Freiheit

If by "the entire mainstream Christian church" you mean the Paulian Christians opposed by the Jewish Christians that actually knew Jesus, then yes.

John A. Broussard

What did you mean, then?

Freiheit

It is unfortunate that what makes no sense at all makes sense to you.

"A quick walk through the insane asylum proves that faith means nothing."--Nietzsche

How is believing something by faith not a guess? What makes you think that your belief is the truth? Are you arguing that something is true because you believe it?

Freiheit

Helpmabob,

An interesting claim, but I don't see any basis for it.

Well as long as we are believing things on faith, how are you going to feel when you die believing you are going to heaven because you are a Christian and end up in hell because you aren't a Muslim?

Diogenes the Cynic

In addition to what Freiheit posted on this, I would also say that the core of the Adam and Eve story represented a variation on mythological explanations for human mortality. Snakes often play into those themes as "thieves" of immortality (see Gilgamesh for instance. The theme is also present in Hindu mythology). Snakes were viewed as symbols of immortality because of their seeming ability to die and be "reborn" by the shedding of their skins. The Hebrew version in Genesis expands on that motif but it probably had its origins in local oral variants on mortality motifs.

John A. Broussard

Some New Guinea natives even have a legend that human beings were able to make a choice between being birds who are mortal or snakes who aren't (since they shed their skins and emerge all new and fresh, the native peoples assume they are immortal).

The choice, as with Adam and Eve, was to be birds. But for the NG it was a happy choice, and they decorate themselves with feathers.

Clarice O'C

Thanks Freiheit and Diog. I've saved the links to your answers for future use.

911

Yes; but I am guessing that you will say it makes no sense to you again.

But think about this for a minute:

People revolve their whole lives around what they believe (including those in the asylum.) So you must discard what you do not believe and settle onto something that you bet your life (or death) on.

Once you can do that; you have arrived.

Helpmabob

Freiheit – “We are all in error in some way (all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God)�? is not my claim as such, rather I am paraphrasing Romans 3:10, which in turn comes from Psalm 14. I acknowledge the truth of it in my life.

In direct answer to the thread topic, I think the context shows the following was being alluded to:

The way of Jesus => Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way? [John 14:4]

The truth of the Spirit => "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. [John 15:26]

The life given by the Father => "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. [17:1,2]

Orthodox_Freethinker

The words and deeds of Jesus prevent Him from being a mere mortal.