A Legacy to the Friends of Free Discussion: Principal Historical Facts and Personages of the Books Known as The Old and New Testament; With Remarks on the Morality of NatureOffen, Benjamin
Religion
A Legacy to the Friends of Free Discussion: Principal Historical Facts and Personages of the Books Known as The Old and New Testament; With Remarks on the Morality of Nature
Offen, Benjamin
Bible -- Criticism, interpretation, etc.
To believe the account of Adam’s transgression, in connection with all
the circumstances attending it, to be a matter of fact, appears hardly
possible for any man of sane mind. Yet millions there are, who never
have had a doubt of its being literally true. Whoever first wrote it,
did so from tradition or hearsay, as this is the origin of all national
history. It is not impossible but that every nation of antiquity had a
similar commencement; because, as history did not appear till hundreds
of years after the facts related are said to have taken place, it
follows that hearsay evidence is the _best_ and _only_ evidence that can
be obtained. If this is a correct view of the strange tales related in
the Bible; then, the more strange and impossible the greater glory is
given to God, by swallowing all down, and asking no questions.
The Bible commences, as to persons, with—first, Jehovah, Adam, and Eve,
and, according to the orthodox Christians, the Devil was near at hand.
Here, then, we have before us, according to Bible history, Jehovah, God
of all, about to form or make a world, and put on it both man and beast.
This was done without consulting in any way whatever, with Adam and Eve,
who were to be placed at the head of all creation. Every circumstance
that would take place to Adam and Eve, and their posterity, throughout
all ages, was planned, approved of, and finally settled, in the mind of
Jehovah, before they had life or being.
Here we have a God knowing all that will take place; and arranging
circumstances favorable to its fulfilment. On the other hand, Adam and
Eve were ignorant of the past, the present, and also of the future. Only
notice the infinite difference between the two contracting parties. I
wish the reader to keep this in view, as it respects what is termed the
fall of our first parents. In all ages of the Christian superstition,
the fall of Adam has been urged as a justification of God’s quarrel with
the human race.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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