PaulS Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Genesis 3:24 "So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden the Cherubim, and the flame of a sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life." Just wondering what people's take is on this passgae, or how they may have heard it explained by literalist bible-believers. I am wondering what those that literally believe Adam & Eve were persons who lived God's designated National Park on Earth, believe happened to Eden after God kicked man out. The passage seems to paint the picture that Eden should still exist somewhere as God did not destroy it but rather just kicked man out and then barred re-entry. To save any time, I myself believe the story is a well-intentioned myth used to explain why bad things happen to people. Would value your thoughts. Cheers Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neon Genesis Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 I highly recommend this BBC documentary, The Garden of Eden, where they argue that the real Garden of Eden is the Jerusalem temple itself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1scTuY4mHg&list=FLbab1aTbfPA1j0SvPncGeyQ&index=15&feature=plpp_video Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glintofpewter Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 I have seen this. It is interesting and well worth thinking about as long as it doesn't become the Only story. Garden of Eden is much richer than. This adds to the richness of the story. Dutch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeW Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 I am wondering what those that literally believe Adam & Eve were persons who lived God's designated National Park on Earth, believe happened to Eden after God kicked man out. There are some who claim that the Garden of Eden is in Jedda, Saudi Arabia since Jedda means grandmother in Arabic and the place was so named in honor of Eve. Others claim that Aden (spelled the same as Eden) in Yemen is the historical home. In either place, the tree of good and evil has apparently been long since cut down Given the meaning of the names of the characters, Adam (mankind) and Eve (life), I think the ancient Israelites would have understood it as myth. I personally think it is a coming-of-age story about temptation, obedience and responsibility once we understand the difference between good and evil. I can imagine an ancient story teller sitting around the campfire with a group of teens reminding them of what happens now that they know right from wrong and are tempted to try that which is forbidden. George Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tariki Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Unable to resist quoting again the lines of W.H.Auden.............. For the garden is the only place there is but we will not find it until we have searched everywhere and found nowhere that is not a desert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NORM Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 I don't care about the garden. I just want to see these dudes with the flaming swords!! NORM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neon Genesis Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 When I was a fundamentalist, I had always assumed the Garden of Eden was destroyed along with the rest of the Earth during the flood in the Noah's Ark story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yvonne Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 Norm, I bet if you go to Patmos and sample the mushrooms, you'll see flaming swords. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NORM Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 Norm, I bet if you go to Patmos and sample the mushrooms, you'll see flaming swords. Good one, Yvonne! LOL NORM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neon Genesis Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 Or you could just go to a gay pride parade where I'm sure there's lots of flaming swords there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minsocal Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 Eden has gone the same way as past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulS Posted April 3, 2012 Author Share Posted April 3, 2012 Eden has gone the same way as past. Could you elaborate please Myron? I'm sorry, it's a bit cryptic for me. Cheers Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulS Posted April 3, 2012 Author Share Posted April 3, 2012 When I was a fundamentalist, I had always assumed the Garden of Eden was destroyed along with the rest of the Earth during the flood in the Noah's Ark story. I didn't think of that for some reason Neon. Thanks. I hope to get around to watching that video eventually too. Cheers Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soma Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 Here are a few musing from an old man, my view on the Garden of Eden. After the fall from the Eden state of mind, we as individuals must labor and be troubled to gain support for the rest of our days unless we decide to change our course of action. Instead of communing with pure consciousness and unity, after the fall we share in the life of the material world. The material world is where our bodies obtain life, ill health, unhappiness, confusion and death because our bodies came from dust and will return to dust. It is our invisible spiritual nature, which harmonizes, balances, cultivates and brings forth the good in our body and mind. If we don’t associate with pure consciousness in a harmonious state of mind, body and affairs, we have to depend totally on the created world and are subject to its pain and hardship. After becoming more and more involved with the external world and experiencing pain, the struggle of the flesh once again becomes a struggle for happiness. The nature of the flesh being self-centered, possessive, fearful, and always trying to force its will on others after suffering in the world, finally returns our mind on a direction back through individual consciousness to a path leading to the soul. Suffering makes us not happy with the material world so our minds lead us back through the depths of our own being back to the Garden of Pure Consciousness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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