Just my jibberish thoughts!
Every society has that idea of 'Utopia Lost' and that it will one day be regained.I see in the story of Adam & Eve a sort of Metaphor for the evolution of human Consciousness.They chose to disobey God in some manner, to set their own standards and becomes Gods of their own.This is what sort of sets us apart from the rest of the animals, our ability to reflect on our own nature and emotions and determine our own standards via logic and consciouness.Its sort of a story that emphazises out growth away from base instincts like that in animals and primitive man...towards consciousness.In taking the fruit they were moving Away from Emotional instinct...towards rationality.The Rational mind is great thing, but can cause great untold damage?!
I think i see your point Frenchy, i mean, in life its important to realize that dark side of your own nature...and you can only harnest it and bring it into control by experiencing it and becoming aware of it to some degree.Becoming aware entails making mistakes and therefore suffering.Else it remains there in the dark, unknown and ready to spring on you!.I mean, You cant control a bad temper...until you realise you have one!
So, God creates a being in his own image(for whatever reason)...So i assume we have the same mental qualities of God, a mind similar, we experience similar emotions...and have similar logic capabilities.So, god Creates a being called Lucifer...and Adam and Eve.This creature called Lucifer realises that his nature is capable of defying God, of going against his will....and So he does it, uses it, he Tricks or tells Adam and eve and to Go against God also, all just because he can ...but to me, he must have known it was a suicidal act and that God would punish him, that he'd be finished in doing so!.So,God now has on his hands a rebelious Angel...whos called Gods bluff and decided to live out that dark side of his Nature and defy God.Whats God to do?...he could kill them right there?, but what would be learnt about this side of nature and the actions of Satan and Adam and eve?. I dont know?...the only way i can see things is that, you can tell people what is right, what is wrong, and how they should live their life...but in the end, personnal experience is the best teacher.I like the way Buddhists rationalize the issue of suffering...everthing is just Karma and working towards Nirvanic heaven...this means making mistakes,searching the evil/destructive side of your nature and then bringing it into focus and relation to the postive aspects, and this is done over many lifetimes.Maybe if God exists...maybe?, then Human history will become a great lesson in strengthening Gods creation, maybe one day people will look back at the big picture of human history and see a lesson in it all....but then again, people demonstate a great ability in not being able to learn from History...its the worlds biggest problem, history repeats and repeats.Maybe God is that X factor that will put in all in perspective?.But i dont know, God might have made a big mistake in making us in his own image...even in God's paradise i reckon youd still get people doing evil, and going against God?
I cant Justify all the suffering in the world, why God would allow it is a little beyond me...but still, maybe theres a reason?...we just cant see the big picture????????????????????.Man it'd be good to be in Gods shoes just for once eh, just so could understand what the hell is going on?!
Edited by - Zep on 20 August 2000 22:49:10