The whole creation story seems so mystical and then they throw in the names of rivers and it becomes a little more real. For me, I have such a hard time imagining this scenario. Adam just hanging out next to the river. Picking out names for any animals he comes across. God speaks to him although we don't know how, if God used a physical form, if it was just in Adam's mind the same way the spirit talks to us, or if some voice booms down from the sky. Regardless, you have no culture, no knowledge, maybe not even a childhood (presuming we take this all literally which is the what I have been taught growing up), basically just an absent minded man without all the baggage we have now. No idea how old he is I suppose but anyway, God, the entity that created him, I suppose taught him everything he needed to know about life, and said don't eat from this one tree. How could he possibly screw that up?

I love all the comments today. Genesis 2 and we've already covered everything from theology, marriage, parenting, work-life balance, good and evil, choices and God's master plan. For me, reading about creation is not an easy pill to swallow and I'm always forced to confront the widely held views of science that contradict the traditional and literal words we read. It's definitely beyond my grade level. For example, how is it hard for God to do something? And he needed rest? I wonder if he needs to rest from humanity every once in a while.

Great to have you in here Dan. Strange to me that God rested. But we are made in his image so I suppose it makes sense.

I also wondered about that. When you read it in our language it seems almost the reverse. Chapter 1 seems poetic and chapter 2 is much more literal with names of rivers and locations on maps where things are placed. Also I think its NIV that is on the page.