sinners if they misbehave, then
you will have a lot of control over these people even when you aren’t
with them. You will have convinced them that an all-seeing god is
watching over them at all times.

It’s an extremely powerful tool.

And like I say, a god that would create humans as sinners and then hold
them responsible for being sinners makes absolutely no sense at all.
How can it be your fault for being a sinner if this is how god created
you? If the merchandise is flawed it can only be the fault of the
manufacturer.

so all this jus mean that we are all brothers an sisters

afalcon wrote:
“so all this jus mean that we are all brothers an sisters”

I wish people could believe that on a much deeper level that you can
probably even imagine.

Yes, we are all one. But not because a single man named Adam was our
grandfather. ;o)

Not only are we bothers and sister with all other humans, but we are
brothers and sisters to all other life forms, not only on planet earth,
but with any life forms that might exist anywhere in the universe.

We are not only connected via genetics, but we are all connected via the
spirit of the universe.

We are all one more than most people will ever realize.

Amen!

Well, not to denounce anyone's beliefs or anything, but I believe Adam
was a real person and it was from his bloodline that we are all
descended.

In reality who gives a damn your here and your not going anywhere.