We are often admonished by some to not take literally the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden. It is to be understood as a story that represents a deeper truth we are told.
What would it mean if we could go back to the Garden?
What would we gain back that we have somehow lost?
Tcg
Back to the Garden
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Tcg
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Back to the Garden
Post #1To be clear: Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods.
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
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Re: Back to the Garden
Post #3[Replying to post 1 by Tcg]
Apparently we would lose the knowledge of good and evil. In other words, we would be able to do whatever we please and not be bothered whether something might be evil or not.
Apparently we would lose the knowledge of good and evil. In other words, we would be able to do whatever we please and not be bothered whether something might be evil or not.
Re: Back to the Garden
Post #4Tcg wrote:
What would it mean if we could go back to the Garden?
What would we gain back that we have somehow lost?
The word "Garden" tells us we are in poetry, and in poetry we can have wings and wondrous powers.
We have lost much of our hair and our sharp tusks. We speak, rather than grunt. We have allowed our female companions, sometimes, to pull us along by the hair and even be our equals. We still call some men Adam and some women Eve, but usually we put on clothes for going out to collect apples.
It takes a certain mysterious faith to regard Genesis as literal. I think this faith would be incompatible with human scientific progress.
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Re: Back to the Garden
Post #5It was a place where evil would be expelled, therefore I would say it is a place without evil. It is also place where people didn’t have to work. That is why I would say, I would get peace in there, if I would have that opportunity.Tcg wrote: ...What would it mean if we could go back to the Garden?
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Re: Back to the Garden
Post #7marco wrote:
It takes a certain mysterious faith to regard Genesis as literal. I think this faith would be incompatible with human scientific progress.
I agree. What are we left with though? How do we determine the figurative truth the author intended to convey?
Tcg
To be clear: Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods.
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
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Tcg
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Re: Back to the Garden
Post #8The serpent was there so I'm not sure this is correct.
Actually, Adam was given the task of tending the Garden before the fall. The difference was that it was pleasantly productive work absent weeds and thorns and such.
It is also place where people didn’t have to work.
Pleasant work would be peaceful until the serpent tempted you to distrust God.
That is why I would say, I would get peace in there, if I would have that opportunity.
Tcg
To be clear: Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods.
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
-
Tcg
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Post #9
JJ50 wrote: God supposedly created everything, so that would have included evil. It would have been an evil presence in that mythical garden.
Yes indeed. It seems that is what the serpent represents. It's easy to focus on the beautiful Garden and overlook the lurking evil God planted.
Tcg
To be clear: Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods.
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
Re: Back to the Garden
Post #10Determining a figurative meaning is not a difficulty unless we take the text to be some divine communication. If we do then we might be disappointed in God for his failure to be crystal clear.Tcg wrote:
I agree. What are we left with though? How do we determine the figurative truth the author intended to convey?
Though I prefer classical mythology where one has Prometheus bringing men fire and getting horribly punished, Genesis does try hard to be interesting. The idea is the same: God wants to withhold something from man and some bad being communicates it, causing God to be enraged. There is lots of humour in the Adam and Eve story that is absent from the serious Greek tale. The ridiculous hide-and-seek stuff with God shouting !I can see you!" would not appear in Greek mythology. Genesis comes closer to Hans Andersen without the rich narrative.
