Original Sin?

Quote: aceofspades

But yet you claim the Bible is fact!!! Do any academics opine that Adam and Eve is the way in which man came to be…? Do any academics opine that a talking serpent actually existed? Do any academics opine that Noah built an ark upon which two of every single living thing on the planet at that time was harbored? (If so, and evolution is wrong, how did species come to be that were not saved by Noah?)

Quote: FrGamble

I was recently talking to some sixth graders about the use of myth and used the example of Santa Claus. Boy did I get in trouble, who would have thought that sixth graders still believed in Santa Claus with the reindeer and the whole nine yards?!?! Anyway I imagine as adults we can recognize myth when we see it and realize that while not historic fact the writings of Genesis 1-11 are true in a deeper sense. The Bible is not a scientific textbook on evolution it sometimes uses stories and mythical language to convey deep truths that there obviously was no eye-witness accounts of or that teach important lessons. This is obviously only a small part of the Bible, other parts are historical, some parts are poetry, others are a special type of apocalyptic writings, and obviously there are epistles. There are many academics who recognize the truth behind the stories of Adam and Eve, temptation, original sin, and Noah's ark while recognizing these writings are not literal histories.

Quote: FrGamble

There are many academics who recognize the truth behind the stories of Adam and Eve, temptation, original sin, and Noah's ark while recognizing these writings are not literal histories.

Quote: Evenbob

Really? This took 10 sec to find on
Wiki:

In the oldest biblical literature (12th–11th centuries BC), Yahweh is a typical ancient Near Eastern "divine warrior" who leads the heavenly army against Israel's enemies; he and Israel are bound by a covenant under which Yahweh will protect Israel and, in turn, Israel will not worship other gods.[4]:158–159 At a later period, Yahweh functioned as the dynastic cult (the god of the royal house)[5]:69–70 with the royal courts promoting him as the supreme god over all others in the pantheon (notably Baal, El, and Asherah (who is thought by some scholars to have been his consort)).[6][7]:917 Over time, Yahwism became increasingly intolerant of rivals, and the royal court and temple promoted Yahweh as the god of the entire cosmos, possessing all the positive qualities previously attributed to the other gods and goddesses.[5]:69–70 [7]:917 With the work of Second Isaiah (the theoretical author of the second part of the Book of Isaiah) towards the end of the Babylonian exile (6th century BC), the very existence of foreign gods was denied, and Yahweh was proclaimed as the creator of the cosmos and the true god of all the world.

Yahweh was one of many until they made
him the one and only. This is very old
news.

Quote: FrGamble

The Bible is not mostly myth and the story of Jesus was immediately held by the oral tradition that gave rise to the Bible. The first writings of the NT were around 50AD less than 20 years or so after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Also to claim that what surrounded Jesus was urban legend you have to explain how every single one of the Apostles (except John) and so many of the early Church willing went to their deaths boldly proclaiming what they knew to be true. Would they do that for a legend or some made up story?

There are many ways you can check the facts of history. The Bible for example is the most attested text in antiquity bar none and more has been written about Christ and His life than anyone else in history.

Quote: aceofspades

Why are some stories myth and others not? Isn't it all the Word of God as divined through the Holy Spirit to the authors thereof?

Quote: Evenbob

That;s what I've always been told.

Quote: aceofspades

Why are some stories myth and others not? Isn't it all the Word of God as divined through the Holy Spirit to the authors thereof?

Quote: aceofspades

I guess God thinks very highly of his creations—assuming we can figure out what is myth and what is fact...