Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Dr_Paine · 07-22-2004, 03:43 AM

Where did Cain go, after God banished him?

I realize this is a familiar, perhaps hackneyed, objection to the veracity of Genesis; nonetheless, I am curious: Does anyone have any links or inerrantist apologetic answers to this question?

Where did his wife come from? Evidently, this land east of Eden had a developed civilization.

Also, who was Cain worried about killing him? Wasn't his family the only clan around?

I realize that the question may be dismissed as irrelevant by those who believe that the Bible need not be inerrant in order to be "true".

I am addressing the inerrantist perspective. How does one explain this?

HLKern · 07-22-2004, 04:01 AM

Look to the Scopes Trial.

Aaron Thrash · 07-22-2004, 04:09 AM

According to some Historians Adam had many children, and lived to be 930. So, since the Bible never exactly speaks of when Cain was married; it is believed that he married one of his Sisters. Or one of his Nieces.

Incest, a game the whole family can play!!

-A

Dr_Paine · 07-22-2004, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron Thrash

... Incest, a game the whole family can play!!

Hey, it worked for Abraham (Sara was his half-sister, I believe)

And Lot; remember his two daughters got him drunk and laid him in order to preserve his seed.

Although many defenders use his drunkeness as an excuse for his incest, I have a hard time believing he was so drunk he bedded his daughters without knowing it. I've been pretty drunk in my younger days, but.........

Good God, how did he keep it up in those pre-Viagra days if he was so drunk he didn't know what he was doing?

I see your point Aaron Thrash. Those who claim Adam lived 930 years do have a convenient "explanation."

Here is the NIV version of the curse and departure of Cain:

Quote:

Genesis 4:10-15
Emphasis Added

10 The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground.
11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth."
13 Cain said to the LORD , "My punishment is more than I can bear.
14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me."
15 But the LORD said to him, "Not so; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over." Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the LORD's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/b...sh&version=NIV

Aaron Thrash · 07-22-2004, 05:09 AM

Here's a decent answer from: ChristianAnswers.Net

-A

Rowdy · 07-22-2004, 05:42 AM

Cain didn't go anywhere because he DIDN'T EXIST.
Problem solved.

Dr_Paine · 07-22-2004, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rowdy

Cain didn't go anywhere because he DIDN'T EXIST.
Problem solved.

I agree. The entire story of Cain and Abel seems to be a myth designed to explain the origin of intertribal conflict.

The motif of sibling rivalry emerges again in the stories of Jacob/Esau and Isaac/Ishmael.

However, I was interested to see how an inerrantist rationalizes the problem.

Toto · 07-22-2004, 09:13 AM

Some questions keep coming up again.

This sounds like a variation of Who did Cain marry?

Llyricist · 07-22-2004, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr_Paine

I agree. The entire story of Cain and Abel seems to be a myth designed to explain the origin of intertribal conflict.

I think it fits the idea of agriculture triumphing over nomadic husbandry.

Dr_Paine · 07-22-2004, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

Some questions keep coming up again.

This sounds like a variation of Who did Cain marry?

Thanks Toto; I did a "Cain" search, but only reviewed the results back through June.

07-22-2004, 03:43 AM	#1
Dr_Paine Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 533	Where did Cain go? Where did Cain go, after God banished him? I realize this is a familiar, perhaps hackneyed, objection to the veracity of Genesis; nonetheless, I am curious: Does anyone have any links or inerrantist apologetic answers to this question? Where did his wife come from? Evidently, this land east of Eden had a developed civilization. Also, who was Cain worried about killing him? Wasn't his family the only clan around? I realize that the question may be dismissed as irrelevant by those who believe that the Bible need not be inerrant in order to be "true". I am addressing the inerrantist perspective. How does one explain this?

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07-22-2004, 04:01 AM	#2
HLKern Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 49	Look to the Scopes Trial.

07-22-2004, 04:09 AM	#3
Aaron Thrash Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 1,302	According to some Historians Adam had many children, and lived to be 930. So, since the Bible never exactly speaks of when Cain was married; it is believed that he married one of his Sisters. Or one of his Nieces. Incest, a game the whole family can play!! -A

07-22-2004, 05:09 AM	#5
Aaron Thrash Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 1,302	Here's a decent answer from: ChristianAnswers.Net -A

07-22-2004, 05:42 AM	#6
Rowdy Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 49	Cain didn't go anywhere because he DIDN'T EXIST. Problem solved.

07-22-2004, 09:13 AM	#8
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	Some questions keep coming up again. This sounds like a variation of Who did Cain marry?

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