While enrolled in a Greek mythology course, I learned an interesting fact: ancient civilizations often created myths in an attempt to explain scientific phenomena. For example, to answer the question "Why do we have four seasons?" a myth was created in which imagined deities on Mount Olympus mingled with their mortal subjects below. The outcome of this supposedly resulted in the four seasons on earth.
Such ancient lore was soon accepted as fact. Great temples were built to honor specific gods and goddesses, and marble statues were created to protect cities and honor the mythical deities. Yet these deities did not exist. And over time, new information dispelled the myths. For example, astronomy showed that the seasons were a fundamental result of such factors as the earth's rotation, tilt, and distance from the sun. So, in the light of higher knowledge, people let go of their myth about seasons.
Recently, while studying the second account of creation in Genesis (the story of Adam and Eve's sin and subsequent condemnation), I saw ancient mythmaking still at work. This myth, portraying man as a mortal sinner, separated from his creator, is still accepted as truth. But does this match what we know of God and man from the first chapter of the Bible, and from the inspired Word of the Scriptures as a whole? For instance, would divine Love, God, who called His entire creation "good," then turn and curse His children? And could the children of God, as His image, be capable of falling into sin?
