The genesis of Genesis

[Gee]

As an allegorical reflection on the human condition, I read it as a Song of Innocence and Experience.   Why are we flawed, why do we suffer and die, why does **** happen.  Profound existential questions, and in Genesis it's linked specifically to knowledge of good and evil.

  The original sin was disobedience, a wilful rejection of childlike innocence and obedience.  Like we all  grow up,  test boundaries, have to start making our own decisions and taking responsibility for our actions.   And it's written, over time,  by  people who are contextualising their own tribe's history, including   exile and suffering and Moses' new covenant with Yahweh leading to a new promised land. 

Unfortunately this notion of original sin which taints us all is a crass and self-loathing way to understand ourselves and each other, which has played out in history and individual psyches.

Didn't do women any favours either. Adam is 'man-kind', made in Yahweh's image, Eve is created as something of 'man', not god. An afterthought companion, the other, who leads 'man' into temptation. Probably best women shut up, keep covered up, and stop distracting 'man' from his sacred relationship with god with their worldly ways of the flesh.

Regarding your last paragraph, have you learned about Lilith, who was supposed to be Adam's first wife? Most people don't discuss this aspect of the Garden of Eden story, but I think it is very relevant to the battle of the sexes and maybe the battle of the "Gods". It also explains the misogynistic attitude that permeates the Old Testament.

Have you read Jean Auel's Earth Children series of books? Although they are fiction, Ms. Auel is a scholar and researched history to come up with her ideas. I think she explains or at least predicts that misogynistic attitude.

Gee

[Sy Borg]

Didn't do women any favours either. Adam is 'man-kind', made in Yahweh's image, Eve is created as something of 'man', not god. An afterthought companion, the other, who leads 'man' into temptation. Probably best women shut up, keep covered up, and stop distracting 'man' from his sacred relationship with god with their worldly ways of the flesh.

In the early legends, Lilith was Adam's original partner, but she had her own mind and was not subservient to Adam, so she was cast out of Eden and declared a she-demon. All fair enough enough and not even a bit misogynist, I'm sure you would agree :) God then created Eve from Adam's rib to replace Lilith. Eve was subservient and thus accepted, at least until the AppleGate scandal broke.

These myths seem to reflect a growing tension at the dawn of civilisation. Dawkins refers to two major reproductive strategies amongst mammals - the He-Man strategy and Domestic Bliss. In the former, a dominant male leads the group, controlling and mating with all females, with the beta males acting as helpers or competition. In Domestic Bliss, the male has to put much effort into courtship, perhaps building a nest or engaging in taxing display behaviours. Once a male is selected, he has put so much investment into the young that he helps out to ensure his "investment" comes through.

Some human males strive to be dominant and controlling, believing that that is the male birthright. Others approach relationships as a partnership, believing that to be more moral, civilised and productive. Generally, societies that lean towards Domestic Bliss consistently outperform He-man societies on almost all metrics. A society that attempts to utilise all of their human resources, rather than ignoring the talent of half of their people, will naturally have an advantage over a society that keeps half of its population down.

So Genesis refers to this tension and puts forward the prevailing view in the ancient Middle East, and probably most European societies at the time, noting that the Egyptians embraced much more equality.

[Gertie]

As an allegorical reflection on the human condition, I read it as a Song of Innocence and Experience.   Why are we flawed, why do we suffer and die, why does **** happen.  Profound existential questions, and in Genesis it's linked specifically to knowledge of good and evil.

  The original sin was disobedience, a wilful rejection of childlike innocence and obedience.  Like we all  grow up,  test boundaries, have to start making our own decisions and taking responsibility for our actions.   And it's written, over time,  by  people who are contextualising their own tribe's history, including   exile and suffering and Moses' new covenant with Yahweh leading to a new promised land. 

Unfortunately this notion of original sin which taints us all is a crass and self-loathing way to understand ourselves and each other, which has played out in history and individual psyches.

Didn't do women any favours either. Adam is 'man-kind', made in Yahweh's image, Eve is created as something of 'man', not god. An afterthought companion, the other, who leads 'man' into temptation. Probably best women shut up, keep covered up, and stop distracting 'man' from his sacred relationship with god with their worldly ways of the flesh.

Regarding your last paragraph, have you learned about Lilith, who was supposed to be Adam's first wife? Most people don't discuss this aspect of the Garden of Eden story, but I think it is very relevant to the battle of the sexes and maybe the battle of the "Gods". It also explains the misogynistic attitude that permeates the Old Testament.

Have you read Jean Auel's Earth Children series of books? Although they are fiction, Ms. Auel is a scholar and researched history to come up with her ideas. I think she explains or at least predicts that misogynistic attitude.

Gee

No I don't know much about Lilith, I get the impression she's a bit feistier than Eve, has some agency of her own. Women barely get a mention in the New Testament, it's all about Jesus, sent by Yahweh, who gathers 12 male disciples (referencing the twelve tribes) who are told to leave families and earthly belongings and concerns to follow Jesus. Because Yahweh is about to create his kingdom on earth, centred in Jerusalem. Another Eden, which eventually moves to 'heaven' and the after-life as Jesus's followers try to understand the meaning of his death and failed prophecy. I suppose the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene are the big two, which gave us the Madonna/Whore representation.

I read Clan of the Cave Bear years ago, I remember liking it but not much detail now. It felt new and refreshing to get a pre-historic female pov!

[Gertie]

Sy

In the early legends, Lilith was Adam's original partner, but she had her own mind and was not subservient to Adam, so she was cast out of Eden and declared a she-demon. All fair enough enough and not even a bit misogynist, I'm sure you would agree God then created Eve from Adam's rib to replace Lilith. Eve was subservient and thus accepted, at least until the AppleGate scandal broke.

Rejoice! For here-after, I tell ye, Genesis Ch :1 shall be knoweth as Applegate!

[Sy Borg]

Sy

In the early legends, Lilith was Adam's original partner, but she had her own mind and was not subservient to Adam, so she was cast out of Eden and declared a she-demon. All fair enough enough and not even a bit misogynist, I'm sure you would agree :) God then created Eve from Adam's rib to replace Lilith. Eve was subservient and thus accepted, at least until the AppleGate scandal broke.

Rejoice! For here-after, I tell ye, Genesis Ch :1 shall be knoweth as Applegate! :lol:

Apologies to Christina from Married ... With Children.

God hiddeth the wire tap in the apple tree.
And he waited, for He knew the hearts of Men, and especially Women, were full of sin.
For that is how He created them.
For God hath screweth up badly.
So He shall smite all who speak this fact
For He is a jealous God, pained that the creations of Elon are better designed than His own.

[Gertie]

Amen, Blessed be Elon!

[Sy Borg]

Amen, Blessed be Elon!

It's all there in Judges 12:11 And after him Elon, a Teslaite, judged Twitter; and he judged Twitter ten years.