This entry is part [part not set] of 19 in the series Another Interpretation of the Garden of Eden Story

In which an alternative view is offered regarding the exit of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, the action of women and the relationship of men and women are explored and the story of Cain and Abel is reinterpreted in light of the actions taken during the Garden of Eden Story.

 

In order to fully appreciate this discussion, it is recommended that the posts comprising the series “In God’s Image” and “Imagination and the Mind of Man” be read before reading the posts in this series.

 

Another Interpretation of the Garden of Eden Story

 

Review of the previous post.

 

The previous post, post number 11 of 19, discussed how human love is introduced in the Garden of Eden story.

 

Preview of this post.

 

This post, post number 12 of 19, discusses how human cooperation is introduced in the Garden of Eden story.

 

Perhaps the Forbidden Fruit episode can be understood if it is viewed through the lens of cooperation. As discussed above, it is the cooperation between humans which sets the human race apart from and gives them the ability to have mastery over the other entities created in Genesis. This cooperation begins with the cooperation between a man and his mate, especially as it applies to child rearing. It is this cooperation which is the basis of and model for the extended cooperation between members of a community. Perhaps the episode of the forbidden fruit was instigated by God to force the male and the female to learn to depend on each other and to be loyal to each other. Loyalty is the basis for dependency. Being loyal to someone and knowing that you can depend on them is the basis for cooperation. Thus, the forbidden fruit episode was instigated by God as a test for whether or not humans had learned the initial lessons of loyalty and dependency. Adam had nothing to gain by stepping up to share the consequences with Eve. Yet he did so. Such an action shows altruism, which is an extremely high form of loyalty. God waited until Adam showed loyalty to his mate (by altruistically sharing the responsibility for the transgression) before He was convinced that humans had started on the path of cooperating with each other before He allowed the two humans to go out on their own. Perhaps the test of the forbidden fruit had been applied previously, and Adam had not previously stepped up to share responsibility, and it was only now that he did, so God concluded that the humans were ready to leave the Garden. When Adam stepped up and joined Eve in accepting the consequences even though he did not have to, it showed that humans had evolved sufficiently to learn cooperation. Perhaps God tested the humans for this characteristic until the humans responded in a way that assured God that the characteristic had been sufficiently developed for them to leave the Garden. The humans finally passed the test when they cooperated to first eat the fruit and then to jointly accept the consequences.

 

Preview of the next post.

 

The next post, post number 13 of 19, speculates that God had Adam and Eve leave the Garden for their own protection.

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