Lol Farkel- Great thread.You took the thoughts on Adam and Eve right out of my head (maybe that explains my recurrent migraines), with some more points to add. The Bible says that Eve was deceived.She was fooled man, utterly stumped. So why did she die forever and ever (she grieved the holy spirit?) for something she didn't even entirely understand she did? Also, Adam was the head, so why did he take the fruit from Eve on her prompting? He was the boss, he could have said no. Instead he ate, then blamed her when God came calling.But like you said, why did they even have to be tested in the first place if God trusted that he made a perfect human race that would serve him without fail.And why even offer them free will if it wasn't okay to have a difference of opinion?
I love your point on the disappearance of the garden of Eden. I'm with you-if I saw an angel with a flaming sword, you bet your boots I'd be compelled to believe and obey. Why are we supposed to go on blind faith and a vague threat that if we don't comply, we will be roasted at armageddon? Especially when there are numerous versions of what is the "true" way to serve God properly(I've been figuratively killed by people of a number of religions for not believing as they do).It's kind of a paradox-we're supposed want to serve a God that we can't see, while rejecting "abnormal" fleshly erotic feelings that we poor imperfect schmucks end up having occasionally from the things we DO see.And meanwhile try to cultivate a relationship with a God who likes to play hide and seek.
It all gives me a headache. But I still wonder why the concept of God is out there, and if one or more exsist.Did God invent humans, or did humans invent God? It's the chicken and egg thing.
Right now, I'm enjoying an audio version of one of Stephen Hawking's works.Thanks for the recommendation-it makes my drive to school insightful.