Genesis 1

[dgirl1986]

I started a series on my blog where I look at the bible chapter by chapter as an outsider. Decided to post here as well for discussion and debate. To further deepen my understanding etc.

Genesis 1
The Beginning
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1

My Thoughts
- Even when I was theistic, I considered this story to not be literal but there are many who do. There are so many sciencey type “....what” moments in this. Such as the whole apparent day creation (separating light and day), sky separating water above and water below (huh?), he then creates the sun and the moon after he creates day and night?
- He also says let “us” create mankind in our image, which indicates he was not alone. Therefore not the only god which pretty much goes against the rest of the bible I am sure.
- So we cover 6 days in the first chapter. This apparent creation of earth. I always wondered...if he was so omnipotent, omnipresent, omni this and omni that then why didn’t he just create it all in an instant rather than needing to take 6 whole days (for which the first few didn’t even have a sun or moon apparently).
- I wonder where this story comes from. God didnt exactly write the bible.

 

[CMike]

I started a series on my blog where I look at the bible chapter by chapter as an outsider. Decided to post here as well for discussion and debate. To further deepen my understanding etc.

Genesis 1
The Beginning
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1

My Thoughts
- Even when I was theistic, I considered this story to not be literal but there are many who do. There are so many sciencey type “....what” moments in this. Such as the whole apparent day creation (separating light and day), sky separating water above and water below (huh?), he then creates the sun and the moon after he creates day and night?
- He also says let “us” create mankind in our image, which indicates he was not alone. Therefore not the only god which pretty much goes against the rest of the bible I am sure.
- So we cover 6 days in the first chapter. This apparent creation of earth. I always wondered...if he was so omnipotent, omnipresent, omni this and omni that then why didn’t he just create it all in an instant rather than needing to take 6 whole days (for which the first few didn’t even have a sun or moon apparently).
- I wonder where this story comes from. God didnt exactly write the bible.

It's not a story. It's from G-D. It's called the Torah.

The "us" was referring to his angels. The next sentence says that "G-D created man" making it clear that it was only him that did it.

The Torah is the story of the jewish people from the beginning to the time they entered Israel.

It starts with G-D creating everything because he is stating that since it's all his real estate he can give a portion of it to anyone he chooses, such as the jews.

 

[dgirl1986]

It's not a story. It's from G-D. It's called the Torah.

The "us" was referring to his angels. The next sentence says that "G-D created man" making it clear that it was only him that did it.

The Torah is the story of the jewish people from the beginning to the time they entered Israel.

It starts with G-D creating everything because he is stating that since it's all his real estate he can give a portion of it to anyone he chooses, such as the jews.

I am reading the holy bible, as stated in the other thread where you mentioned the Torah.

How do we know that the us was referring to his angels? Where do we get that idea from?

But since man would not have been there to witness the making of everything, where would they get the story from?

 

[CMike]

I am reading the holy bible, as stated in the other thread where you mentioned the Torah.

How do we know that the us was referring to his angels? Where do we get that idea from?

But since man would not have been there to witness the making of everything, where would they get the story from?

You have to understand the context. There was no one else around.

We get the story from the Torah. That is the five books of Moses that G-D gave to Moses for the jews on Mt. Sinai.

The Tanach is the five books of Moses plus prophets and scritpures.

 

[dgirl1986]

You have to understand the context. There was no one else around.

We get the story from the Torah. That is the five books of Moses that G-D gave to Moses for the jews on Mt. Sinai.

The Tanach is the five books of Moses plus prophets and scritpures.

I know that the Torah was the first five books but that is as much as I am aware of. I am looking at it from the christian angle, hence the holy bible, rather than the jewish.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I started a series on my blog where I look at the bible chapter by chapter as an outsider. Decided to post here as well for discussion and debate.

I'm sorry, but I'm still not clear what you wish to discuss.Many many Jews will acknowledge that Genesis 1 is not scientifically 'true'. One need only read the commentaries found in the Torah used by the Reform and Conservative movement. Therefore ... ?

 

[dgirl1986]

I'm sorry, but I'm still not clear what you wish to discuss.Many many Jews will acknowledge that Genesis 1 is not scientifically 'true'. One need only read the commentaries found in the Torah used by the Reform and Conservative movement. Therefore ... ?

Well I am sharing my interperation and am interested to know the interperation of others which often ends up becoming debates.

I question it and see it one way, other will see it a different way. There are many who believe this to be literal, others do not etc.

I hope that makes sense.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

There are many who believe this to be literal, others do not etc.

Yep: many believe it to be literal and others do not. I'm glad we've had this discussion.

But, before I go, a question: Have you ever been interested enough in Genesis 1 to actually read some of the readily available Jewish commentaries on the text?

 

[dgirl1986]

Yep: many believe it to be literal and others do not. I'm glad we've had this discussion.

But, before I go, a question: Have you ever been interested enough in Genesis 1 to actually read some of the readily available Jewish commentaries on the text?

The only commentaries I have heard on the text have been in church, at youth group and on a christian forum. I have not conversed with jews and was not aware there were jewish commentaries.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

A good start might be ...

The JPS Torah Commentary: Genesis

:yes:

​

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I have not conversed with jews and was not aware there were jewish commentaries.

This strikes me as a remarkable admission.

 

[dgirl1986]

This strikes me as a remarkable admission.

Oh? Why is that?

 

[Levite]

The only commentaries I have heard on the text have been in church, at youth group and on a christian forum. I have not conversed with jews and was not aware there were jewish commentaries.

I think that it might be worth your while, before making sweeping decisions or statements about a religious text, to investigate what has been said about and done with that text by the people who actually wrote it in the first place.

 

[dgirl1986]

I think that it might be worth your while, before making sweeping decisions or statements about a religious text, to investigate what has been said about and done with that text by the people who actually wrote it in the first place.

I haven't really been making any sweeping decisions or statements. I was a christian for 11 years so a lot of my current understanding is based on that and what I have been able to interpret after that time. I have gone by what has been taught and what is still being taught. i would assume that what the christians say about it and do with it is in context with its original purpose.

 

[Levite]

I haven't really been making any sweeping decisions or statements. I was a christian for 11 years so a lot of my current understanding is based on that and what I have been able to interpret after that time. I have gone by what has been taught and what is still being taught. i would assume that what the christians say about it and do with it is in context with its original purpose.

The original purpose of the Hebrew Bible has nothing whatsoever to do with Christianity.

 

[dgirl1986]

The original purpose of the Hebrew Bible has nothing whatsoever to do with Christianity.

Originally no because christianity didnt exist then. But it is used by christians today.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I think that it might be worth your while, before making sweeping decisions or statements about a religious text, to investigate what has been said about and done with that text by the people who actually wrote it in the first place.

Don't be silly.

 

[FranklinMichaelV.3]

So quick question, when is it said "Make man in our image" CMike mentioned that it was talking about Angels and others have indicated that it is represented of a spiritual image.

But

1. Why would angels be in the same image as God?

2. Why couldn't it be physical image?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

2. Why couldn't it be physical image?

I don't understand why someone would find such a question answerable and, therefore, meaningful.

 

[FranklinMichaelV.3]

I don't understand why someone would find such a question answerable and, therefore, meaningful.

Shrug because when combined with the events of eating from the tree of Good and Evil, it can be seen as part of the steps to the completion of man?

Man made in the physical form of God but lacking the spiritual/mental/emotional faculties in their fullest, but once they ate of the fruit is when God says "They have become like us knowing the difference between Good and Evil" which can mean that they were to some degree incomplete, or in some form lacking.

It was also for that reason that man was removed from the Garden, so that they would not gain eternal life, which would then truly make them as gods.

Though I suppose there's a lot of speculation at this point, but I'm just trying to wrap my head around the story, breaking from the mold that I had always been told it was about "God made man, Man disobeyed God, and now life sucks"