31 Jan 09
-Removed-first of all, the passage, Genesis 3:1-7
Now the serpent proved to be the most cautious of all the wild beasts of the field that Jehovah God had made. So it began to say to the woman: “Is it really so that God said you must not eat from every tree of the garden?” At this the woman said to the serpent: “Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat. But as for eating of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘you must not eat from it, no, you must not touch it that you do not die.’” At this the serpent said to the woman: “you positively will not die. For God knows that in the very day of YOUR eating from it your eyes are bound to be opened and you are bound to be like God, knowing good and bad.”
Consequently the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was something to be longed for to the eyes, yes, the tree was desirable to look upon. So she began taking of its fruit and eating it. Afterward she gave some also to her husband when with her and he began eating it. Then the eyes of both of them became opened and they began to realize that they were naked. Hence they sewed fig leaves together and made loin coverings for themselves.
this phrase in bold, 'the tree was good to look upon, literally translates as, 'the tree looked good for imparting knowledge'. thus the serpent made a direct appeal to the intellect of eve, that in reaching out for moral independence, she would be better off. this was naturally unfounded and God was forced to execute his justice and the pair were expelled.
What if Adam had not sinned?, well we enter the realms of pure speculation!
31 Jan 09
-Removed-Perhaps Adam knowingly sacrificed himself to help shoulder Eve's burden. In this interpretation he comes across as far more of a sympathetic character than if he had obeyed God's tyrannical edict and pitilessly condemned Eve. For he so loved her that he sacrificed himself to help shoulder her sin. Who else can we think of in Christian mythology who knowingly sacrificed himself out of love for another?
01 Feb 09
Originally posted by rwingettGod is love!
Perhaps Adam knowingly sacrificed himself to help shoulder Eve's burden. In this interpretation he comes across as far more of a sympathetic character than if he had obeyed God's tyrannical edict and pitilessly condemned Eve. For he so loved her that he sacrificed himself to help shoulder her sin. Who else can we think of in Christian mythology who knowingly sacrificed himself out of love for another?