Made in the image of God

@indonesia-phil said
I've yet to be convinced of the 'fact' that a snake can talk. If this is a 'let's pretend that snakes can talk' discussion, then you've lost my interest, and since I don't think your god exists the questions are academic.

Snakes can't talk.

It was Satan talking. "Serpent" is a metaphorical characterization of Satan.

That's all it is regardless of whether you or I or anyone else believes it is a true story or not.

@fmf said
I note that Romans1009/PB1022 is unable to converse with you without calling you a moron and a buffoon.

Tattle tale. 🤣

@josephw said
Snakes can't talk.It was Satan talking. "Serpent" is a metaphorical characterization of Satan.

So the serpent WAS metaphorical but ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING ELSE in the Garden of Eden story was LITERAL, right? Has my capitalization reflected your absolute certainty about this?

@fmf said
So the serpent WAS metaphorical but ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING ELSE in the Garden of Eden story was LITERAL, right? Has my capitalization reflected your absolute certainty about this?

Either you lack intellectual integrity, or you can't read.

Serpent, as applied to the person of Satan, is a metaphorical characterization of Satan. Satan and serpent are the same literal person.

Try to comprehend.

-Removed-

So, do you think "serpent" is a metaphor for a literal person named Satan?

@josephw said
Either you lack intellectual integrity, or you can't read.

This banter pointedly does not address what I put to you.

@josephw said
Serpent, as applied to the person of Satan, is a metaphorical characterization of Satan.

So, according to you, the serpent was a metaphor and not literally a serpent, right? The serpent was part of an allegory, yes?

@fmf said
So, according to you, the serpent was a metaphor and not literally a serpent, right?

Does it matter?

@josephw said
Does it matter?

That depends, on how deep your question goes. One could argue that it doesn't matter whether there are gods or not, or whether the sun rises tomorrow. In the end nothing matters, but...Within the context of these discussions it matters; Kellyjay says that it was a snake, and that it spoke, so we atheists/agnostics are getting mixed signals from you Christians, who really should get your stories straight. If, as you say, the talking snake is a mere metaphor, then what else in the bible is mere metaphor; the virgin birth? The resurrection? Either the bible is literal truth or it isn't, you can't have your cake and eat it.

@josephw said
Does it matter?

It matters in terms of the coherence of the ideology you are propagating here on a debate and discussion message board.