[GT40FIED]

Originally posted by TriumphRoadster6
You should know that God DIDN'T intend it to be the way it is now. In the beginning, as it states in Genesis, the world was perfect, as it will be in heaven, without sin, sickness, or any of the other evils that are so prevalent in this world. Because God warned Adam and Eve not to eat the forbidden fruit, and they did it anyway, he sent a curse onto mankind as punishment for disobeying him. Now, you might be asking why he put those trees there in the first place. Good point. The reason is, though, that God doesn't want robots who follow Him. Which is more gratifying, someone who bakes you a birthday cake because you tell them to, or because they do it out of love and kindness? God had and has the power to make a people who know nothing other than obeying and worshipping Him, but that's certainly not what he wants.

I see the story of the serpent and the apple as more of a parable about human nature. To me, it exemplifies wanting what you can't have an the consequences that follow in doing what you know you shouldn't. That said...why would it have been so difficult for a god to make his presence known and undeniable? I mean...just because you know he's real doesn't mean you'd have to worship him. I know cantalopes are real...but I don't worship cantalopes (although they are quite tasty). It's funny, you mention that god has the ability to make people who know nothing but worship and obedience yet he doesn't...but somehow those people still exist anyway. Strange paradox, one might say.