Adam and Eve: the human condition
GENESIS REVISITED - a new beginning
The story of Adam and Eve may depict man's fall from the comfort of living in blameless ignorance, but it also describes his first - thanks to woman - courageous step on the long and difficult journey towards greater awareness (of himself, of others, and of the world at large) and responsibility, away from ignorance and the instinctive, blameless behaviour of his animal nature.
It is high-time that we exchanged Yahweh for a more enlightened (concept of) God. Instead of cursing them, this is what my God (with more than 2000 years of hindsight (When God Was a Woman (Harvest/HBJ Book))
, after sending her unworthy husband away, might have said to Eve:
Curiosity and the desire for knowledge and awareness have led you to disobey me, but I like your courageous and independent spirit, which is in contrast to your obedient and wimp of a husband. 
You have started to become conscious of yourself, of others and of the world about you. This means that you must learn to take responsibility for you own behaviour. You will become aware of primitive thoughts, feeling and inclinations which stem from your animal nature. You are not responsible for them, but for what you do. It is your behaviour that you must learn to control, in accordance with the more enlightened human nature, which will develop in you to progressively replace your primitive animal nature.
Your descendants will learn to understand the workings of the world, making great discoveries and inventions along the way. Used wisely and responsibly these will make life much easier for them, greatly reducing hardship and suffering; used vainly and irresponsibly, they will cause great harm. One of the most useful - but if misused, also most harmful - inventions will be called money.
There will be times when you will despair. Trust me. Over time I will help you to transcend your primitive animal nature, your evil inclinations, your ignorance, fears and vanity. I will increase your understanding and love, and give you the strength and courage needed to do justice to the name that your descendents will one day prematurely give to human kind: Homo sapiens, wise man.
The story of Adam and Eve may depict man's fall from the comfort of living in blameless ignorance, but it also describes his first - thanks to woman - courageous step on the long and difficult journey towards greater awareness (of himself, of others, and of the world at large) and responsibility, away from ignorance and the instinctive, blameless behaviour of his animal nature.
It is high-time that we exchanged Yahweh for a more enlightened (concept of) God. Instead of cursing them, this is what my God (with more than 2000 years of hindsight (When God Was a Woman (Harvest/HBJ Book))
, after sending her unworthy husband away, might have said to Eve: |
| Red Moon |
You have started to become conscious of yourself, of others and of the world about you. This means that you must learn to take responsibility for you own behaviour. You will become aware of primitive thoughts, feeling and inclinations which stem from your animal nature. You are not responsible for them, but for what you do. It is your behaviour that you must learn to control, in accordance with the more enlightened human nature, which will develop in you to progressively replace your primitive animal nature.
Your descendants will learn to understand the workings of the world, making great discoveries and inventions along the way. Used wisely and responsibly these will make life much easier for them, greatly reducing hardship and suffering; used vainly and irresponsibly, they will cause great harm. One of the most useful - but if misused, also most harmful - inventions will be called money.
There will be times when you will despair. Trust me. Over time I will help you to transcend your primitive animal nature, your evil inclinations, your ignorance, fears and vanity. I will increase your understanding and love, and give you the strength and courage needed to do justice to the name that your descendents will one day prematurely give to human kind: Homo sapiens, wise man.
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