I'm getting myself in deeper, no doubt, but holy books are written after the fact, often by special interests and I'm sure you've noticed the Bible is inherently contradictory or maybe we just can't comprehend it on the correct level. There is a lot of suspicion that parts of the bible are self-serving fiction. And there are valid translation issues. Then there have been books left out (at the whim of men or was God influencing those in control? Then why isn't the book perfect?).
Made in His image? Well, how so? Obviously not looking alike, per Micro's verse and I realize the verse could fall in the category I mentioned above. Not in the ability to attain Godliness, perfection. Perhaps in the image of the chromosomes, which every living thing is presumably based on?
"So the (again, rhetorical) question becomes: Did G_d create man in HIS image ..... or .... does man create god in his (man's) image."
If it's the rhetorical question, of course It was the former. But if the bible distorts truth through intent or translation, the Bible is the latter, man creating god in his image. It's likely a combo, of God's Word and men's, is it not?
Does one accept the brutal, self-serving God of the Old Testament? Most everything about him represented what we would consider to be undesirable traits. Doesn't that have to be a faulty image? God can't be faulty, so the Bible's not quite to be relied on? I doubt God reformed himself and gave us Jesus, because God's perfect, he doesn't require reform. I'd perfer to presume, however valid or not, that the Bible's corrupted and God is perfect. Perhaps you will say He is in his eyes, but not necessarily our flawed eyes. What can I say, I'm flawed. But I hope the Book's flawed, because I have faith in a loving God, one who is one with Jesus.
If one believes in Jesus, should they not believe in his direction, to establish a personal relationship with God and shun 'organized religion'? I don't condemn organized religion, since I believe they serve good purposes, including interpretation of the questions we all have. Like, do you have faith in a perfect loving God or in the Bible's contrary depiction of what looks at times like a loving lunatic of a God or somehow both? Look at Moses. Out in the desert, he had to tell the Biblical God people need food. A man needed to correct God so many times? Was our perfect God was just humoring his prophet?
Not trying to drive you nuts. I am not as versed in all this as I know you are. No ill intent here. I know God loves me, in spite of my faulty thoughts.
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