Creation of the Conscious: Genesis and Ten Commandments

[lemondiesel]

Personally, I think the Creation story is widely misunderstood by many people, even ones who question authenticity of the Bible. Objectively, it portrays the long story of man from the moment oral tradition was achieved to a Man dying for our sins. However, I ask that you set aside all beliefs, and look at the Bible in a different way, a much simpler way. Let me give you an example, which will show my pov as I continue with post.

(skeptic)“Well the Earth wasn’t created in 7 days.”
(believer)“Well God’s days are different.”
(my response)“Days do not mean days on a calendar, they mean different phases of evolution of the always developing conscious.”

Let’s all pretend we are primative Man, probably aren’t too smart, most likely know only survival skills. What would be the first thing you actually notice? When would you notice, you’re superior mentally to every other species? When would you notice that your love one, your wife, was finite; as are you?

Genesis tells us. In the beginning, God created light and dark. Man first “noticed” day and night, the different worlds of night and day. Maybe this was sparked by the creation of fire, or lead to its creation. Now here is what revolutionized my entire way of thinking. I was reading the Bible, and the creation story is one that always fascinates me. But I asked myself, why does God create the sun, moon, and stars after grass, fruits, sea food (fishing), etc? And then it hit me like a ****ing truck, early Man noticed food resources before they noticed seasons. Okay, I still want to talk about the 10 commandos, so hopefully I left you something to at least think about… and hopefully you get what I was trying to imply haha.

I want you to forget the story that comes with the 10 commandments, and just look at the laws themselve. “I am the One true God” which whipes out all other gods, but most importantly, nature gods. It is the Alpha and the Omega, the reason “I” even exists in the first place. Because of this, we should never curse His name, for then we curse our very existence. As Man moved into a more social environment with the creation of small communities, newer laws were realized. You don’t steal from people, otherwise people get upset, someone gets hurt, whatever the case. Don’t steal! I mean seriously, that is how all these laws are written.

I just wanted to keep this short while giving a message and hopefully you see that I am in no way questioning the validity of the Bible or trying to bring up the evolution of Man, I simply just want to show that the Bible can be interpreted in another way.

 

[jsaldar]

The bible is filled with symbolism. Even when Jesus taught, he used parables to explain the truth. This is where faith comes in. “For we walk by faith, not by sight” 2 Corinthians 5:7

You cannot take all parts of the bible in a literal way. We just need to know the messages behind the symbolism. It is God’s way of teaching us a fraction of His infinite Knowledge in a finite way. Sort of like teaching a child how to read with a picture book that uses small words. You can’t expect the child to fully read and comprehend a novel.

 

[lemondiesel]

You cannot take all parts of the bible in a literal way.

If we go with your logic, you run into the problem of deciding which parts are symbolical and which are literal. We will get into a verbal war about “only people of the holy spirit can tell” yadayadayada, which leaves us in a circular argument.

There is only one true way to interpret the Bible.

sigh sometimes I think people post before some in depth thought

 

[Krakatoa]

The Earth may have been created in six of our days, or maybe even in less time, such as an instant, as St. Augustine believed. And with evolution still being the unproven theory that it was in Darwin’s day, I have always believed in a young Earth (10,000 years max).

 

[ThinkingSapien]

I want you to forget the story that comes with the 10 commandments, and just look at the laws themselve.

Something I find interesting is when people use the term “The Ten Commandments” they are usually talking about the 20th chapter of Exodus. But if I look for what the bible has labeled as the Ten Commandments (34th chapter, see verse 28) which has rules such as not cooking a goat in the milk of it’s mother (ewwwwww!!!).

“I am the One true God” which whipes out all other gods, but most importantly, nature gods.

Indeed it does! Given your stated religious disposition I’m at a lost as to what information I should share. I’ll take the middle road and will just say there’s also a secular explanation.

 

[Lui]

You cannot take all parts of the bible in a literal way. We just need to know the messages behind the symbolism. It is God’s way of teaching us a fraction of His infinite Knowledge in a finite way. Sort of like teaching a child how to read with a picture book that uses small words. You can’t expect the child to fully read and comprehend a novel.

You’re right. I think you can actually go so far to say you’re not supposed to take all parts of the Bible in a literal way because you will miss the message that God wants to tell you. When Jesus used parables he wanted to teach us something. If we only concentrate on the characters of his story and the story itself(like the story of the lost son), we will miss what he actually wants to tell us.

If we go with your logic, you run into the problem of deciding which parts are symbolical and which are literal.

I don’t see that problem. There are several ways to read the Bible. The Bible isn’t supposed to be read like a novel nor a history book. It is a spiritual book that teaches us what God wants to tell us. If I read that the Egyptians built the pyramids I can take that as a fact but it teaches me nothing. When I read about Noah’s Ark I don’t have to believe Noah actually built an ark that had all the animals in the world on board. I have to understand what that story is supposed to tell me.

I have always believed in a young Earth (10,000 years max).

That’s not what the Catholic Church believes though. Sounds more like a fundamentalist evangelical view.

 

[StrawberryJam]

The Earth may have been created in six of our days, or maybe even in less time, such as an instant, as St. Augustine believed. And with evolution still being the unproven theory that it was in Darwin’s day, I have always believed in a young Earth (10,000 years max).

What is the basis for your belief in this idea?

PS, in edit mode I decided to ask for a citation re: Augustine