Why did Adam need the Tree of Life? - Page 3

TimothyH · #31 Jun 15, '12, 7:06 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robertanthony

Tim, I'm sorry but I don't think I came across the way I'd thought. I was just genuinely curious, you said monogenism was the doctrine that you found the toughest to accept, so I was essentially asking what there was about it that made it so. I'm not, nor was I, doubting that you hold it to be true, but my post could have led one to believe otherwise. Sorry, buddy.

Ah, apologies back at you! I'm sorry as well. Maybe I'm a little defensive. I havn't been to confession in a while and I can feel it - a little bit sad and easily angered.

Sorry again.

-Tim-

prodigalson2011 · #32 Jul 1, '12, 4:21 pm

I have also thought that the tree of life implied that man was not physically immortal, and in fact I still struggle with accepting that we ever were. Physical immortality in this universe doesn't make sense, seeing as we now know that the sun will eventually die and, along with it, life on this planet. Even if we were to become so advanced as to colonize other solar systems, etc. the entire universe will eventually undergo heat death.

How does the Church respond to this knowledge?

**GEddie** · #33 Jul 1, '12, 5:10 pm

It hasn't, so far, to the best of my knowledge.

The implications of the law of entropy to our life, world, and embodiment have yet to be sounded out theologically.

ICXC NIKA

Nelka · #34 Jul 2, '12, 12:26 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyjones

Many catholics don't take Adam or a Tree of Life literally so what's the relevance? These things didn't exist, you came into existence over millions of years. Sin happened somehow but we really don't know much about it.

How can a catholic believe such things!?!

prodigalson2011 · #35 Jul 2, '12, 12:40 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by GEddie

It hasn't, so far, to the best of my knowledge.

The implications of the law of entropy to our life, world, and embodiment have yet to be sounded out theologically.

ICXC NIKA

That's pretty much what I thought. Way to leave me hangin', Mother Church.

I actually went on a search for theological defenses of this doctrine and, while I didn't find any specifically Catholic sources, I did find a dissertation written by a Christian that cited a large consensus of ancient rabbis who taught that, in time, had Adam, Eve and their descendants remained sinless. they would have been moved from this world into eternity without suffering physical death. I felt a little reassured when I read that, as that fits perfectly with the Ascension and the Assumption (though Mary may have died before she was assumed; still, her body was wholly transferred.)

feed me · #36 Jul 2, '12, 4:32 pm

The tree of life was only there for testing. Nothing else. God told them not to eat of the tree of life or they would die. God did that to test if they would obey him, and he sent the serpent to do the testing.

**grannymh** · #37 Jul 2, '12, 8:32 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Layp3rs0n

If Adam was created immortal why did he need the Tree of Life?

It is my understanding that as long as he remained in God's friendship, Adam would not have to suffer or die. However, Adam being created, he would also be mortal like other creatures. Even though man's nature is mortal, God had destined Adam not to die. Adam would be immune to bodily death had he not sinned. (Source: various paragraphs in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition)