This is the same interpretation I've come to regarding my understanding of the Bible as it relates to the religious, societal and conscious evolution of humans since the early ages.
I also believe that there are many things mentioned in the bible that describe the technology and methods we have today but in terms limited by the authors' understanding given the times in which they lived. This results in all kinds of wild and magical sounding tales that aren't that far-fetched when one looks at the "magic" we're all capable of doing on a daily basis.
Not to discount the actual efficacy of miraculous acts; I have faith that this sort of power exists and we catch glimpses of it even in these depraved times, but I also understand how we are not worthy of wielding such power and likely have never been. Fortunately, we've been provided a savior by the Most High who was determined to be the only human worthy of such things—who then was persecuted and killed by the same unworthy heathens with whom we share blood.
I digress: much of our humanity, to me, boils down to making the conscious choice of doing good in the world instead of evil, and that choice seems to follow the same binary nature (balance) as the rest of the unknown universe (life/death, matter/antimatter, good/evil, G_d/Satan) and we've been given the name of the side of good. The choice is then up to us, hence our free will to choose.
I believe that this, through Jesus' sacrifice, is our atonement for the original sin; we've been given the knowledge of good and evil after partaking from the fruit from the tree and must now make our choice.
Sorry for the rant, I just love nerding out over biblical interpretation, it seems!
I enjoyed all the thoughtful interpretations brought about in this thread. I haven't read much of the Bible since I was very young, but have had similar thoughts with the passages I have read. Look forward to reading more soon (trying to find an heirloom Bible in storage first).
This is the same interpretation I've come to regarding my understanding of the Bible as it relates to the religious, societal and conscious evolution of humans since the early ages.
I also believe that there are many things mentioned in the bible that describe the technology and methods we have today but in terms limited by the authors' understanding given the times in which they lived. This results in all kinds of wild and magical sounding tales that aren't that far-fetched when one looks at the "magic" we're all capable of doing on a daily basis.
Not to discount the actual efficacy of miraculous acts; I have faith that this sort of power exists and we catch glimpses of it even in these depraved times, but I also understand how we are not worthy of wielding such power and likely have never been. Fortunately, we've been provided a savior by the Most High who was determined to be the only human worthy of such things—who then was persecuted and killed by the same unworthy heathens with whom we share blood.
I digress: much of our humanity, to me, boils down to making the conscious choice of doing good in the world instead of evil, and that choice seems to follow the same binary nature (balance) as the rest of the unknown universe (life/death, matter/antimatter, good/evil, G_d/Satan) and we've been given the name of the side of good. The choice is then up to us, hence our free will to choose.
I believe that this, through Jesus' sacrifice, is our atonement for the original sin; we've been given the knowledge of good and evil after partaking from the fruit from the tree and must now make our choice.
Sorry for the rant, I just love nerding out over biblical interpretation, it seems!
I enjoyed all the thoughtful interpretations brought about in this thread. I haven't read much of the Bible since I was very young, but have had similar thoughts with the passages I have read. Look forward to reading more soon (trying to find an heirloom Bible in storage first).
Thanks for nerding out.