Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Textcritic
I would suggest that yours is probably the best and most comprehensive definition. I would classify a "Christian" as one who subscribes to the definition, but would necessarily include that a Christian has an opperative doctrine of the incarnation based on the divine nature of Jesus Christ (This is a major point of distinction which seperates Christians from JW's in particular and Mormons). Trinitarianism has been a fundamental doctrine among the vast majority of Christian sects for the better part of the last 1700 years.
I rather like this game!
I did not mean to suggest that the Santa claus myth has no value, but it hardly compares in its theological importance to the flood narrative (which is coincidently very old; perhaps the most ancient tradition in all of scripture!). Like all traditions in the Bible. the Flood of Noah has undergone a very lengthy and complex development in its religious function and theological application. It forms the basis for most segments in rabbinic Judaism (and has functioned similarly for the Zadokites, Essenes and Samaritans) for their theology regarding original sin and the fall of mankind. It served as a programmatic explanation of the origin of language and race, and was the foundation for the original covenant with Moses. For Christians, the Noahic covenant is critical to offset the exclusivity of the later Mosaic covenant.
How would I explain all of this to a six year old (going on seven)? Thank God I do not have to yet! The best explanation I could come up with on the spot is that first of all, neither do I believe the Noiahic myth globally, nor literally. This myth (like ALL myths) has an historical basis, as this was the only method for historiography in the ancient, pre-literate, pre-scientific, pre-linear world. Whether or not there was a Noah,m or whether or not there was a flood (I believe there probably was a major regional flood upon which the myth is based)is really beside the point. The point is that Noah was declared righteous (i.e. in good standing with God) as a result of his faith (Hebrews 11 provides the classic Christian application for the Genesis 6 narrative).
Whup! Look at the time1 I need to go pick up my son from scholl, so I will need to continue this later...
|
Hope you got to the school on time....
Hebrews and Genesis..lots of good things to teach our kids...like...
Hebrews 11
11:6 But
without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
So this would mean its impossible to please God unless you are a Christian?
11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
In Genesis (13:15, 15:18, 17:8) and Exodus (32:13) God promises Abraham and his descendants "the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession." But here Paul admits that God's promise went unfulfilled.
Genesis 6
6:2 That
the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
How many sons does God have? Do Angels have sex? Who were the Sons of God?
6:5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
God decides to kill all living things because the human imagination is evil. Later (8:21), after he kills everything, he promises never to do it again because the human imagination is evil.
6:7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
The Loving Lord is angry. He decides to destroy all humans, beasts, creeping things, fowls, and "all flesh wherein there is breath of life." He plans to drown them all.
6:9 These are the generations of Noah:Noah
was a just man and perfect Noah walked with God. in his generations, and
He didn't seem so just and perfect when he was drunk and naked in front of his sons (9:20-21). Has there ever been a just person?
6:13 And God said unto Noah,
The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
God was angry because "the earth was filled with violence." So he killed every living thing to make the world less violent?
A whole bunch of skeptical passages...not? Are they taught as Myths?