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To: Sherman Logan
You are quite correct that this is the classical historical Christian position. I believe what the original article is pointing out is precisely that this position is based primarily on imported Greek philosophy rather than on the Bible.

So I understood.

If you disagree, could you point out where in the Bible it states that the Garden or Earth was to be only a temporary period of testing? I know of no such statements.

Neither do I. As a Fundamentalist Protestant converting to Catholicism I was told none of this because Catholics assume that Fundamentalist Protestants believe exactly the same thing: that life on earth (even for the sinless Adam) was a prelude to the "beatific vision." My whole point was that no one seems to be discussing this point of contention and that Fundamentalist Protestants have no conception of "heaven" apart from man's creation in paradise.

The Bible itself does not, AFAIK, give us any reason to believe Adam or Eve would have died had they not sinned, or that they would have "promoted" to Heaven.

As I have said, I agree with you. Thus another reason for my being unable to remain Catholic beyond six years or so. This issue is so fundamental, yet so invisible, that no one talks about it or even knows it exists. Catholics thing Protestants believe Adam was destined for a non-earthly "beatific vision" and Protestants think Catholics believe that without sin all mankind would live immortally on an unspoiled paradise earth.

58 posted on 07/23/2012 9:33:00 AM PDT by Zionist Conspirator (Ki-hagoy vehamamlakhah 'asher lo'-ya`avdukh yove'du; vehagoyim charov yecheravu!)
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To: Zionist Conspirator
I have heard two things in support (not as THE supports) of this line of thought.

The beatific vision, hinted at in I John, is thought to be the fulfillment of all man's longings, the happiness for which he was made.

Also, if nobody died and everybody obeyed the command to be fruitful and multiply, where you gonna put ‘em?

60 posted on 07/23/2012 12:18:24 PM PDT by Mad Dawg (Depone serpentem et ab veneno gradere.)
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