And what happened here?

Saying "no", at least in the sense I've been talking about it lately, is, in a manner of speaking, an act of defiance. This change of register (that is, using bigger words to describe everyday things), increases the significance of the thought. The issue now becomes one of how willing are we to defy authority. How far are we willing to go? Is it really an issue at all? I think it is.

Our Western tradition has handed a story down to us that deals with the notion of "defiance". At least one of the three western religions has even made it one of the centerpieces of its doctrinal canon. I'm talking about the story of "the Fall", as it is sometimes known, and the doctrine that has been built upon it is that of "Original Sin".

For those of you who tend to avoid traditional literature, allow me to give you a quick recap of the story: G-d creates the universe and within it there is a special place called the Garden of Eden. This is literally paradise on earth. In this garden, he places man (Adam) and woman (Eve). He then tells them they can more or less do what they want and eat what they want, except – and this is the key point – the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and this under penalty of death. All is well until an unnamed serpent appears and tells Eve who just happens to be in the vicinity that she really won't die if she eats of the fruit, so she does, and immediately turns around and gives it to Adam (who had to be near enough to hear everything) and he eats too. And that's when it happens ... bam! they realize they're naked, make themselves some makeshift clothes out of fig leaves, because, oddly enough, they're not dead.

OK, it's an abridged version, I'll grant you that, but the real question is: what happened here? Is this just another silly story? Is it some long-forgotten myth that was just a vain attempt to explain something that we humans didn't understand until we got smarter? What can be the possible value of a story like this one? And more: even if you are starting a religion, is this where you start? Did these two hapless souls defy G-d? Did they commit a sin?

I won't be able to answer all of these questions today, of course, but they really are worth thinking about. Regardless of how we feel about the use (or abuse) that has been made of the story, one valid point remains: it is one attempt we have made to explain to ourselves why we are as we are. And if for no other reason, it's worth thinking about. So think about it ... at least till next time.