"I didn't know the Tigris was that old..."

[jpm (Phil McCurdy)]

Was Jesus talking about exegesis of Genesis? I guess I better reread that.

Have a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

[J.E.S (Jonathan)]

A blessed christmas to you as well!

I figured that one semi-quote-mined Bible passage deserves another!

[Leonana (Sherry)]

Perhaps read “The Lost World of Genesis One” by John Walton. I believe he explains Genesis 1 as setting up God’s spiritual kingdom, and not an earthly one.

[AMWolfe (Andrew M. Wolfe)]

Thanks, Sherry.

It’s almost embarrassing being a regular contributor on this forum and admitting I haven’t read Walton yet, but I haven’t. It’s high time!

[huebnerdon (Don Huebner)]

Back to the Tigris. Textual analysis readily shows that Gen 2:10-14 Garden of Eden story is a later insertion by the editor combining the two different creation narratives. The function is to show that all waters, and thus life, originate in the Garden. This aligns the earlier Gen 2 parochial narrative with the later Gen 1 universal narrative so both show God as being the divinity of the universe. The late David Neiman of Boston College made a cogent case for this almost half a century ago. So this reference to the Tigris thus dates from the time of the redaction in the Persian period. Cheers.

[SteveDB (Steve Buckley)]

Here’s a novel thought.
How about telling her that you simply don’t believe the bible, and that you have convinced yourself that people know more than God does.
This will keep you in line with the statement you’d made, regarding not sure if you are able to answer the question she may have, while allowing her to still believe that God knows more than people do.

[beaglelady]

I haven’t read Walton either.

[beaglelady]

@SteveDB

Here’s a novel thought.
How about telling her that you simply don’t believe the bible, and that you have convinced yourself that people know more than God does.
This will keep you in line with the statement you’d made, regarding not sure if you are able to answer the question she may have, while allowing her to still believe that God knows more than people do.

Merry Grinchmas to you!

[AMWolfe (Andrew M. Wolfe)]

@SteveDB

Here’s a novel thought.
How about telling her that you simply don’t believe the bible, and that you have convinced yourself that people know more than God does.
This will keep you in line with the statement you’d made, regarding not sure if you are able to answer the question she may have, while allowing her to still believe that God knows more than people do.

You do realize, right, that this style of discussion doesn’t actually help anyone?

If I were hanging onto faith for dear life, this sort of comment would actually push me away from faith. See, people who have ceased believing in the Bible (of which I am not one, thank God!) can’t just one day up and decide to believe it. It’s not that easy. Meanwhile, caustic, smart alecky comments on the internet just make them decide church must just not really be the place for them. After all, church folks are evidently simplistic, unwelcoming, judgmental folks who never suffer from doubt and so maybe there’s no place for doubters amongst such a holy crowd.

Luckily for you, my faith is actually pretty strong!

[Edit: typo]

[Christy (Christy Hemphill)]

@AMWolfe

It’s almost embarrassing being a regular contributor on this forum and admitting I haven’t read Walton yet, but I haven’t. It’s high time!

If we’re confessing, I’ve never read The Language of God.

[jpm (Phil McCurdy)]

Heresy! Build the bonfire!
Seriously, I am constantly reminded here of how limited my reading experience has been. I have been pretty all consumed in my primary profession, and it is a real joy to be exposed to many of the theologians and such that just never get mentioned in Baptist circles.

[gbrooks9 (George Brooks)]

@jpm

a real joy to be exposed to many of the theologians and such that just never get mentioned in Baptist circles.

@jpm

Baptists? Never heard of 'em …