Genesis is historical narrative. It's descriptions are of real things...........
In order to discover
the sacred authors' intention, the reader must take into account the conditions of their time and culture, the literary genres in use at that time, and the modes of feeling, speaking and narrating current at the time. The fact is that truth is differently presented and expressed in the various types of historical writing, in prophetical and poetical texts, and in other forms of literary expression.
Consider "Revelation". It is obviously a far different literary style than the Gospels, just as Psalms is a far different literary style than Exodus or Leviticus.
Much of Genesis is a literary style that uses allegory and imagery to convey the truth. But was there really a talking snake and a tree bearing fruits with mystical powers? Not likely.
Genisis is true, but the truth it is meant to convey is not in a literary style we are use to. In Sacred Scripture, God speaks to man in a human way.
The fact is, Genisis 1 is meant to teach one thing and one thing only: That God created everything out of nothing, that he created man in his own image, that man seperated himself from God through disobedience, and that God immediately set about the long - or at least it seems long to us - process of healing that rift, a process which culminated with the death and resurrection of Christ. That is ALL it teaches.
Everything in Genesis is meant to convey that truth, but it is done in the ancient Semitic style of writing, using allegories, fantastic imagery, and all based on traditions that were handed down for centuries. I do not believe there was a serpent, or a tree, or a garden, etc. These are all images & allegories, in a certain style of writing, meant to convey the fundamental truth I stated above.
. . . only if you believe such nonsense . . .
That too is an ignorant uninformed thing to say.
As I said in my previous post:
........there is Evolutuon, and then there is Evolution out of nothing.
Atheists believes in Evolution out of nothing because they do not believe there is a God. That's ridiculous.
But Evolution is okay. Even the Popes accept the premise of Evolution.
Atheists' Evolution out of nothing belief and the Fundie's 10,000 year old earth (young earth) belief are two sides of the coin of stupidity.
