10 thoughts on “Have We Healed?”

  2. That’s like asking if mankind has expunged its original sin.

    And indeed slavery is a sin of all mankind. Original Sin, on the other hand, effectively marked the moment we became human by gaining the distinction between right and wrong.

    Slavery, therefore, couldn’t become a sin until after that moment. And as far as I know, the Tree of Knowledge species isn’t demanding reparations.

  3. Funny how Judeo-Christian theology considers the original sin to be: pursuing and gaining knowledge. Specifically knowledge of morality (good and evil).

    Or was the original sin the act of disobeying the diktat of the master, in the pursuit of said knowledge. I’m not sure which is a more damning self-condemnation of the theology.

    That the pursuit of knowledge imparts a immortal unpardonable sin on all humankind into eternity, and that such a sin was so awful that it be given the primacy of “original sin” speaks volumes.

    And really, who would prefer to be a naked ignorant half-wit running around in a ‘garden’ all their life? That is supposed to be some grand depiction of life’s (no longer possible) perfection?

  4. “And really, who would prefer to be a naked ignorant half-wit running around in a ‘garden’ all their life? That is supposed to be some grand depiction of life’s (no longer possible) perfection?”

    Gaia worshipers.

    I think the concept of original sin has to do with the philosophy that no one is perfect.

  6. And really, who would prefer to be a naked ignorant half-wit running around in a ‘garden’ all their life?

    Um, that’s actually the point of the story — than despite the consquence of morality, men would rather be free.

  8. Titus – If that really was the point of the story, and assuming you don’t consider desire for freedom evil (which I’m pretty certain you don’t), why call it sin? Wouldn’t eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil be celebrated as a virtuous action, when Man decided to live for himself rather than be a pet?

    Ken – I don’t see how the story is a good example of arrogance, and many of the details would be superfluous if arrogance was to be considered the original sin. Why the serpent, seducing A&E to eat the fruit? Why make the tree anything special at all? And disobeying one’s master is hardly a good example of arrogance in itself, certainly not in the context of the story. And more importantly, does the lesson “don’t be arrogant” have nearly as much use for a religion as “don’t disobey the word of our Lord”?

    Oops for derailing a Civil War thread.

  9. Titus,
    the point of the Adam and Eve / Garden of Eden story was NOT that man longs to be free!

    I’m flummoxed by the very concept of your philosophical explanation of that story! WHERE, if at ALL, do you GO TO CHURCH!!?? OR, where DID you go to hear it that way?!

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