Interesting Armenian Text Showing God Once a Man

[_Philo Sofee]

From Robert Boylan's blog. Fun stuff. The contrast to the Jews from which Christians came, who declared God infinite is a fascinating about face, to be sure. All kinds of ideas about God are out in the world. Who's correct? Who missed the boat? Who cares? Kidding. I think the topic is fascinating....

http://scripturalmormonism.blogspot.co. ... enian.html

[_Kishkumen]

Yes. I have come to the conclusion that just about any interpretive possibility or narrative possibility will have been taken by some group out there. That works to the advantage of those who are looking for ancient precursors. Good for them! I think the problem comes when you try to say that this group had the true understanding, thus validating your own position. Well, how do we know that these folks were any more right than others? We really don't. If we start with the assumption that we are right, anyone who agrees looks like a validation.

[_Philo Sofee]

Yes. I have come to the conclusion that just about any interpretive possibility or narrative possibility will have been taken by some group out there. That works to the advantage of those who are looking for ancient precursors. Good for them! I think the problem comes when you try to say that this group had the true understanding, thus validating your own position. Well, how do we know that these folks were any more right than others? We really don't. If we start with the assumption that we are right, anyone who agrees looks like a validation.

Excellent observation. You say it so much better than I.

[_JLHPROF]

Definitely similar to the KFD. And possibly some Adam-God teachings too.

3 Eve said, 'God said to us not to eat from the fruit of that tree, "lest you die." He said, "When you eat, at that very hour you (shall) go forth from this Garden, and you shall surely die."
3 And Eve said, 'God said that we are not to eat of that fruit and "when you eat of it you shall surely die."'
3 And the woman said, 'God commanded us not to eat of that. he said, "When you eat of that, you shall surely die."'

4 The serpent spoke with Eve: '(That is) not so! God was a man like you. When he ate of the fruit of this tree he became God of all. Because of that God said to you not to eat, lest you become an equal god, like himself.'
4 The serpent said, 'Because God was a man like you, when he ate this fruit he became God of all. Because of this matter he said, "Do not eat!" Lest you become god.'
4 But the serpent said, '(That is) not so! Because God himself was a man like you when he ate of it, and he became God of all. Because of that he said not to eat o that, because you knew that when you eat of it, you will become a god, his equal. Because of that he said for you not to eat.'

I agree, this is fascinating. This is the kind of thing I refer to when I say elements of Mormonism are scattered through every culture and religion.

[_SteelHead]

So we see religions share ideas.... And?

[_JLHPROF]

So we see religions share ideas.... And?

Well, two primary options really.

Fusion - each religion gathers elements from other religions for its own use, picking and choosing based on some criteria
Fission - there is an ancient original religion that has left elements scattered across the earth over millennia that man attempts to reassemble

I like the second option.

[_SteelHead]

Again, religions are sharing ideas. Man becoming god, or god becoming man is not a new idea, nor a unique idea.

Kish said it well.

Yes. I have come to the conclusion that just about any interpretive possibility or narrative possibility will have been taken by some group out there. That works to the advantage of those who are looking for ancient precursors. Good for them! I think the problem comes when you try to say that this group had the true understanding, thus validating your own position. Well, how do we know that these folks were any more right than others? We really don't. If we start with the assumption that we are right, anyone who agrees looks like a validation.

You likely would have to go back a couple hundred thousand years to find a common religion across humanity.

[_JLHPROF]

You likely would have to go back a couple hundred thousand years to find a common religion across humanity.

Oh, much further than that.

https://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/if-you-could-hie-to-kolob?lang=eng