talking snake

[justin]

If you believe in the bible how would you defend the Genesis story? It is beyond crazy to believe in these stories so why does that not affect your beliefs in this religion?

[catfish]

I'd defend ity by pointing out that you don't have to take it literally.
And it was a serpent, not a snake...
.

[justin]

I'd defend ity by pointing out that you don't have to take it literally.
And it was a serpent, not a snake...
.

Why Do you not take it literal?
And yes i know it was called a serpent, which is a mythological talking snake......so my statement stands

[Brakeman]

http://www.infidelguy.com/members/infide...Satan.html

"One big problem is that, if Satan was the serpent, why is God punishing him to be a snake.. and why would the Serpent be called a "nachash" a snake, if he wasn't one yet?"

[Confused Ape]

And yes i know it was called a serpent, which is a mythological talking snake...

Serpent definition from Biology Online

1. (Science: zoology) Any reptile of the order ophidia; a snake, especially a large snake.

The serpents are mostly long and slender, and move partly by bending the body into undulations or folds and pressing them against objects, and partly by using the free edges of their ventral scales to cling to rough surfaces. Many species glide swiftly over the ground, some burrow in the earth, others live in trees. A few are entirely aquatic, and swim rapidly. See ophidia, and fang.

Serpents only talk in myths and legends.

There's a recent discussion about the Genesis story and snakes in this topic - What things causes stupidityy,ignorance? . Reading through it will save everyone from having to post everything again.

[catfish]

נחש

v. to guess
nm. snake, serpent

What if the "snake" in the story was just human reasoning, a guess?

[Minimalist]

The definitive answer.

http://www.landoverbaptist.org/talkingsnake.html

Summary: The Talking Snake Theory is a fact-based historical Creation Science book for Christian youngsters. Readers journey back 6,000 years ago in time to the actual date when God created the first two humans from a pile of dirt and a spare rib.

[Cyberman]

נחש

v. to guess
nm. snake, serpent

What if the "snake" in the story was just human reasoning, a guess?

Then it would make even less sense in context. You know you're officially over the rainbow when a talking snake becomes the more rational of the available options.

[Confused Ape]

נחש

v. to guess
nm. snake, serpent

What if the "snake" in the story was just human reasoning, a guess?

The other topic goes into detail about snake symbolism.

Why does Genesis make it sound as if the serpent had legs before it was cursed?

Genesis

Genesis 3:14 And Jehovah God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, cursed art thou above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

Maybe somebody in the dim and distant past found a fossil like this one but with both legs visible.

Studying how snakes got legless

A 95-million-year-old fossil is helping scientists understand how snakes lost their legs through evolutionary time.

Found in Lebanon, the specimen is one of only three examples of an ancient snake with preserved leg bones.

One rear leg is clearly visible but researchers had to use a novel X-ray technique to examine another leg hidden inside the fossil rock.

[catfish]

Ape, I liked your interpretation from the other thread:
"This strikes me as God giving them a chance to take responsibility for their actions but they behave like kids who try to put the blame on someone else even though everyone knows who did the dirty deed. It's all part of the learning process, however."

Some like to say it's literal and that their "sin" was one of disobedience, but I see it as symbolism of mankind becoming self-aware...
I too see it as Adam and Eve not taking responsibilty for their own actions. However, I also see it as them becoming aware of things that "weren't", I.E. they weren't clothed, they weren't responsible and so on...
Everything was supposedly "good" before they "ate" of the tree. I see it as them being one with nature until they became self-aware, then the garden went to hell in a handbasket. Everything that was "good" became dualistic. I can also see the so-called punishments as simply being the consequense of a new thought process. Of course your interpretations may vary, but I'm not forcing anyone to adhere to my thoughts. (this cherrypicker can also see the creation account as an almost accurate metaphor for the big-bang too)
.