Why Bible facts are not necessarily your facts

[jennifer_bloom]

This week, somebody told me they did not believe the story of Genesis because apples came from Asia and not Africa and I pointed out the bible never said it was an apple tree and that the apple tree might be a symbol for reproductive fertility or access to spiritual affinities and knowledge and not necessarily a physical tree.

I think one reason Christians are sometimes corrupt is that they take things too literally. I believe many historical Christian sources viewed the songs of Solomon as metaphors and symbols and not as glamorized discussions of physical beauty since that would contradict the endorsement of character over vanity which is plated throughout the entire bible.

As an example, the hair might represent cooperation, the breasts might represent provisions, the eyes might represent dreams, the cheeks might represent joy, the pomegranates might represent attention, the wine might represent dreams, the kiss, a symbol for embrace, the mouth a symbol for praise.

When proverbs talks about using wealth to get respect, I believe they refer to emotional and spiritual and moral wealth, not a limo or a mansion, since Jesus said money increases temptation and exposure to unrighteous thoughts.

[aaron210419]

The bible never mentions what the forbidden fruit is, people just assume it's an apple.

[GothBarbie]

I believe it's sex

[aaron210419]

That's an interesting thought, although I'm not too sure since sex is the only way for them to create the entire population. But we'll never know.

[Anonymous]

https://youtu.be/mw-7CJhlbp0

[BUTIMRIGHTTHO]

@jennifer_bloom @GothBarbie @aaron210419
The whole bible is figurative language.

Grace is going back to the Garden of Eden, that state of bliss where we
eat of the fruits of the Spirit, the fruits of the “tree of life.” It is rising out of
human judgment into Righteous Judgment. It is being through with duality,
that old seesaw of good and evil

Eden (see Garden of Eden)—delight; bliss; Garden of Eden; the beautiful,
blissful awareness of being cared for by God.

Garden of Eden (see Eden)—garden of the soul; the kingdom of God within;
living by Grace where all is provided.

Genesis—the beginning; the first book of the Bible.


And so we find in the Garden of Eden allegory: “to eat” means to make
one’s own, to partake of mentally. Today the Adam and Eve of each one of
us must choose whether “to eat” from the “tree of life,” which means to par-
take of the truth about God and man in the garden of the soul, the kingdom of
God within, called the “Garden of Eden” in the Bible; or whether we shall
“eat” from the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil,” our own false judg-
ment in judging by appearances.
When we understand the inner meaning of the Bible, we find that the
things which appear to be physical directives have behind them definite spiri-
tual meanings.

Man misuses his God-given power of
choice, and elects to separate himself from the life of Grace, which the Bible
calls the Garden of Eden. “Much of your pain is self-chosen.” So through
man’s own choice, begins the long journey in Self-Discovery which ends
with John’s vision of paradise regained, the New Jerusalem of Revelation.

it can be seen that only the most limited and restricted viewpoint
would reduce the Garden of Eden to a small hedged in area in Asia. When
people start talking about the Garden of Eden as identified between the Euphrates and the Tigris, they have missed the entire point. The Garden of Eden is
a state of consciousness. It is really the kingdom of Heaven within, a state of
consciousness in which there is perfect bliss, divine harmony, attunement
with God.
The tree is the connecting link between the heaven and the earth, the
invisible and the visible. “. . . To eat of the tree of life” is to partake of the
fruit of the Absolute. Absolute means complete, entire, unconditional. It is
First Cause. There is no opposite to the Absolute because the Absolute is all
in all. Absolute is pure Spirit and the fruit of the Absolute is the fruit of Spirit.

As we partake of, or live in accord with, the attributes of God, here
called the fruit of the Spirit, we live by First Cause which is living by Grace.
We dwell in the Garden of Eden (delight). Therefore, we do not come under
the law of cause and effect and its subsequent suffering.

When we eat of the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil. . .,” we intro-
duce human judgment and we come under the law of cause and effect. This is
living in the realm of sensation, the human or relative. Paul was pretty strong
in his description of the “fruits” of the “tree of knowledge of good and evil. .
.” which he designated “the works of the flesh. . . .”

I g2g

[strateguy632]

good examples about proverbs and the song... the name proverbs indicated not litera and the style of song is symbolism. however stories are not in the style of symbolism. so proverbs isnot an indication on genesis. still genesis did not day apple instead apple is in a greek legend

[Zenit93]

The Bible is highly contestable, yet the most durable piece of literature written in human history. I believe studying the historical context of the New Testament made me a stronger Christian. Questioning the Bible and even the authenticity and legitimacy of it can be healthy.

[collie22]

Yes to many untruths are thought in the church.

[GothBarbie]

I think it's more about what the Bible left out that's the problem. I believe Jesus was married, that Lilith was the first woman and I don't believe the story of Moses and the parting of the sea. And it can be interpreted so many ways.

[Havthrills]

I'm surprised. Not many know about Lilith.

[GothBarbie]

I've always been taught to ask questions about everything

[Havthrills]

That's perfect. Lilith, the first woman and first vampire.

[irifebeck]

I definitely think the bible is stories to help guide people. Not everything in it is historically accurate and fact.