Garden of Eden was a setup...

[Lek]

I've always read and interpreted the old testament from the perspective of the new testament. I must admit that when I read your comments, I can understand how you view God the way you do. I guess that Adam and Eve didn't believe God when he told them "Read my lips. Don't eat the fruit from that tree!" There's no doubt that he required people to tow the line. Although all the way through the old testament he was working out his plan to bring salvation to all mankind, a surface read will make him look like a power-hungry tyrant. Obviously, he did decide that he wanted us to live a life with suffering, although many of you say that life is great. The thing is, he made sure that Eden would be restored to us when it's all over. Go ahead and question his methods. I understand that atheists are good and wonderful people, who are good to people just because they want to. I'll admit I'm evil because sometimes I need a bit more than myself to love some people. I also get the desire to cheat and steal sometimes. I need the fear of God in me. The problem is that you guys ignore the message of the bible.