Our Fleeting Moments in Paradise PDF

## Our Fleeting Moments in Paradise ### Already on its first page The Old Testament presents a problem: how do we read it after Darwin? How do we balance our firm commitment to scripture with scientific discoveries? ### The Genre Question We need to understand what type of literature we are rea...

## Our Fleeting Moments in Paradise ### Already on its first page The Old Testament presents a problem: how do we read it after Darwin? How do we balance our firm commitment to scripture with scientific discoveries? ### The Genre Question We need to understand what type of literature we are reading. Misjudging genre can lead to a comical understanding. ### Our Fleeting Moments in Paradise * Ricky Gervais provides a humorous reinterpretation of "Humpty Dumpty" by taking it literally, showing how absurd it is to interpret figurative language literally. * The morality of the poem can be understood on a proverbial level as warning against pride and hubris. * The term "All the King's Horses" from the nursery rhyme is used in two films about American politics. * John Bunyan's *Pilgrim's Progress* is an allegory filled with symbolic meaning. ### Wolves and Whales * We should be careful not to apply literal interpretations to literature. * The story of _Little Red Riding Hood_ shouldn't be used to teach zoologists about the anatomy of wolves. * _Moby Dick_ is primarily about a man's obsession and not about whales. ### The Internet and the Bible * The internet offers many types of websites, which we read differently depending on their purpose. * The Bible also contains many types of literature. ### Symbolic and Historical Possibilities * Churchgoers are often uncomfortable with the idea of symbolic language in the Bible because they fear it makes the Bible less authoritative. * The Bible contains both literal and symbolic language. * Jesus' resurrection is a historical event, but Jesus's instructions to chop off your hand is figurative. ### Picking and Choosing? * Richard Dawkins criticizes Christians for picking and choosing which parts of the Bible to believe literally. * Christians are not choosing which bits of the Bible to believe - they are understanding the text in its proper context, which sometimes means understanding it literally and sometimes symbolically. * Symbols can be more meaningful than literal interpretations. * We must understand God's words not only historically but also through poetic language. ### The Word of God and History * The Bible can be understood through non-historical lenses. * We should not equate the Word of God with a “historical” record. ### The Limits of Science * Science is not entirely neutral but is often focused on the measurable. * Scientific discoveries have had both positive and negative consequences. * An example of this is medical technology, which has both helped to understand and treat diseases, but also resulted in painful procedures. ### A Bumpy Ride * The Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. * The translation of the Bible into other languages has been complex and challenging. ### Hebrew Names * The names “Adam” and “Eve” have different meanings in the original Hebrew. * Adam is the Hebrew word for “Human.” * Eve means “Life.” * Cain’s name sounds like several Hebrew words including “Get,” “Take,” “ Jealousy,” and “Funeral Song.” * Abel’s name means “Flecting Breath.” * The Hebrew word for “Eden” means “Bliss,” “Delight,” and “Luxury.” ### The Inadequacy of History * We should be able to see these characters as representatives of humanity as a whole. * They are not simply historical figures but also symbols. ### Animals and Trees * The talking snake in Genesis is symbolic. * We should not assume the historicity of a talking snake. ### If God Had Literally Made a Talking Snake * If God had literally made a talking snake, then the text of Genesis would have provided a historical description. ### Flaming Sword * The garden of Eden is cut off from humanity by Cherubim with a flaming sword. * This is probably symbolic language and is not meant to be interpreted literally. ### The Treasures of Genesis 2:4b-4:16 * Adam and Eve represent all of humanity. * Just like Adam and Eve, we have all done things that God has forbidden, and we have fallen into sin. ### Understanding Creation in Biblical Terms * We need to understand creation in biblical terms - the wonder and delight of the world, creaturely contingency, creaturely responsibility, and the gift relationship between creator and creature. ### A Prayer * God is a metaphorical God and his words reflect this. ### For Further Study * See the end of chapter 3. ### Conclusion * Storytelling is a central part of friendship. * The Old Testament is our friend and tells stories that we can learn from. * The Old Testament explains the fundamentals of God, ourselves, and the world. * Genesis 2:4b-4:16 should not be interpreted literally. * These chapters use symbolic language that we can learn from. ### Notes * The text is a combination of direct quotes and paraphrases. * I have chosen to include what I considered to be the most important elements of the text. * Footnotes have been excluded from the text. * It is still recommended to read the full text for a more complete understanding.