>>>>As far as other diseases... Well, from where I sit they are all a result of man's disobedience to God and His laws.
>>>
>>>I'm stunned. Let me make sure I understand what you're saying. The existence of disease is a punishment from God. Is it individual or a group punishment?
>>
>>No, not at all in that sense. It's about natural and normal consequenses, not punishment. Let me give you an illustration that might help.
>
>You didn't answer the key point of my message. I moved away from the issue of STD's into disease in general. But, following what you did say, are you saying that communicable disease (or disease, in general, but I'm not limiting the discussion to STD's here) is a "natural and normal consequence" of some human behavior. If so, what?
>
>Tamar

Tamar,

Well, God told Adam and Eve that the day they disobeyed him they would die. From a theological pov I'd assert that ultimately disease was brought upon man by man as a direct result of his willful disobedience to the revealed truth of God. However I'd also point out that the 'law' I mentioned in my last post is part and parcel here as well. That is, that there are consequences to actions.

Some have speculated, for example, that prior to the flood there was a sort of canopy of suspended moisture that a) allowed for a much more lush environment (witnessed, for example, by all the 50 foot ferns and trees found in Canada) and b) somehow blocked out a part of the light spectrum which slowed down the aging process.

IOW, I think that there are probably many reasons but the spiritual death God spoke of is at the root of all others I'd suppose.

For example, if you go spend a lot of time in the sun you stand a much greater chance of contracting melanoma. Can't blame God for your vanity.

If you smoke you stand a far greater chance of contracting lung cancer, or something equally nasty. Can't blame God for your physical desires.

If you overeat or eat incorrectly you stand a chance of contracing a whole host of diseases like diabetes, etc. Can't blame God for this.

If you drink too much you can get liver cancer. Can't blame God for this..

And so on...

I do think that there are pretty direct correlations between man's behavior and many of the results.

I also think that there has been a pretty steady genetic degeneration as well. You know, of course, about the 'blue bloods' and so forth.

Can these be successfully reacted to? Of course but usually by a change in behavior patterns of some sort - which kind of makes my point I'd think.