Posted by Dinah on July 11, 2002, at 8:46:31
In reply to Theology question du jour, posted by homewood on July 11, 2002, at 6:08:25
I guess it depends on your interpretation of the story. Were Adam and Eve cursed or blessed by being thrown out of Eden? (Of course, I don't interpret the bible story literally but metaphorically.)
They ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The name of that tree is very symbolic to me. In eating that fruit they became able to make moral judgements and live lifes based on free choice of whether do do right or wrong. To become heartbreakingly and gloriously adult human. To have to work for a living (and know the joy of challenge and satisfaction). To have pain in childbirth (and know the great miracle and joy of giving birth). To suffer (and learn compassion) and to eventually die (well who wants to live forever in paradise - sounds horrendously dull).
In eating of the fruit they made a choice to become to a degree independent of God. And God like a good parent gave them that freedom (along with a good dose of the reality of what that meant).
The interesting part of symbolic stories is that they leave a lot of room for interpretation. And that particular interpretation is a variant of one offered by Harold Kushner on his book about guilt (I can't remember the name - sorry).
I find Kushner gives me so much to think about. His book "To Life!" is the major shaper of my theology.
poster:Dinah
thread:424
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20020527/msgs/425.html