Is TECHNOLOGY the Apple ?

[SalemCat]

God admonished Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge.

Is the Apple symbolic of Technology ?

After all, among all of God's Creatures, only Man uses Technology.

All animals other than Man survive quite well without Tech.

Apparently, before The Fall, Humans did too.

Thoughts ?

[walkstall]

God admonished Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge.

Is the Apple symbolic of Technology ?

After all, among all of God's Creatures, only Man uses Technology.

All animals other than Man survive quite well without Tech.

Apparently, before The Fall, Humans did too.

Thoughts ?

After all, among all of God's Creatures, only Man uses Technology.

Hmm... It depends on what you call "Technology".

[Solar]

Chimps and gorillas use tools in their life, and by definition, that's technology.

[Traninit]

Chimps and gorillas use tools in their life, and by definition, that's technology.

Good catch. I believe moderation is the key to everything...and benevolence. With that, I also believe that if technology has no boundaries (is limitless), and goes unchecked, it may prove to be our demise. The may occur same goes if it is utilized for malevolent purposes at a certain stage.

[SalemCat]

Chimps and gorillas use tools in their life, and by definition, that's technology.

In my opinion, what those animals do is not Technology. Also, in my opinion, neither is the habit of Seagulls of dropping clams from up high onto rocks, so as to crack them.

Fire is definitely Technology, which brings up Prometheus. A parallel, perhaps ? As Gilgamesh is a parallel to Noah ? The ancient Jews may not have been the only peoples inspired by the one God.

Useful Clothing is also definitely Technology. The Bible does mention the shame of being naked came with the Fall. Not much about being WARM is mentioned, though !

To me it is clear Humans, even Neanderthals, must have developed the Technology to Clothe ourselves well before we became naked. How could we survive even a single Season naked ?

That we survived, were happy and healthy before the Fall, is a matter of Faith. I will not argue that. After all, there were Angels looking after us to remedy any issues.

I know, to the Atheist all this seems silly. But a lot of modern Technology would be dismissed as Magic until very recently, so let's keep our minds open.

Of course I love Technology, but we really do not have much choice now, do we ?

If the Apple was not Technology, what was it ?

Ok, a real Apple, I suppose. It is possible.

[SalemCat]

This is what got me thinking:

Google's Quantum Computer

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2015/12/10/why-googles-new-quantum-computer-could-launch-an-artificial-intelligence-arms-race/

Artificial Intelligence is extremely, well, scary.

And if it had the brains behind it that this machine represents......

Mankind may have more than met its match.

[walkstall]

Chimps and gorillas use tools in their life, and by definition, that's technology.

YEP!!  That's why I asked what you call "Technology". 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OJQI_Juaz8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL13EGp85Zg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMbWDRzqNhc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkiPCKlNjX0

[SalemCat]

Chimps and gorillas use tools in their life, and by definition, that's technology.

And, some would argue, beings that have no souls, like chimps, do not count. They were never offered the Apple.

Yet I believe animals have souls, but many religious people do not.

Even then, while it is easy for me to assign a soul to a dog or cat, it's hard for me to assign one to an insect.

So, for purposes of this argument, I'd really like to leave animals out of it.

[SalemCat]

YEP!!  That's why I asked what you call "Technology". 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OJQI_Juaz8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL13EGp85Zg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMbWDRzqNhc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkiPCKlNjX0

I think we can agree that, whether Chimps employ "Technology", is moot, as they were never offered the Apple of the Tree of Knowledge.

We can also agree that any understanding of Technology they have is extremely limited.

I'm pretty sure Adam and Eve were capable of "Chimp Technology" before the Fall.

It's certainly possible the Apple was not an analogy for anything at all, was simply symbolic. In other words, yes, an Apple.

But if it was an analogy for anything, I believe Technology is a good call.

[walkstall]

I think we can agree that, whether Chimps employ "Technology", is moot, as they were never offered the Apple of the Tree of Knowledge.

We can also agree that any understanding of Technology they have is extremely limited.

I'm pretty sure Adam and Eve were capable of "Chimp Technology" before the Fall.

It's certainly possible the Apple was not an analogy for anything at all, was simply symbolic. In other words, yes, an Apple.

But if it was an analogy for anything, I believe Technology is a good call.

Hmm... Who is this we?

Your quote not mine.

After all, among all of God's Creatures, only Man uses Technology.

So why would Adam and Eve need "Technology" before the fall, as they were in the garden of Eden? 

[Solar]

In my opinion, what those animals do is not Technology. Also, in my opinion, neither is the habit of Seagulls of dropping clams from up high onto rocks, so as to crack them.

Fire is definitely Technology, which brings up Prometheus. A parallel, perhaps ? As Gilgamesh is a parallel to Noah ? The ancient Jews may not have been the only peoples inspired by the one God.

Useful Clothing is also definitely Technology. The Bible does mention the shame of being naked came with the Fall. Not much about being WARM is mentioned, though !

To me it is clear Humans, even Neanderthals, must have developed the Technology to Clothe ourselves well before we became naked. How could we survive even a single Season naked ?

That we survived, were happy and healthy before the Fall, is a matter of Faith. I will not argue that. After all, there were Angels looking after us to remedy any issues.

I know, to the Atheist all this seems silly. But a lot of modern Technology would be dismissed as Magic until very recently, so let's keep our minds open.

Of course I love Technology, but we really do not have much choice now, do we ?

If the Apple was not Technology, what was it ?

Ok, a real Apple, I suppose. It is possible.

You cannot redefine the term to fit your concept.
"The discipline dealing with the art or science of applying scientific knowledge to practical problems"

[Solar]

Good catch. I believe moderation is the key to everything...and benevolence. With that, I also believe that if technology has no boundaries (is limitless), and goes unchecked, it may prove to be our demise. The may occur same goes if it is utilized for malevolent purposes at a certain stage.

So true! I honestly believe we are witnessing an evolutionary change for the future of man, be it genetic engineering, or hybrid human/computer enhancement, either way, it's a huge gamble for humanity.

[kroz]

hhmmm...... where does anyone find mention of an apple in the Garden of Eden???

Someone please give me a verse to read!

[SalemCat]

Hmm... Who is this we?

Your quote not mine.

So why would Adam and Eve need "Technology" before the fall, as they were in the garden of Eden?

HA HA !

"We" is Me, Myself, and I.

But you knew that already !