Ignorance and Immortality

First, I am interested to see the seminar about the role of women in the Bible. I was bothered a bit my Plotz ‘writing them off’ in his account and am anxious to see another spin on women’s roles. Women have to do subtle, deceptive things in the Bible in order to accomplish anything as they are otherwise powerless, right? October 1^st will be interesting for sure…

I am more interested in the role of the serpent than I have ever been in various readings of the Bible. It is coming along slowly, I will admit. The Serpent assumes the role of temptation, desire, and is considered a bad thing in Genesis. Professor Sexson mentioned today in class that the snake was not always thought of as bad or evil…but where and when? This is the first mention of a serpent in the Bible as far as I am aware, and what exists before this reading? What exactly exists before the Bible as a piece of literature?

In Genesis, the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die’. Why, then, was this even considered by Adam or Eve? Were Adam and Eve aware of the concept of death or even frightened by it? I am trying to understand if knowledge and fear were instilled in Adam and Eve only after they took a bite from the forbidden fruit, and if this is the case, why would God feel as though Adam and Eve would be frightened of his “threats”. Did they even know how to feel threatened? They didn’t even know how to be shameful until they ate of the forbidden fruit.

If, in fact, Adam and Eve were aware of the threat to their lives on Earth, were they aware what death would bring to them? God should have kept his word and killed both of them. The story would be in complete and utter ruin, wouldn’t it? I am probably confusing the hell out of anyone reading this, but I really am trying to make a point. Why would God tell Adam and Eve they would die if they ate of the fruit, when really, they were not killed? The story would have to have been completely different had God killed Eve when he heard of her tasting the fruit. Where would the story of Bible be, then? I would be interested to see where human beings would end up in all of this if someone were to do a re-write. Would God just create another Eve? Would the new Eve be able to avoid temptation and stay away from the cunning serpent? If the Bible is supposed to be an account of life on Earth as we know it, I would hate to see what human beings would be like if the whole 'Garden of Eden' thing never happened, or happened differently. Oh, ignorance and immortality…