RE: The puzzle of Adam

George:
& yes, salvation is not return to a pre-fall paradisal state. We are to
move forward - to "grow up into Christ" (Eph.4:15)

rich:
All of Jewish mysticism is the return to the pre-fall Adamic state. For
Christianity not to contain this element would be a developmental anomaly.

Don P:
Which is why I asked this. Some, like kabbalists, take the view of going
back (to the source) in order to go forward. Most western Christians see us
as going forward only, through Christ. But if one believes in the Trinity,
then Christ was here in the beginning and going back to it would bring you
to him anyway. But if one cannot undo the past, then one is only capable of
moving forward. Perplexing? Or so it appears. But God lives neither in
the future nor the past and therefore I do not believe it is of any
consequence. He is the Alpha and Omega and which ever way you go, you will
find him. If one is looking. The objective from a spiritual standpoint is
to go not to the past nor the future, but to go outside of time to the place
where God, Christ and the Holy Spirit are. Outside of time, there is no
material world with which the flesh may be tempted.

Don P
Received on Mon Nov 29 13:40:40 2004