CS Bible Lesson- Adam and Fallen Man-November 9, 2008

[Susie]

I would really like to hear some thoughts on this lesson. Over and over the phrase that shouts at me is: "Who told thee that thou wast naked?" (Section IV).

I have been trying to understand more about spiritual senses being the real vehicle that man should use to understand his true identity. This real man would never be "naked", or with out completeness and provision. Each challenge I have come across this week is almost simultaneously hearing: "Who told thee that thou wast naked?" I'm approaching this by considering/sorting through what senses have I adopted spiritual or material.

I did notice today that Eve saw all the goodies of the tree and didn't seem to be enticed by the idea of knowing evil. The observation is pretty irrelevant though if we are to see this allegory as simply an old wives tale: Golden Text, I Timothy 4:7, "Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly."


Susie

[needlepointer]

I too had a hard time getting the main point of this week's lesson. what I think is, that it continues the train of thought started several lessons ago.. We had "Unreality" then "Are sin, disease etc. real?" then "everlasting punishment" answering the question (in my opinion) that if sin [U]is [U] unreal then what is punished? answer=the belief of sin. This week seems to be asking and answering the question "well, if there is no sin then is there no "original sin". The orthodox theological belief in original sin is quite pervasive (or do I mean - invasive?) and I'm so grateful that Mrs. Eddy refutes the notion of original sin which includes the notion that all mankind is imperfect and that woman is cursed.

[JudyRae]

Hi Susie,

Love the way the “who told you” kept jumping out at you!

I’ve been away this week, and don’t really have time to write all I’d like about this subject, which is probably my favourite. (I have twice written for two weeks daily about it on an Internet discussion forum!)



I did notice today that Eve saw all the goodies of the tree and didn't seem to be enticed by the idea of knowing evil. The observation is pretty irrelevant though if we are to see this allegory as simply an old wives tale: Golden Text, I Timothy 4:7, "Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly."




To me, it’s hugely important to understand the difference Mary Baker Eddy perceived of the two accounts of creation, which are nearly always just lumped together in the thoughts of most people. Though we don't have the whole curse bit in this week's Lesson, I'll include it here, as it was the outcome of the all the beliefs of evil that were first presented in the Adam and Eve allegory.

Although this allegory was written thousands of years ago it has shaped thought, beliefs and attitudes through the ages, (the story is at the begining of both the Hebrew Scriptures and the Koran) and we may be unwittingly suffering from it (for instance, the belief that women are cursed to suffer pain and discomfort in all aspects of childbearing) without even realising what is influencing us.

"Man" in the gender variety (and now too, working women) have largely accepted that life is one long toil trying to make ends meet and feed mouths etc rather than seeing the infinite abundance of supply unfold as Jesus demonstrated with the loaves and fishes.

Worse still, old theology believes that because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience, mankind has to suffer its dire consequence under their curse and for the remainder of history has to carry this burden of being born “into sin”. Isn’t that another legacy of this whole fallen man/curse mythology that has permeated the thinking of countless generations? Don’t people believe that they are OUTSIDE of good? Instead of understanding that we are ONE with God, good, therefore INCLUDE all good, we see ourselves as separate. We see ourselves as struggling (sometimes sinning), mortals trying desperately to reach perfection. Some people still believe that we are being punished for the sins of Adam and Eve and that suffering is the way God turns us to him.

All this suffering because of a dream in a myth! And all we have to do is to wake up and claim our true inheritance.

Some years ago, there was a Christian Science Sentinel article called “Afghanistan and the theological battle for women's rights” This is from it:

A revision of this attitude, and the consequent elevation of womanhood, is coincident with a more spiritual interpretation of Scripture, one that acknowledges the divine nature and infinite value of both men and women. Such a view does not have to be created. It is already plainly stated in the very first creation account in the Bible, though historically it largely has been ignored or itself made subservient to the "Fall" story: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."

To me the main point of this Lesson is "enabled woman to be first to interpret the Scriptures in their true sense..." (Science and Health 534)

I was once given a little ditty about Genesis, which is really useful to keep asking ourselves:

"Tell me which (wo)man you believe is you.
Genesis 1 or Genesis 2?"

And of course, those differing accounts of creation also bring this out:

TELL ME WHICH GOD YOU BELIEVE IS TRUE,
GENESIS 1 OR GENESIS 2?

JudyRae

[JudyRae]

Just popped back to see whether you have read this CS Sentinel article on the Lesson this week Susie:

Original virtues—entirely spiritual (http://www.spirituality.com/article.jhtml?ElementId=/repositories/shcomarticle/Oct2008/1225369917.xml&ElementName=Original%20virtues%E2%80%94entirely%20 spiritual)

JudyRae