JW's speak of humans having free will. They also speak of the "rebelion" in Eden. Are these concepts compatible?
If Adam and Eve did inded have free will, they were free to worship God or not. They were free to eat the forbidden fruit or not. So why was eating the fruit an act of rebelion? Even if death as a consequence of eating the fruit were a just outcome, how was it "rebelion"? How is a making a chioce, if you have free will, rebelious?
Here's another thought: God is supposed to be the personification of love. He is supposed to be our Father. As parents we are admonished to follow his example in how we treat our children. With this in mind think of the scenario in Eden. Picture yourself as the parent, (father/god) and you have two children (Adam and Eve). You place your children in a room full of toys. As you walk out of the room you tell them they are allowed to play with all the toys except the shinny red ball in the corner. You tell them that if they do play with the red ball, you will kill them. Does this sound reasonable to you? Would a loving parent do such a thing?
Take it further: As a parent, have you figured out yet that if you tell a child not to touch something and leave it within his reach, you can be assured he will indeed touch it? And, if that item is dangerous and could harm your child, are you not responsible for his injury or death if he gets a hold of it?
Were Adam and Eve set up? Did God know what the outcome would be? We've been taught he's the creator of us all and therfore knows human nature. How come we humans know the nature of our children but our Heavenly Father/Creator does not?
Some may argue that Adam and Eve were not children. Ok, they had adult bodies. So what? They were still in every sense, innocent, naive and inexperienced. They were no more capable of making life and death desicions then a small child. And for their inexperience they paid with not only their lives but the lives of their offspring. Again, is this the reflection of a loving parent?
So, is there anybody out there who can convince me that the story of Adam and Eve is not an allegory? Can you convince me that even if it is an allegory it teaches something worthwhile? Can you convince me that the god of Genesis is loving and deserves my worship?
And speaking of worship...Do you as a parent want to be worshiped by your children? Do you want them to center their lives around you and do your will always? Would you sentence them to death or torture if they don't worship you? Would you consider a parent to be loving (or sane) if he expected his children to worship him?
Can anybody give me a sound, logical explination why I should not only believe in God, but worship him as well?
changeling