Thank you, thank you...my heart leaped for joy as I read this reflection ....a long time ago as a young child I knew in my heart that I was born in and of Love, and today as an old woman in her eighties I am still being transformed by that birthing process, and loving that I am LOVE.
How I wish we all could embrace this theology of connectness without the pejorative frame. It's as if you crawled into my head. Thank you for this morning dose of grace.
Marcus Borg offered some alternative interpretations I always treasured. The story could be one of hubris, consciousness or , sloth (reading the Bible for the first time). I loved “not claiming your unique life” (sloth in the snake) the most. Read his rationales in the above named book. Life-changing to me. There is no certainty “disobedience” is what was meant. Borg’s alternatives are just as likely, and certainly not as anti feminine or deadly as the disobedience option.
I was privileged to "find" Matthew Fox when I was in seminary in the 80's. My father shared with my many of his books and he, along with many, many others, have helped shaped the way I look at the world. Thank you for being one of those others who walk with me.
I read the original sin narrative quiet literally. The first humans ate of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil so they could judge others and judge themselves. This judging was reserved for God. Our seeking to judge is the source of our alienation from God and from each other and causes the troubles in the world. Organized religion, rather than condemning our judging, does judging on steroids.
Beautiful 'deeper dive' into original sin. I totally agree with your reflection. Many years ago, I realized this amazing understanding myself. I gradually 'became aware in prayer' that 'Adam & Eve' did not simply 'dis-obey' (not listen to) God, with whom they were in relationship - they freely chose to be independent of God. And this choice evoked a consequence that they had not considered when making their selfish choice . They effectively locked the One Who Loved Them out of their decision making. For me, this scenario has been and continues to be replayed over & over & over again in our human family. And like in any family knit together in love, re-membering restores the family.
Many non Christian cultures also have hierarchy and patriarchy or matriarchy. In actuality it can be an evolutionary advantage to be part of such a culture where the strong protect the weak. Most anthropologists would credit tribalism, with clear lines of power, for helping humans survive and thrive, from the beginning. So I hesitate to pin so much weight for the worst of our “isms” on the people of the Book. Original sin as Christianity exploited it is a sin in itself. But all creation wants to thrive and sing. Has there ever been a time in human existence when some sacrifice their lives or their spirits so that others may live? I don’t think so. Some must choose to do this out of love. Some out of desire for power and control. Others out of duty or forced by culture and Coercion. Either way the stewardship of power predates Christianity and therefore we have to wonder why such a system of faith and belief ever lit up the world. I choose to think that at its best, it’s because humans need something to temper their tendency to exploit others and creation to thrive and live. Is this urge sin? Or a desire to be like God? Maybe it is. I tend to think so. Sometimes binary is a good system. But I am interested in being convinced otherwise.
When I began my journey to understand how theology impacted my life, I discovered there were teachers waiting for me in worlds beyond Earth. They included names I knew from my birth community and more. I came to call them the Ancient Ones. Over these years, I have asked them many questions... the falseness of The Garden Myth was a powerful awakening. I now see it as the foundation of those whose agendas are to dominate... not 'god' of good and blessing at all. Thanks for your words.
Thank you, thank you...my heart leaped for joy as I read this reflection ....a long time ago as a young child I knew in my heart that I was born in and of Love, and today as an old woman in her eighties I am still being transformed by that birthing process, and loving that I am LOVE.
How I wish we all could embrace this theology of connectness without the pejorative frame. It's as if you crawled into my head. Thank you for this morning dose of grace.
Marcus Borg offered some alternative interpretations I always treasured. The story could be one of hubris, consciousness or , sloth (reading the Bible for the first time). I loved “not claiming your unique life” (sloth in the snake) the most. Read his rationales in the above named book. Life-changing to me. There is no certainty “disobedience” is what was meant. Borg’s alternatives are just as likely, and certainly not as anti feminine or deadly as the disobedience option.
I was privileged to "find" Matthew Fox when I was in seminary in the 80's. My father shared with my many of his books and he, along with many, many others, have helped shaped the way I look at the world. Thank you for being one of those others who walk with me.
I read the original sin narrative quiet literally. The first humans ate of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil so they could judge others and judge themselves. This judging was reserved for God. Our seeking to judge is the source of our alienation from God and from each other and causes the troubles in the world. Organized religion, rather than condemning our judging, does judging on steroids.
Beautiful 'deeper dive' into original sin. I totally agree with your reflection. Many years ago, I realized this amazing understanding myself. I gradually 'became aware in prayer' that 'Adam & Eve' did not simply 'dis-obey' (not listen to) God, with whom they were in relationship - they freely chose to be independent of God. And this choice evoked a consequence that they had not considered when making their selfish choice . They effectively locked the One Who Loved Them out of their decision making. For me, this scenario has been and continues to be replayed over & over & over again in our human family. And like in any family knit together in love, re-membering restores the family.
Many non Christian cultures also have hierarchy and patriarchy or matriarchy. In actuality it can be an evolutionary advantage to be part of such a culture where the strong protect the weak. Most anthropologists would credit tribalism, with clear lines of power, for helping humans survive and thrive, from the beginning. So I hesitate to pin so much weight for the worst of our “isms” on the people of the Book. Original sin as Christianity exploited it is a sin in itself. But all creation wants to thrive and sing. Has there ever been a time in human existence when some sacrifice their lives or their spirits so that others may live? I don’t think so. Some must choose to do this out of love. Some out of desire for power and control. Others out of duty or forced by culture and Coercion. Either way the stewardship of power predates Christianity and therefore we have to wonder why such a system of faith and belief ever lit up the world. I choose to think that at its best, it’s because humans need something to temper their tendency to exploit others and creation to thrive and live. Is this urge sin? Or a desire to be like God? Maybe it is. I tend to think so. Sometimes binary is a good system. But I am interested in being convinced otherwise.
Love the phrase "binary moral logic" in cosmology seeds section. Have a good life ✨
When I began my journey to understand how theology impacted my life, I discovered there were teachers waiting for me in worlds beyond Earth. They included names I knew from my birth community and more. I came to call them the Ancient Ones. Over these years, I have asked them many questions... the falseness of The Garden Myth was a powerful awakening. I now see it as the foundation of those whose agendas are to dominate... not 'god' of good and blessing at all. Thanks for your words.