>Genesis 2:21-23 follows your line of reasoning.  I happen to see what
>seems to me to be a contradiction.  Also, it further suggests that
>there was, and is, a lot of meddeling with the texts by human hands,
>if it truly is the "word" of God.  Mohammud says pretty much the same
>thing in the Koran - that is the true word of God spoken to him through
>the Angel Gabriel.  According to the Koran, it is you who are the
>Infidel  ;)
>

This has been a beaten dead horse in the departments of Religion, History,
and Anthropology.  Is it me, or are people desperate to find something to
point their finger at?  Where is the contradiction?  I've heard this twice
this year from professors, and it makes no sense.  I've read Genesis, and
I have read the creation several times this year alone to see for myself
the truth rather than getting off on some statement that makes no sense.
In Genesis 1:27, it is "male and female" and "in His image."  In Genesis
2:21-23, it is the rib from Adam.  Genesis 1:27 is an overview.  Genesis
2:21-23 is a specific.  Look right between the two verses....Genesis 2:4:
"This is the account of the heavens and the earth WHEN they were created."
(NIV).  The Good News says the same thing.  The Living Bible uses the word
"Summary".  Again, it is like this....

		1.  This is an overview of what happened in the last "day"
                        of Creation.
		2.  This is what happened specifically WHEN they were
                        created.

That so-called "contradiction" is like saying the following are
contradictions:

		1.  I ate and slept that night.
		2.  I ate a ham and cheese sandwich.  About six hours
                        later, I went to my room and went to bed.  

Number 1, by no means, says that I ate and slept at the same time.  I
might choke if I tried, but I couldn't try.  I would be unconscious.
Number 1 says that I ate and slept within a given time frame....that
night.  Likewise, God created Adam, THEN He created Eve within a given
time frame...NOT AT THE SAME TIME.   Number 2 is like this...  [I ate
a sandwich. **God made Adam.**][THEN, (six hours later) I went to my
room and went to bed (Not at the same time.  I had to actually walk
to the room before I actually went to bed). **THEN, (after taking
Adam's rib) God created Eve.**] I separated Number 2's two parts in
respective brackets.

>Different people believe what different people believe.  Everyone is
>always assuming that there's is the only text that will have any 
>bearing on what happens in the hereafter, usually damning everyone who
>is not follow their branch of whatever.  Very depressing.  It makes one
>want to avoid the concept of religion altogether.
>
>I was curious as to what your own views are...  I know it may seem like
>a rude question - I know that it can get one killed in several areas
>of the world, including the US in recent years - but I assure you that
>I am only trying to satisfy my intense curiosity.  I myself am not
>areligious - I come form a christian background - but I have since
>come to understand that there is more that we, as humans, have to
>experience before we can truly decide what our beliefs.  
>

We need to experience for that is one way we learn, but we need to avoid
getting distracted or falling into the world's traps as we take our time 
trying to find the way.

>I am sorry for boring you on that last bit.  I do have Philosphy in
>	15 min... so until next time...
>
>Respectfully waiting a reply,
>	(I HATE the way that sounds ;)
>
>Blake Huxley


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