This appears in a pre-2010 issue
|
|
|
|
| ||
Creationism Run Amok?
Pat Dixon
In ancient days, as many people know, copies of both the Old Testament and the New Testament often had many “books” in them that are no longer there—because, for various reasons at various times and places, some of the writings were pulled. You can look this up. Practically every encyclopedia says this, so don’t fret.
The Bible of today, say scholars who know, was actually put together by various Jewish and Christian committees over a long period of time. In fact, as most people are aware, the content of the current Bible for Protestants differs somewhat from that for Roman Catholics. (All of the committees were considered divinely inspired, so don’t fret about that either.)
Interestingly, we still have copies of many of those eliminated writings. Here, as an example, is a short passage from one of the many books that didn’t make the final cut for the Old Testament (Third Shem, 8:5-11):
5 And the Lord spaketh unto Satan and told him that He was most sorely vexed and much disappointed that both His son Adam and His daughter Eve had partaken and tasted of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, despite His commandment that they should refrain from so doing. 6 And to this Satan replied and said unto the Lord: Lord, surely Thou knewest it would happen thus, since Thou art omniscient and knowing in the ways of all things. 7 What seemeth therefore to have been the cause for their disobedience of Thy commandment [forbidding the tasting]? And the Lord replied and said unto Satan, We made use of inferior materials when We used the dust of the Earth to create Our son Adam and [subsequently used] the rib of the body of Adam to create [Our daughter] Eve. 8 Our children, both daughter and son, are flawed therefrom, despite that Our design were of and in itself most perfect. 9 And Satan spake unto the Lord: Lord, how might [these things] otherwise have been? 10 And the Lord replied unto Satan, saying, Our son Adam and Our daughter Eve would indeed have been perfect in every respect could but We have Fathered them with one that could be their Mother. 11 Verily, We say unto ye, Our problem hath been the proverbial one: Spare the rod and spoil the child.
