Eternal punishment is pointless.

[The Valkyrie]

If you notice your child is about to touch the fire, do you just let him do so because you "respect his freedom"?

Well, the only other option is to shoot him through the head. Right, GC?

Nah.

Your kid touching a fire will give them an idea of what burning eternally in hell is like and therefore will learn obedience.

[KevinM1]

The "Tree of Knowledge" part of it always gives me a chuckle. It's literally God punishing his creations for daring to obtain knowledge. If that isn't an apropos description of religion itself, I don't know what is.

Beyond that, the story is just dumb. Why did God put the tree there? Why did he allow the snake to live there? Why is that minor transgression responsible for humans to never gain access to the Garden ever again? Although, that last part at least fits his assholish "transgress against me, and you'll pay for it eternally" schtick he's partial to. You know, when he's not ordering/committing genocide or fratricide.

[Whateverist]

#5 If we don't have the right, whose responsibility is it to inform us? Yours? If God doesn't like it, He can let me know directly. Better yet, He can kiss my ass.

God chose to work through man, it's man's responsibility to inform and man's responsibility to listen to those God's working through. Why just why did you have to end your questioning with such a response, was it to irritate me?

GC

Yeah, probably. Maybe just a bad day. Sorry about that. I withdraw the last question. You might have noticed I left it off of that thread I created in the Christian section using the first four questions.

I do still wonder why God, if such a thing existed, would leave out whatever it is that permits himself to have both free will and a non-sinful nature. Man's nature was His doing according to you.

[The Valkyrie]

God chose to work through man, it's man's responsibility to inform and man's responsibility to listen to those God's working through. Why just why did you have to end your questioning with such a response, was it to irritate me?

GC

Yeah, probably. Maybe just a bad day. Sorry about that. I withdraw the last question. You might have noticed I left it off of that thread I created in the Christian section using the first four questions.

I do still wonder why God, if such a thing existed, would leave out whatever it is that permits himself to have both free will and a non-sinful nature. Man's nature was His doing according to you.

But many people claim god is working through them. Why can't god shut up the false prophets?

Powerless?
Doesn't care?
Doesn't exist?

[Whateverist]

Why can't god shut up the false prophets?

Powerless?
Doesn't care?
Doesn't exist?

I'll have to go with door number three.

[Godscreated]

God chose to work through man, it's man's responsibility to inform and man's responsibility to listen to those God's working through. Why just why did you have to end your questioning with such a response, was it to irritate me?

GC

Yeah, probably. Maybe just a bad day. Sorry about that. I withdraw the last question. You might have noticed I left it off of that thread I created in the Christian section using the first four questions.

I do still wonder why God, if such a thing existed, would leave out whatever it is that permits himself to have both free will and a non-sinful nature. Man's nature was His doing according to you.

Actually I wondered why you left it out, the question did not offend me, it was the remark after the question, all was good up to the very last words., I enjoyed answering them.

GC

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The "Tree of Knowledge" part of it always gives me a chuckle. It's literally God punishing his creations for daring to obtain knowledge. If that isn't an apropos description of religion itself, I don't know what is.

Beyond that, the story is just dumb. Why did God put the tree there? Why did he allow the snake to live there? Why is that minor transgression responsible for humans to never gain access to the Garden ever again? Although, that last part at least fits his assholish "transgress against me, and you'll pay for it eternally" schtick he's partial to. You know, when he's not ordering/committing genocide or fratricide.

You are very deficient in your knowledge of the Bible. God never had a problem with knowledge, it was the kind of knowledge they acquired He had a problem with and the disobedience to get that knowledge.
Why wouldn't He, He created the garden so is seems sensible that God could put whatever He wanted to in the garden.
Well it wasn't a snake, snakes do not have legs, have you even read scripture, you're get things all wrong. The answer to the serpent question is the same as above.
Minor transgression, when did God make you a judge of what is major or minor, disobedience was major because it brought sin into the creation and as a result death came. The garden will be enjoyed by all who accept Christ as their savior.
By your last comment I'm guessing you didn't even know about the NT.

GC

[Nope]

You are very deficient in your knowledge of the Bible. God never had a problem with knowledge, it was the kind of knowledge they acquired He had a problem with and the disobedience to get that knowledge.

Yes, it was "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil"

Until Adam and Eve ate from its fruit they wouldn't have understood right or wrong which would have put them on the mental level of very young toddlers.

Minor transgression, when did God make you a judge of what is major or minor, disobedience was major because it brought sin into the creation and as a result death came.

Yes, we can judge your mythical god just like we can say that Zeus was a rapist or Loki was a troublesome trickster. Even if your god was real, we could still judge him because it is obvious that we wouldn't be able to judge him if he didn't want us to do so. He supposedly made our brains function to ask questions. I invite you to judge your god. Go ahead. If your god is as vast and powerful as you claim, how is judging him going to hurt or even bother him?

[abaris]

Minor transgression, when did God make you a judge of what is major or minor, disobedience was major because it brought sin into the creation and as a result death came.

Minor problem there. They ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. So before they ate, they didn't know the difference. So how would they know about obedience being good or evil? They obviously couldn't make up their own mind about that, since that knowledge was lacking.

[KevinM1]

Moreover, it implies that god is weaker than sin, since their eating of the forbidden fruit is what caused sin to enter the garden to begin with. And, again, the implication is clear - knowledge is tantamount to sin, and something god cannot undo for some reason. He can create existence, but his plans are permanently mucked up by hairless apes. Amazing. And if that's the case, the garden is an incredibly flawed design for a perfect being. You'd think the all mighty (tee hee) would simply make the tree inaccessible. Put a moat of lava around it, or something.

Is there anything sky daddy can do right?

[Godscreated]

You are very deficient in your knowledge of the Bible. God never had a problem with knowledge, it was the kind of knowledge they acquired He had a problem with and the disobedience to get that knowledge.

Yes, it was "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil"

Until Adam and Eve ate from its fruit they wouldn't have understood right or wrong which would have put them on the mental level of very young toddlers.

You do have proof about this statement, right? Let's see it. The Bible says different than you and the only place to get your info is the source.

Minor transgression, when did God make you a judge of what is major or minor, disobedience was major because it brought sin into the creation and as a result death came.

Yes, we can judge your mythical god just like we can say that Zeus was a rapist or Loki was a troublesome trickster. Even if your god was real, we could still judge him because it is obvious that we wouldn't be able to judge him if he didn't want us to do so. He supposedly made our brains function to ask questions. I invite you to judge your god. Go ahead. If your god is as vast and powerful as you claim, how is judging him going to hurt or even bother him?

Tell me how does one judge something they do not believe exist and still claim sanity? Actually I ask God questions, not to judge but to learn, you might want to try doing the same.

GC

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Minor transgression, when did God make you a judge of what is major or minor, disobedience was major because it brought sin into the creation and as a result death came.

Minor problem there. They ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. So before they ate, they didn't know the difference. So how would they know about obedience being good or evil? They obviously couldn't make up their own mind about that, since that knowledge was lacking.

There was no lack of understanding on their part, why don't you read the story, you would learn different than what you believe, or are you afraid of the Bible or, is it you're afraid of honesty. People who claim to be so smart and logical seem to disguise their ability of not understanding a story to their peers, however we Christians are not fooled by your lack of understanding.

GC

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Moreover, it implies that god is weaker than sin, since their eating of the forbidden fruit is what caused sin to enter the garden to begin with. And, again, the implication is clear - knowledge is tantamount to sin, and something god cannot undo for some reason. He can create existence, but his plans are permanently mucked up by hairless apes. Amazing. And if that's the case, the garden is an incredibly flawed design for a perfect being. You'd think the all mighty (tee hee) would simply make the tree inaccessible. Put a moat of lava around it, or something.

Is there anything sky daddy can do right?

Why, because He loved Adam and Eve so much He gave them the right to choose. Would you have God to treat you as a mindless twit, by the way you reason it seems that would suit you fine. The only hairless ape are those who desire to be less than what God can make out of them.

GC