There's a second half to the Adam and Eve story, missing from the Bible but referenced in later literature. (And we have translations of it in, among others, Latin and Greek.)
It deals with Adam and Eve's life after they are exiled from Eden. As with the Bible, it casts all of us as Adam, all of us as Eve. (The Hebrew word "Adam" means "person," and "Eve" comes from the root for "life.") And it posits that our life in Eden is our childhood, and our post-exilic life is most of our lives: adulthood.
It does not paint Adam and Eve as sinners. Rather, their exile was completely beyond their control because they were outgunned by the forces of nature. Exile from Eden was as inevitable as children growing into adults.
There's also the mythology/interpretation of the correlation of the Elohim (demi-gods) of the OT subjecting the humans to slavey, with Yahweh being Enlil, and the Serpent being Enke, who had compassion on the humans and was trying to liberate them through Eve. Bible translator Mauro Biglino's works are very compelling in that he says a pure reading of the OT demonstrates it is not a recording of the Supreme God's interactions with humans, but rather the Annunaki demi-gods who came to earth and were fighting over land and power. The early Hebrews were devoted to Yahweh/Enlil as their protector and El (god). Interesting stuff when you get into some of the ancient books of mythology (like the Book of Jasher, and the Book of Enoch). These sources tell us that we have too little perspective on events we're trying to interpret. Which is why the Midrash and other Hebrew teachings were so important to understanding context.
I've recently been reading Paul Wallis' Eden series which gets into this too. The gnostics themselves seemed to have texts that spoke on this as well (ie. The Nature of the Rulers and On the Origins of the World)
This was laid out so incredibly. I enjoyed every minute of this read. I was brought into a word of faith/prosperity gospel church at 16 and was there for 13 years. This article describes my concerns and some of the indoctrinations that I had. I've been out for two years, by the grace of God. I couldn't stand anymore the word being used to justify their sins and their own flawed behavior. And I also loved the statement that you said that our life experiences can contribute to the bad that we do in society. I see this happening a lot in Christianity. I'm so happy that there are other folks who are like minded and think the same way.
Good old Kenny Copeland. At one time the richest Preacher and follower of Christ. Seems that he had a very hard time following Christ because he could not give his money away.
I wish there was a magic fruit that would open people's eyes to what the Bible really is, blow away the rosy fog of holiness and free their minds. Anyway .. . . there's Adam and Eve in the garden, the perfect sinless world. And Eve eats the fruit. She knows about good and evil now. WUT? I say, WAITAMINNIT, where'd the evil come from? It's not that it's a fucked up story, but that it's a story.
Gods don't write stories.
The Earth is sacred and it shouldn't be destroyed by a paper idol.
There’s Nothing Wrong With You (And There Never Was) is my Substack and your Deconstructionolgy is one of my recommended substacks. Love your work. Would love to interview you at some point!
My first thought is you might want to take a few minutes and allow HIS SPIRIT to teach YOU what is TRUE and what is NOT TRUE… Only then will YOU come CLOSER to What The Truth IS, and WHO HE IS…!!!
I think a better course of action would be to read the first books of the TORAH noting in particular all the acts of violence god commands his followers to do.
Freddy… by chance, have you studied any world history, or even bothered to read WHY the God of the Bible said and did what He did…? No would be your answer for sure… in His view, which is MUCH LARGER THAN YOURS, you might come closer to understanding why He commanded His armies to do what they did… Here’s a hint, to protect the Bloodline of His Son and to make a pathway to His journey to earth along with His Selfless act of Love for ALL MANKIND… these words I send to you are written with Love in order for you to hopefully Open your eyes far past this tiny world we live in… Thank You… and I do hope you do some studying and research before you make up your very small mindset… God be with you… and I really do hope you come to see His plan for You sir…!
There's a second half to the Adam and Eve story, missing from the Bible but referenced in later literature. (And we have translations of it in, among others, Latin and Greek.)
It deals with Adam and Eve's life after they are exiled from Eden. As with the Bible, it casts all of us as Adam, all of us as Eve. (The Hebrew word "Adam" means "person," and "Eve" comes from the root for "life.") And it posits that our life in Eden is our childhood, and our post-exilic life is most of our lives: adulthood.
It does not paint Adam and Eve as sinners. Rather, their exile was completely beyond their control because they were outgunned by the forces of nature. Exile from Eden was as inevitable as children growing into adults.
There's also the mythology/interpretation of the correlation of the Elohim (demi-gods) of the OT subjecting the humans to slavey, with Yahweh being Enlil, and the Serpent being Enke, who had compassion on the humans and was trying to liberate them through Eve. Bible translator Mauro Biglino's works are very compelling in that he says a pure reading of the OT demonstrates it is not a recording of the Supreme God's interactions with humans, but rather the Annunaki demi-gods who came to earth and were fighting over land and power. The early Hebrews were devoted to Yahweh/Enlil as their protector and El (god). Interesting stuff when you get into some of the ancient books of mythology (like the Book of Jasher, and the Book of Enoch). These sources tell us that we have too little perspective on events we're trying to interpret. Which is why the Midrash and other Hebrew teachings were so important to understanding context.
I've recently been reading Paul Wallis' Eden series which gets into this too. The gnostics themselves seemed to have texts that spoke on this as well (ie. The Nature of the Rulers and On the Origins of the World)
This was laid out so incredibly. I enjoyed every minute of this read. I was brought into a word of faith/prosperity gospel church at 16 and was there for 13 years. This article describes my concerns and some of the indoctrinations that I had. I've been out for two years, by the grace of God. I couldn't stand anymore the word being used to justify their sins and their own flawed behavior. And I also loved the statement that you said that our life experiences can contribute to the bad that we do in society. I see this happening a lot in Christianity. I'm so happy that there are other folks who are like minded and think the same way.
Good old Kenny Copeland. At one time the richest Preacher and follower of Christ. Seems that he had a very hard time following Christ because he could not give his money away.
The issue of Eve as the excuse for the suppression of women gets even more interesting when you know the story of Lilith.
I wish there was a magic fruit that would open people's eyes to what the Bible really is, blow away the rosy fog of holiness and free their minds. Anyway .. . . there's Adam and Eve in the garden, the perfect sinless world. And Eve eats the fruit. She knows about good and evil now. WUT? I say, WAITAMINNIT, where'd the evil come from? It's not that it's a fucked up story, but that it's a story.
Gods don't write stories.
The Earth is sacred and it shouldn't be destroyed by a paper idol.
Everything is a Story.
There’s Nothing Wrong With You (And There Never Was) is my Substack and your Deconstructionolgy is one of my recommended substacks. Love your work. Would love to interview you at some point!
https://open.substack.com/pub/thompsonk?r=1fhxt&utm_medium=ios
My first thought is you might want to take a few minutes and allow HIS SPIRIT to teach YOU what is TRUE and what is NOT TRUE… Only then will YOU come CLOSER to What The Truth IS, and WHO HE IS…!!!
Please know there are NO rocks thrown toward You…
ONLY A THOUGHT IN LOVE…❤️
I think a better course of action would be to read the first books of the TORAH noting in particular all the acts of violence god commands his followers to do.
Freddy… by chance, have you studied any world history, or even bothered to read WHY the God of the Bible said and did what He did…? No would be your answer for sure… in His view, which is MUCH LARGER THAN YOURS, you might come closer to understanding why He commanded His armies to do what they did… Here’s a hint, to protect the Bloodline of His Son and to make a pathway to His journey to earth along with His Selfless act of Love for ALL MANKIND… these words I send to you are written with Love in order for you to hopefully Open your eyes far past this tiny world we live in… Thank You… and I do hope you do some studying and research before you make up your very small mindset… God be with you… and I really do hope you come to see His plan for You sir…!