Thursday, March 6, 2014

Philosophy Wire: Bible, interpretations, clear thinking.


Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2014-03-06]:

According to new research reported in the European Journal of Human Genetics, our most recent common ancestor – the co-called Y-chromosomal Adam – lived on the Earth 208,300 years ago. Dr Eran Elhaik from the University of Sheffield and his co-authors used conventional biological models to show that Y-chromosomal Adam is 8,300 years older than scientists originally believed. They put Y-chromosomal Adam within the time frame of the Mitochondrial Eve. “We can say with some certainty that modern humans emerged in Africa a little over 200,000 years ago,” Dr Elhaik said. The findings contradict a recent study – published in the American Journal of Human Genetics in February 2013 – which had claimed the human Y chromosome originated in a different species through interbreeding which dates Adam to be twice as old. [1]

Could it be that this is what the Bible meant when it was referring to the story of Adam and Eve?

Could it be that the "days" mentioned in the same text are not 24h days? ["Ἓν δὲ τοῦτο μὴ λανθανέτω ὑμᾶς, ἀγαπητοί, ὅτι μία ἡμέρα παρὰ Κυρίῳ ὡς χίλια ἔτη, καὶ χίλια ἔτη ὡς ἡμέρα μία.", 2]

Could it be that Methuselah lived indeed many years, as many species now can? [3]

Could it be that the apple mentioned in Genesis is indeed so important? [4]

It is very easy to mock an ancient text. Few have the patience to analyze it and search for the truth behind the words. Oblivion, Hastiness and Laziness are the characteristics of our time. But no truth has been discovered easily or quickly. And surely no truth has been discovered with arrogance. The arrogance of "I know and the ones before me were idiots" is a characteristic of small children. Let us have an open mind. Let us stop believing that what we know is correct. Only then will we be able to accept the possibility that what the others are saying could be correct. Even if they lived 2,000 years ago...

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