Religion

Response Paper #1: The First Questions of Many.

What makes the bible so powerful if it was written by man? Does is seem so vague, that their must be hundereds of different interpretations for each event that took place in one book? Why will their always be controversy because of conclusions and assumptions made about different passages in the bible? The bible has served as one of the most influential books for thousands of years. Many of the things that different cultures and society's practice and do not practice are based on their interpretations of the bible. However, I really did not realize how much it really has influences life worldwide until I began the reading for this class.

One of the first things that really caught my attention, which may seem petty and immature, is in Genisis 1:29 "And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat". If God as given to us every herb bearing seed to utilize, why is marijuana seen as such a moral evil to even those that live by the teachings of the bible? Although many useful things are utilized from herbs as God may have intended (such as tea leaves, black cohosh, yarrow, basil, white trillium, and many more), society and most christians single out only one main herb that is forbidden, even though there are plenty of other herbs with similar effects (such as salvia divinorum and morning glory).In genisis, it does not say " I have given you EVERY herb bearing seed; to you it shall be for meat.....except for marijuana.". It says every. So I just wonder why some christians that live by the bible ignore that specific adjictive.

Another mysetery is how humans evolved in the first place. If Cane was Eve's son, where did his wife come from? "Genesis 4:16 And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the East of Eden. "

"Genesis 4:17 And Cain knew his wife; -- -- --. " This seems to imply that there were other humans in existence, other than Adam and Eve and their kids. So, were Adam and Eve the first people? Do we have any logical awsners for that?

There is also no hint in any of the Abraham stories that Abraham wonders whether it is God who speaks to him. Indeed, when he doubts, as his laughing at the promise of Isaac's birth suggests he does (Gen 17:17), what he doubts is that he and Sarah shall have a child (i.e. he doubts God's word), not that it is God who promises (i.e. the identity of the speaker). Later, when Abraham has withstood the trial of