I've had a good number of e-mail and other contacts asking "When in the world are you going to get off your duff and publish the Heaven Questions?".

The answer is - it's finally in process. Between my medical adventures, my physical therapy schedule, Tucker's problems, and all the Christmas activity . . . it was kinda put on the back burner.

Now that everybody's feeling better and Christmas is behind us, I'm working on it now. And to make up for the delay, I'm adding some additional material. I also did research a few years back on Angels, are they real, who are they really, what do they do, look like, and what does the bible say about them? I'm going to publish that work too. A kind of "Everything you ever wanted to know about angels".

I'm working on a way to put all of it out there for people to see, and provide a way for people to ask any follow up questions or discussions they may have. I'll say up front that all the material is bible based. If you don't believe the bible is God's inspired Word, this material probably won't have any interest for you.

I'm working as fast as my health and stamina allows, and having to type it all. It was done originally in about eight sections, with three to six questions and answers in each. It will most likely be done the same way this time. Hopefully I'll have the first section in a week or so.

Stay tuned, more just as soon as I can get it ready.

Tuck

It's about time ;>) I hope you are having a great Christmas & New Years!

Belly buttons. Belly buttons. We all want to know about the belly buttons!

Drnos...If I may:

Outside the sexual sphere, the navel has caused something of a problem in religious circles. For those that believe in the actual "literal truth" of the religious texts (Bible, Quar'an, etc), the navel poses a real problem....whether or not the first humans had them. Early artists usually painted them in when they painted Adam and Eve in the garden but why?

If we say "God created man in his own image", then surely God has a belly button too, right?

If we say, that Adam and Eve didn't have one, then we must agree that humans actually DO evolve...and ARE evolving, right?

That's one of the questions that has stumped theologists for decades.......

The Turks have a legend that says that after Allah created man, the Devil was so angry that he spat on the man, and God quickly snatched out the polluted skin....

Buddhist Ascetics see the belly button as the center of the universe, and this is where the phrase "contemplate one's navel" comes from. It's not saying that you are conducting a self-centered, inward-looking form of meditation, but rather comtemplating the entire universe.

I believe one day we won't have them.

That's too bad because I like belly buttons......

adroomi: Thanks for the analysis and info about Buddhism and Islam. It's interesting mental work to ponder these things; like gymnastics for the noggin'. Not extremely important ("How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?"), but just theological sudoku.

"If we say 'God created man in his own image', then surely God has a belly button too, right?"

No. Even a biblical literalist wouldn't interpret "image" so narrowly. Adam with and God without couldn't possibly invalidate a statement that Adam was made in God's image.

"If we say, that Adam and Eve didn't have one, then we must agree that humans actually DO evolve...and ARE evolving, right?"

Again, I respectfully disagree. If the biblical account is accepted at face value, Adam and Eve could either have or not have belly buttons: God either created ones for them or not. Their children would have needed them for placental nourishment. That's not "evolution" in any sense that I'm familiar.

Not really sure if you're being serious or not, adroomi...sometimes things don't translate well as just words on a page without the face to face.

You don't really believe that someday we won't have belly buttons, do you? Unless you're talking about an "afterlife" someday...

Drnos,

Please note my first paragraph:

"For those that believe in the actual "literal truth" of the religious texts (Bible, Quar'an, etc), the navel poses a real problem....whether or not the first humans had them."

The rest (did God have one, did Adam and Eve, etc) is about those that only believe the Bible in the "literal truth." Most of us (you and I, and others) don't literally follow the word to be "exact." Some folks do though, and these are the folks that have a problem with those two issues about the belly button.

Non-"literal" believers realize that God did not in fact create man in his "literal" image.

In other words, you and I agree.

GD,

I was talking about the effects of obesity on belly buttons. Thin stomachs tend to have vertical slit-like belly buttons with little nubs inside, while round stomachs have round belly buttons that have no nub. I like the vertical slit-like one's because they look a little like 'other' vertical slits (sort of). That's why Barbara Eden couldn't show her navel on tv for so long......big taboo. Looks too much like a vagina I guess. Every culture has a period where they hid the belly button because of it's sexual overtones.

7. Author: adroomi Date: 12/28/2005 12:03 AM Reply "Drnos, Please note my first paragraph: "For those that believe in the actual "literal truth" of the religious texts (Bible, Quar'an, etc), the navel poses a real problem....whether or not the first humans had them."

Now wait a minute . . . . I am one of those millions upon millions who believe the bible is literally true, every single word . . . and I don't have a problem with belly buttons. So you have stated something that is not fact.

You stand corrected.

Tuck

adroomi.....

ok, i'll bite...there is no problem in my Bible...

Gen 1:27 " So God created man in his own image"

this was before sin....

BEFORE they ate of the fruit of good and evil, they were to live forever. AFTER they ate of the fruit they will "surely die".........

now there had to be a change in their physical body for this to happen right?

go to chapter 5

1 this is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God he made him;

2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day they when they were created.

3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:

ok, if they had changed into humans that die, then they were different......thus the Bible points out that seth was created in ADAMS likeness.....not Gods

so to make a point here without rambling on(like a woman), i believe we were created in adam and eve's own image...in that we all will surely die. this is not Gods image, for he is everlasting.

gerilynn

Tuck,

That statement that you are a literalist and believe word for word what the Bible says deeply conflicts with what you just said on the other thread to Andy when he "had you confused as a literalist." Which one is it?

You can't have it both ways (unless you're my ex-girlfriend of course).

i am a literalist.

and boy i missed out on the last thread....

G

Hi Gerilyn,

I do appreciate talking with you always....

Actually, you're not looking at it as a true literalist (the type I'm talking about). You too are making assumptions and generalizations, and are NOT taking the words literally and without exception.

For example,

You are assuming that God wanted man to live forever....does it say that in the Bible?

You are also assuming that Adam and Eve's physical appearance changed after sinning....does it say that too?

You are assuming that Adam "grew" his belly button after sinning and therefore passed on this "likeness" to his son.......it does not say anything of the sort.

The Bible states that man was created in the image of God, he sinned, he realized he was naked, he had kids that looked just like him, and then he died. Nothing about physical changes at all.......that makes you sound like an evolutionist to say such things.

It also says that Adam and Eve were ashamed when they realized they were naked.....and they covered themselves......sort of makes you wonder WHY do we have pubic hair doesn't it? Some sort of a covering that we evolved into to "hide" our shame maybe? See, I look at it from all angles you know.

True literalists have an issue with Adam having a belly button. There is no other choice BUT to have an issue with it if you are a literalist.

:)

Adroomi - You're wrong again, on multiple points.

I believe the bible, literally, word for word, totally.

And this does not conflict in one iota with what I said. Andy said I wasn't a literist. I said I cannot prove that the bible is perfect . . . I can't prove it, no one can. But I accept it by faith, and believe it totally. All of it. If any error has creeped in during translation - I can't say, but I take it by faith. There are portions of the bible that are parables, and illustrations, these are stated as such. Other passages are fact.

And you're completely wrong on bellybuttons. God never said He created us in His "PHYSICAL" image. We were created in His image to have His attributes. Any fourth grader knows God is a Spirit, and has no belly button, or a body.

Tuck

NOTE TO THOSE INTERESTED IN THE HEAVEN QUESTIONS:

I had almost changed my mind and was thinking about going ahead and posting the heaven questions here, and let the chips fall where they may. But events on other threads have sealed it. They'll be posted, in full, and very soon - but not here. Interested persons will be advised where they are soon.

Tuck

Yeah...you said that two months ago. Everyone is still waiting.

What is it about this thread that got to you? The fact that it addressed belly buttons?

You've got way too much hate in your heart for anyone and everybody that doesn't bow down before you and worship you as the almighty highest authority on Christianity. When someone questions your "stated truths" (notice I said stated truths and not beliefs) you get yourself all worked up.

It's quite obvious that you desire to be the board know it all on religion, and that your views are the only RIGHT ones......so post your Heaven Questions on your other board and get on with it. This continual copping out is getting old.

Geez, pull your panties out of your butt and relax. Just because Andy is kicking your theological "facts" in the rear on another thread, don't get all testy on this one.

By the way....not every fourth grader knows that God is a spirit. Not ALL of us subscribe to the Pentacostal faith as I assume you do....correct?

adroomi,

i am a literalist in the fact i believe when it says 7 days it means 7 days. i think the Bible speaks very clearly on some subject matters, but it also implies alot too. and before you ask, the way to prove what is right and what is wrong is comparing scripture with scripture. it does not contradict itself. this is what i believe, and this is the side i will always take. i know there are extremest on both sides of this. i tend to take the scripture for what it says. and the more you study it the more it proves itself......

so i am a Bible believer. maybe not what you are talking about, but it all goes back to faith. that is what it has always been about and will always be about.

happy new year adroomi, i will keep you in my prayers

gerilynn

No, I don't. I'm not a pentecostal believer. God plainly states that He is a Spirit in many places. He has no human body.

And you didn't read carefully, I said "some other threads", not this one.

And Andy and I have been having a good discussion, no winning or losing on anybody's part.

And I have no ambition to what you suggest. But I don't want to post things where some will just make fun and turn everything vulgar. Just wanting to avoid controversy.

Smile,

Tuck

and i am NOT pentacostal.....

Tuck,

Okay...I see your point. I guess I do need to start thinking about getting some glasses. I find myself missing words and mispelling a lot too. All that d*mn milk I drink I guess.

My apologies for jumping on you. Wherever you post your stuff, I'm certain that many are interested in reading it. It's good stuff I'm sure.

Keep on....

Gerilyn,

I'm not contradicting you or taking a side here....I'm simply stating a fact. Religious literalists (perhaps a bit more literal than you and I, and even Tuckersdad) DO in fact get a bit bent on the belly button thing. It's the chicken and the egg with proporsions of a really BIG egg.

Make sense?

Adroomi - How could any Christian have a problem with belly buttons? Explain that to me.

The bible says "God is a Spirit, and those that would worship Him will worship in spirit and truth." He created man in His "image", to have His attributes, to be immortal, to have a soul, to be able to reason, to have the power of choice, etc. Not to look like Him physically.

God had/has no physical body, at least until Jesus was incarnated.

Adam and Eve probably had no belly button, no one knows. But Eve's children did, so they could receive nourishment in the womb. That's not evolution. God created Eve to give birth, and to feed her unborn child through an umbilical tube, which then became a belly button. This is pretty simple stuff.

Tuck