John Page

...because the idea of god was created by man, who naturally sees himself as the purpose for which eveything was created.

Cheers, John

[ November 30, 2002: Message edited by: John Page ]</p>

Kenny

Hello,

I have other topics I need to get back to when I can, so I doubt I stick around here. But, here’s my 2 cents.

Um, because “it is not good for the man to be alone.”

Being created in God’s image does not entail being an exact replica of God. We are created in the image of God in the sense that we reflect certain of God’s moral and spiritual qualities – thus we are reflections of God, not replicas of God. God is not a sexual being, but He is a relational being. Since God is Triune, interpersonal relationships occur within the very depths of God’s being. Thus, it is interesting that the first introduction of human beings as being created in God’s image is immediately followed by a mention of human beings as existing in an interpersonal relationship: “God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female, He created them”(Gen 1:27) (and note that this verse includes both male and female as being created in God’s image, not merely the male).

Um, no. The sexual intimacy which occurs between a man and a women in the relational context which marriage provides is a beautiful thing. The fact that lust (in the morally negative, objectifying of another person, sense – sexual desire itself is both healthy and natural), jealousy, and other morally undesirable dispositions are often associated with human sexuality is the result of the corruption of human sexuality by sin rather than human sexuality itself being the cause of those things. Human sexuality in the context of marriage is, in and of itself, a good (very good!) and beautiful thing – a gift which God has given to humanity, not just so that humanity could reproduce itself, but for the development of intimacy between a husband and wife and for their mutual pleasure and enjoyment.

Or, perhaps, God could accomplish all these things with a woman without the need of a man (let’s be balanced here)! But, as a married man myself, I rather appreciate the way that God chose to set things up!

Well, honestly, I wonder what the motivations and expectations in bringing this topic up are. I mean, is this supposed to be an “I gotchya!” for theists? Do you really believe that this is something which challenges a theistic worldview? I mean, the problem of evil, a Cantorian argument against omniscience – at least this gives us theists something to work at, but with topics like this, there are only misunderstandings to correct. I’m not being sarcastic here; I am genuinely curious.

God Bless,
Kenny

[ November 30, 2002: Message edited by: Kenny ]</p>

Sabine Grant

Hello jobar! I thought I had covered the issue regarding Eve being made in God's Image. Going thru the verses I quoted, I interpreted them as not endorsing the belief that Eve was made in God's Image. Adam was. Then from Adam's genes, Eve popped up. So, personaly I endorse the concept that Eve was a different being than Adam( and indeed we are). She was cloned from Adam ( so to speak) but Adam is the first one to have recieved the Image of God as God breathed His Spirit into Him ( the living being with a soul) It makes sense to me but I can see how it can be confusing to someone else.
Also as you read thru chapter 2, you will notice that Adam is given specific roles and tasks over creation ( continuing in 3). Eve is added as the helper. But not the initial creature accountable for the maintenance of Eden.
It is obvious that they have different roles. And they were created in a specific order. Adam first. Eve second.
Also notice that God gave life to Adam thru Himself directly as " he breathed into his nostrils". No mention of Him doing the same with Eve.
So I cannot see anything consistant with the idea that God created Eve in His Image in the same way He created Adam.
Notice also that Adam is the one who declares that Eve is flesh from his flesh and bones from his bones... no mention that God declares her as flesh from His flesh.
I actualy find Adam's response to Eve being presented to him as a reassuring comment on his part that the woman is very important to his well being and equal to him as his helpmate. I mean there she is ,created to help man govern the rest of creation. That is a pretty valuable role for a human being. To be part of such an endeavor! Of course my perception of the creation of Eve differs from the standard christian perception where she is depicted as the " one who made man sin" etc etc..

Now imagine that the same feminist movements you described used my interpretation to remind men that God did not think Adam could do it all on his own!!!! some sort of " hey buddy... I am your necessary complement to accomplish any task of yours."
Just a different perspective on how the Bible can become handy.....

Mageth

Sabine, 'bisexual' is a synonym for hermaphrodite...

The proper term for hermaphroditism is "intersexed" or "intersexual."

Mad Kally

In my college anatomy class, there were quite a few students who believed that men and women had a different number of ribs...

Doubting Didymus

I've heard that certain college students have some lower ribs removed so that they can bend further at the hips. I have no idea what for,...

Answerer

Wow, a highly imaginative post. But Kenny, what makes you so sure that God thinks in this way?

Oxymoron

Kenny:
You just can't resist it, can you? You said in the very sentence denying God's gender-specifity that God is a He.

Let me offer two definitions of maleness:

(1) social: a gender role (eg breadwinner, toilet unblocker)
(2) biological: one sex of a bisexual species whose gametes are stored and transferred via intercourse in considerably larger numbers than the other sex's.

Are there any other definitions?

Now which type of 'he-ness' do you refer to? If (1) then realise that social roles are utterly dependent on culture, education and history. Male roles are different now than what they were 100 years ago and certainly 2000+ years ago. Is God really so fickle?

Or do you mean (2), the only really universal definition of male? I ask again: does God have penis and testicles, if so what are they for? And if not, exactly how can gender be assigned?

[ December 02, 2002: Message edited by: Oxymoron ]</p>

jess

all KJV:


1:jer 7

1:jer 17-19

1 jer 25

Believed to be vestigial biblical evidence of Yahweh's wife. She is more prevelant in Jewish tradition, but she is in the bible.

Tristan Scott

Jung thinks that role of the females in many of the god myhtologies has it's root in man's subconscious feelings towards his own mother and father figures. The mythical hero's mother is often a virgin out of the disapointment that our own mothers are not.