Welcome to Gaia! :: Man from dust? People take the bible too literally....

Log In

Forgot your login?

Sign Up

Register
 
GST
Tags: from  dust  people  take  bible 
Export this topic to other sites using WildFire!
forum:26, topic:40293001
1 2 3 >
Okay, here's the deal. Obviously, people do take the bible too literally. I am one to believe what it talks about is more metaphorical, stories, meant to SHOW certain ideas and stuff.

Now, about evolution, a lot of bible thumpers claim that it says man came from dust and therfore cannot have evolved from apes and therefore Darwin is wrong. Now here's my problem, the idea of man being created from dust is FAR from denying evolution, and I'll get to it after I give an example to prove my arguement:


For one, the idea that God created the Earth is seven days doesn't have to be taken literally. What if it wasen't created in seven EARTH days? What if each of these days were in fact centuries, or millenia? It would make sense, being it metaphorical, it could show how the Earth was slowly created during time, different things coming into being in stages, etc. You know what I mean?

Now then, what if evolution/creation of man was the same idea? The idea of the origin of life in evolutionary views is that in the primordial waters of the new planet, s**t happened, and little critters came to life. Eventualyl those critters grew and developped, and eons of evolutionary development later here we are.

Now then, let's look at the bible's idea: God created man from dust, and voila, there he was.

Now then, what if, in non-LITERAL terms, both could have happened, and they mean the same thing, only that one is more indepth than the other. This "dust" could easily be refrence to the "critters", or actually bacteria as it would've been in it's early creation. Man was created from these things. It makes sense, no?

Just like the seven days of Earth's creation could be an analogy for the eons of Earth's creation, why not "man created from dust" being one of "man is descent from bacteria"?

To me, it makes perfect sense, and gives religious people reasons to actually accept these "non-religious" ideas. They can infact co-operate quite nicely, as I have shown. You just gotta understand how to mold the words, you know?


I'm sorry if I'm not very good at explaining this, I never really am anyway. But to me, it would make perfect sense to see the bible explanations used as analogies to scientific explanations, you know?
 
     


"In the end, what seperates a man from a slave? Money? Power? No- A man chooses, a slave obeys." -Andrew Ryan, Bioshock
 
Symbolism, that's the word! Christ, how could I have forgotten that. >.<
     


"In the end, what seperates a man from a slave? Money? Power? No- A man chooses, a slave obeys." -Andrew Ryan, Bioshock
People who don't understand when informed are wont to take things litterally.
 
     
~The ED's cutest.~
-Galveston, O Galveston-
 
It is called symbolism because it is fucking fairy tale. Most people do actually know that. They only pretend to take it literally because it makes fun of the fact that some dumbshits believe in it.
     
I think the old testament was misleading in general. The God of the old testament was cruel and unforgiving. The people of the old testament were sometimes equally as cruel. stare

Of course, the old testament made women either evil or stupid too. stressed

I guess what I'm trying to say is the old testament can really give people the wrong idea. The new testament is a lot more peaceful. 3nodding
 
     
CLIMBER FTW!
 
I have a feeling what it means is that the majority of minerals that make up the human body can be found in the soil.

Personally I think the bible should be taken litterally. Why would anyone make a religeious text where people had to constantly guess and assume. Makes no sense. It's counter productive. People try to find alot of hidden meanings that just aren't there.
     
GrimKusanagi
"GrimKusanagi"
I have a feeling what it means is that the majority of minerals that make up the human body can be found in the soil.

Personally I think the bible should be taken litterally. .

Contradiction, plox.
 
     
science lol

 
"RedIntention"
It is called symbolism because it is fucking fairy tale. Most people do actually know that. They only pretend to take it literally because it makes fun of the fact that some dumbshits believe in it.
     
Kensai_rinji
 
     
 
 
 
Won't you stop and remember me

I always assumed that "Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return" (Genesis 3:19) Was pretty literal. Kind of like: Dust/Dirt on the earth -> Plant grows using nutrients from earth -> plant is eaten (to sustain life) -> Inside mothers womb grows baby from nutrients and stuff -> baby born grows up and dies eventually -> decomposes and returns to dust/earth.

I also like pointing out that evolution takes place in the bible:
After G-d finds Adam and Eve after eating the forbidden fruit he says to the serpent, "...You will crawl on you belly, groveling in the dust as long as you live...."(Genesis 3:14)
If G-d commands the serpent to crawl on your belly, then obviously he did not do that before.
My interpretation is that the snake lost it's legs which is a form of evolution.
At any convenient time
 
 
 
 
     
 
 
Because there was evening and morning, people have trouble taking it anything but literally.
     
So man was dust so it should return dust.
 
     

i own you

kimgofelements
 
So, if we're not made from dust/soil/ground/earth/ash/what-the-feck-ever, then what ARE we made of? And may I note that if you break it down scientifically, what you do list will be components of dirt in some form.
     
"Nymshi"
So, if we're not made from dust/soil/ground/earth/ash/what-the-feck-ever, then what ARE we made of? And may I note that if you break it down scientifically, what you do list will be components of dirt in some form.


We are mostly water. We are a carbon based life form. Our meat is protein. Our bones are calcium. Our blood has a lot of iron in it.

Dirt is mostly broken down organic matter, such as decayed plants. Decaying animals are usually consumed by other critters such as bacteria or bugs. In fact one of the first things that eats you when you die is the bacteria in your colon.

A part that lasts the longest is the bone structure which is made of calcium. Calcium doesn't break down so easily.
 
     
Congrats to Rumiko Takahashi for finally completing Inuyasha! It's been 11 years and 1 month, 558 chapters (56 books). Last chapter released June 15, 2008 by Shonen Sunday. Best wishes for your next work, Takahashi-sama!
 
I think this is the best way of explaining your answer, a wonderful quote from a wonderful popular science book by Bill Bryson. The extract comes from the introduction to the book:

Quote:
Welcome. And congratulations. I am delighted that you could make it. Getting here wasn't easy, I know. In fact, I suspect it was a little tougher than you realize.

To begin with, for you to be here now trillions of drifting atoms had somehow to assemble in an intricate and intriguingly obliging manner to create you. It's an arrangement so specialized and particular that it has never been tried before and will only exist this once. For the next many years (we hope) these tiny particles will uncomplainingly engage in all the billions of deft, cooperative efforts necessary to keep you intact and let you experience the supremely agreeable but generally underappreciated state known as existence.

Why atoms take this trouble is a bit of a puzzle. Being you is not a gratifying experience at the atomic level. For all their devoted attention, your atoms don't actually care about you -- indeed, don't even know that you are there. They don't even know that they are there. They are mindless particles, after all, and not even themselves alive. (It is a slightly arresting notion that if you were to pick yourself apart with tweezers, one atom at a time, you would produce a mound of fine atomic dust, none of which had ever been alive but all of which had once been you.) Yet somehow for the period of your existence they will answer to a single overarching impulse: to keep you you.

- A Short History of Nearly Everything. Bill Bryson.
     
1 2 3 >