From: martinharran@gmail.com   
      
   On Wed, 28 Jan 2026 12:02:13 +1100, MarkE  wrote:   
      
   >On 28/01/2026 3:40 am, Martin Harran wrote:   
   >> On Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:54:52 +1100, MarkE  wrote:   
   >>   
   >>> On 21/01/2026 11:52 pm, Martin Harran wrote:   
   >>   
   >> [...]   
   >>   
   >>   
   >>>>   
   >>>> [2] I don't know whether or not MarkE takes it [Adam anmd Eve] as a true   
   story but   
   >>>> whilst he started this original thread, he hasn't been part of this   
   >>>> particular sub-thread.   
   >>>>   
   >>>   
   >>> I don't have a settled position.   
   >>   
   >> I'm genuinely curious about this.   
   >>   
   >> Firstly, what makes you think it might be a real story rather than a   
   >> figurative one?   
   >>   
   >> Secondly, why would it matter if it's figurative rather than literal?   
   >   
   >Those issues are signifcant, but here I'm not inclined to go down that   
   >rabbit hole, e.g.:   
      
   You've used that get-out several times with me when I have questioned   
   you on religious aspects of this debate. You give the impression that   
   you are wildly enthusiastic about going down scientific rabbit holes   
   but considerably less enthusiastic about going down religious ones. Do   
   they frighten you?   
      
   >https://chatgpt.com/s/t_69795f173f808191bd5a7c31300e16f5   
      
   That summary is rather dismissive of literalism as propounded by   
   evangelicals and fundamentalists.   
      
   Section 2 in it seems a fairly accurate summary of what is   
   "doctrinally essential, regardless of interpretive model."   
      
      
      
   1) God is the intentional Creator of all that exists   
      
      * Creation is not self-existent or eternal.   
      
     * God is ontologically distinct from creation.   
      
   2) Creation is ordered, good, and purposeful   
      
     * The world is intelligible, not chaotic or illusory.   
      
     * Human beings are part of that order, not accidental intrusions.   
      
   3) Humans uniquely bear the image of God   
      
     * However one understands the mechanism or timeline, humanity   
        has a distinctive status and vocation.   
      
   3) Human rebellion is real and morally significant   
      
     * Sin is not merely ignorance or evolutionary immaturity.   
      
     * Alienation from God, others, and creation is a genuine rupture.   
      
      
      
   I don't see anything in that which is challenged by a figurative   
   understanding of Genesis. Neither do I see anything in science that   
   contradicts any of it.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)