Comments on: Genesis 3:1-24

By: Sitham A

Sitham A — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:05:13 +0000

The meaning of Death in the cycle of life … – my comment was simply coming from the idea, why God expelled A & E from paradise. He certainly did not want them to become godlike, being already in the process of maturation/transition by gaining knowledge as a consequence of Eve’s autarkic decision. How far would they go? What does eating from the Tree-of-Life really could mean?
I follow your idea of death as an event of mercy to a certain extent, as there are moments when the burden of suffering seems to be intolerable. But isn’t the perception of death as an event of mercy not much more an expression of the observer’s helplessness/powerlessness?
What would life be without death? Two examples came to mind: Count Dracula, who would rather die for a life with death or Seth in the ‘City of Angels’ who falls to become mortal – both wanting to find joy in life to the fullest/deepest.
In finity one sees the beauty of infinity? – and the other way round …
A quote which emerged, reflecting on your comment, Richard:
If to the moment I shall ever say:
“Ah, linger on, thou art so fair!”
Then may you fetters on me lay,
Then will I perish, then and there!
Then may the death-bell toll, recalling
Then from your service you are free;
The clock may stop, the pointer falling,
And time itself be past for me!
(JW Goethe)

By: richard w

richard w — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:05:39 +0000

that’s a fascinating comment!
makes me wonder if death is a mercy not a punishment in a society and on a planet that becomes corrupt and evil – certainly when we get glimpses of the intense suffering caused by evil it seems a releif both when victims are ‘released’ from their suffering and also obviously when perpetrators can’t go on forever.
In that line of thought if makes perfect sense that death will only come to an end when evil is dealt with too

By: Sitham A

Sitham A — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 18:17:36 +0000

Could comment on many parts of this passage – but will leave that for now.

The huge surprise was, that after re-reading over and over I realized that the availability of the fruit of the Tree-of-Life, the possibility that human beings could become immortal, was formulated by God as the reason to expel A&E from paradise.

This fall is not caused by their disobedience, not by the seduction, not by the \’wanting to know\’ and the loss of innocence and naivety – these acts will be punished with painful childbirth, female subordination, condemnation to an exhausting, frustrating life of work and starvation and the guarantee of going back to square one at the end – a futile cycle of life without any hope for progress. It is clearly God\’s rhetorical question “ What if he now should reach out and take fruit from the Tree-of-Life and eat, and live forever? Never—this cannot happen!” after which the Garden Eden is lost for humanity.

But: Although God was angry, probably disappointed he cared for them both in their shamefully experienced vulnerability as being naked – and by caring God dressed them, in that acknowledging the newly reached plane of understanding and maturity and alleviating this very toxic feeling of shame.

By: Dot

Dot — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 18:15:03 +0000

As Paul said – the thought that \’the Man has become like one of us, capable of knowing everything – was quite challenging – but it is challenging because of the way in which humanity does not think or reflect about God and others even though it was from God that the knowledge came. I know it was good AND evil, but….

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 08:17:24 +0000

There were two aspect of this that spoke
(1)“You won’t die” – I always remember somebody once saying “actions have consequences”. In these few words there are consequences for everybody, the man, the woman , the serpent and even God all because of the actions taken upon a lie!
(2) I was struck new by “The Man has become like one of us, capable of knowing everything, ranging from good to evil.” I know its obvious really but even entertaining the thought that God would have knowledge ranging from good to EVIL is challenging thought.