Re: [asa] Humanity and the Fall: Questions and a Survey

Bethany wrote:
   
  "if we see the fall as the entrance of human sin and the brokenness of human relationship (with God, man, and creation) then we're clear."
   
  Yes, this is the 'non-literal' or ahistorical viewpoint. The question is when to involve history in the biblical account, not just concerning origins (of life and of human beings), but concerning all events, persons, ideas and meanings presented therein. Bethany, does your conception of 'the fall' have no historical referent whatsoever, and if so, then how does it have any binding relevance on the sinfulness of humankind today? We may be 'clear' in a metaphorical sense, but is 'the fall' then just symbolic or figurative?
   
  Such a view as what you've written above is easily called 'just a story,' as 'unscientific,' or worse, as 'an oppressive illusion' invented to make people feel guilty for the purpose of control by church leaders. Please don't confuse me, I don't subscribe to these three latter positions. But they are not so difficult to propose when using the ahistorical perspective you've outlined. You need to show when non-history becomes history (as for example, George M. recently said that [paraphrased] human history begins with Abraham). - Gregory
   
  
Bethany Sollereder <bsollereder@gmail.com> wrote:
  Hey,

Thanks Rich, this is good stuff.

In relation to the fall, I think we should also be explicit about what we mean by "the fall", especially since there are typically ideas floating around about a cosmic, or natural fall, where the entire realm of nature was corrupted. This type of view, science would reject, and rightly so. However, if we see the fall as the entrance of human sin and the brokenness of human relationship (with God, man, and creation) then we're clear.

Bethany
       
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Received on Mon May 5 03:17:51 2008