Ignorance is Bliss
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Bob Marley - "Adam & Eve"
Most people, even non-Christians, know the story of Adam and Eve. They lived in the garden of Eden under the bountiful protection and provision of an omnipotent God, under one condition. That condition was that they must not eat the "fruit" from the "tree of knowledge of good and evil". Unfortunately for them, the Devil (God's mortal enemy, who constantly tries to undermine the work of the Lord) went after God's children and "tricked" them into eating the fruit. After eating this fruit, they realized that "they were naked" and hid themselves (from God and each other) as a result. However, God being, not only omnipotent, but omniscient, found them and punished them by banishing them from the Garden of Eden and sentencing them to a life of "hard labour".
Now, non-Christians and philosophers don't believe this is the actual story of the first man of people as divinely told by an All-powerful God through his chosen vessels (as some hardcore Christians do). These people like to dissect the story and look for imbedded messages as in ancient fables told and passed down from generation to generation as a means of teaching morality to young people.
So, if I were to look for the messages in the story of a Adam and Eve, the first one that stands out to me, first and foremost is the message that "Ignorance is Bliss".
I mean, who wouldn't want to have all of their needs met and provided for by an all-powerful, all-knowing God? But, to put it in terms that normal people will understand, it's like when you go to a restaurant, or a hospital, or something facility that meets whatever need may arise in your life...Often times, you don't see what goes on behind the scenes, but you sure are happy that you are getting what you wanted. Most people don't want to look up "how hamburger patties are made" (the slaughtering cows part, not the buy it from a grocery store and fry it up in your kitchen part) or how the diamonds they wear got into the store. It tends to be taboo in many circles to talk of such things, because knowing will be tantamount to exiting that proverbial, mental paradise.
So, ignorance is bliss. Adam and Eve were told by Satan that "God doesn't want you to eat of this fruit, because he doesn't want you to know what he knows. He doesn't want you to be like him."
I believe that banishing Adam and Eve, and "punishing" them by telling them they will suffer hard labour (for Adam) and painful childbirthing (for Eve) was basically God telling them, "Well, you wanted to know what I know...You wanted to see how I do what I do...Now you know, and you're going to have to go through what I went through to keep this up. These plants and animals didn't make themselves! Blood, sweat and tears went into this and you're about to find that out first-hand!"
*sigh*
So, yea...Ignorance can be blissful. And that is just one of the messages of the story of Adam and Eve.
Also, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" Adam and Eve were doin' alright. If not for the Devil telling them that they could have more (as he tends to do) they could have continued living in blissful ignorance indefinitely....
I feel like I have more to say, but I can't think of anything right now.
the end.
Interpretations of Christianity
- The Evolution of Religion
SirDent (a hubpages writer) blogs about the part of the history of Christianity up to present day in America. - From the Tower of Babel to False Religion in the End Times
by arkwriter (a hubpages writer)
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Comments
It was a fun well written hub.
Thanks,
Blangrehr
Kathryn I don't really believe that the knowledge itself is a punishment, but I'm saying that God sort of was saying "if you're going to live in my house you have to live by my rules", like many parents do. That rule (for a parent) may be, you can not watch television or use the internet (as some parents seem to be doing these days), because engaging in these acts may corrupt their child's mind (or so they believe). And as long as God had Adam and Eve living under his custody with everything provided for them, he wanted their minds to remain pure (at least this is what I believe this is what the story is saying). However, curiousity kills the cat and sometimes we can either know too much, or know something that is not beneficial to us. I claim to understand the mystery behind the whole figure of " the tree of knowledge of good and evil". Maybe it means they didn't know the difference between good or bad. Maybe to them, everything God said, did and provided for them was simply essential and how it is meant to be. But "knowledge of good and evil" is a sense of personal power of discernment between what is "good" and what is "evil" and maybe God felt that he is the only one that should be able to make those calls... I don't know... But I'm not arguing that God is not a "good" "fair" "just" and/or "loving" being...I mean, even when he punishes, he is still kind. He never leaves any of his creatures alone. He is always there (banished Lucifer from heaven, but still interacts with the Devil on various occasions, Jonah and the whale, banished Adam and Eve, but the children were still a blessing to them). So, yea...God can be good and fair, but still punish and strict. I don't know if I answered your question or made any sense at all. ...but thanks for the comment!
I think it is a story of an example to all.Follow the 10 commandments and obey..your life will be fine..G-Ma :o) hugs
Eve was the second woman to be created by God, Lillath was the first. Aside from that tell Sodom and Gamorah that God is loving, kind, and forgiving LdsNana-AskMormon. He didn't get kind, loving, and forgiving until the New Testimate. I don't get why if God is all knowing why we have th Old Testimate in the first place, He had to have known that it wasn't going to work and that He was going to have to make changes so why not just start with that? Great hub though but it lacked a little in the end. Great job and I hope that you keep writing.
The Eden story has always seemed a bit perverse to me, likewise tricking Abraham into sacrificing his son and then calling it off at the last second. The Eden tale would be as if you put innocent children in a closed room and provided them with everything they needed to be happy and healthy. Remember now, one of the things you have given the children is free will. Then you show them a beautiful, delicious cake and tell them that of all the things in the room the cake is the one thing they must never taste just because you said so. I would call that child abuse.
A provocative HUB. Hope to see more.
if ...."God felt that he is the only one that should be able to make those calls... I don't know.."
then why did He place the tree there in the first place if He wanted only to rule. It's all about choices and it always has been. what kind of love would you or any of us want from another? Force, or choice. Choice for me. and thee?
good discussion
working
LdsNana-AskMormon says:
5 months ago
Intriguing take...
Do you really believe that this life is meant to be a punishment for the children of God, or a learning ground? If what you say... God cursed Adam and Eve so that they would know what He knows, how could this be ultimately considered a curse?
God is joy, love, peace, knowledge and perfection. Maybe things will not turn out so bad for the human race after all?
Perhaps, God has a plan for us?
tDMg
LdsNana-AskMormon