I don't know whether God converse with man or not.  My statement was that the story to which we are referring is a fairy tale.

Apr 13, 2012 -- 11:02PM, JimRigas wrote:

I don't know whether God converse with man or not. My statement was that the story to which we are referring is a fairy tale.

Depends upon what you believe the bible to be. IMO, I don't believe it has any fairy tales per se but it does use analogies designed to demonstrate spiritual truths.  Maybe this is what you refer to as fairytales?  I believe God communicates with His Prophets/Manifestation through visions and dreams and in a different and much more clear cut manner from what the ordinary person would experience which is through applying the revelation presented through His Messengers in their daily lives.

So if one is to believe in the essence of the bible, God did appear to Abraham and gave him specific instructions which, according to the story, whenever God gave instruction and promises they always came true for him.  When, at age 75 yrs, God told him he would have a son, it seemed impossible because of advanced age coupled with Sarah seemingly being sterile. He was also told to move to the Holy Land and he would establish the Oneness and unity of God, rise the level of spirituality among the people and that his seed would be blessed, all of what seemed impossible because it seemed everyone was against him at that time, including his own family members. When promises like these were coming true Abraham’s trust in God must have become complete.  And all he had to do is remain faithful.  That faithfulness and trust in God was tested to the ultimate – give up all for God ...

I believe this kind of trust was very possible when you realize Abraham was a Manifestation of God and had a more intimate knowledge and understanding of his ways!   While it could be an analogy to explain the necessary spiritual relationship we should have with God, it is also ‘possibly’ an actual event.   But whatever, the reality is that the foundation Abraham established was a direct consequence of his total trust in God and was the cornerstone used by Moses in establishing Judaism ...

I don't believe God converses with man. If a voice came into my head saying it was God and told me to kill someone I'd ignore it. If such thoughts persisted, I would definately seek psychiatric help.

Apr 14, 2012 -- 6:20PM, Miguel_de_servet wrote:

Why don't you let everybody know the ... er ... "evolution" of your spin on Genesis 22?

First, anyone who actually bothered to follow several threads on the topic on which I posted and actually cared about my position would know of my, er, "spin."  LOL!

Second, why bother when you can always be relied upon to point it out misinterpret and exaggerate it?

First, you even denied that the Lord ever spoke to Abraham,

No, I never "denied that the Lord ever spoke to Abraham."

fishing your argument, on "ethical grounds" even from your much abhorred Immanuel Kant (shesh!)

The one and only time, btw, you reject the reasoning of your much-beloved Krusty Kant.

Then you thought you had found a scapeway in the ... er ... sophisticated "interpretation" of the key Hebrew word found at Gen 22:2 ... 

עָלָה (`alah - H5927) verb: c) (Hiphil) 8) to cause to ascend, offer

עֹלָה (`olah - H5930) feminine noun: 1) whole burnt offering (285 verses) 2) ascent, stairway, steps (< 4 verses)

... given by Howiedds on another thread.

No "scapeway"--simple confirmation of what I already knew.  The God I know and love wouldn't command the "whole burn offering" of a child--not as a "test" or any other...sick joke.

Why don't you, hey?

MdS

Again, see above. 

No need with your consistently persistent (misdirected)...harping.

Interesting conversation..... I suggest that the OP may wish to repeat the experiment both on the DJ and DI forums, to see what the rest of the Abrahamic family have to say on the topic....

And then we could all find a Multifaith board and meet for the side-by-side-by-side comparison : ))