As I read it I kept getting that sinking feeling, when you know things are starting to spiral down out of control. It's really a tragedy. You get the feeling of God and humankind falling away from each other.
I'd say the sin of Eden is disobedience. God gave them very simple instructions ("don't do this"), but they followed their own desires. And I'd say that's still the problem....
Friday, 28 October 2011
Thursday, 27 October 2011
Things got bad really quickly - Reading 2, Genesis 3
It is amazing how fast things can go badly when the wrong choice is made or when suddenly we want something that we really shouldn't have. Matt and Ann talked about the peacefulness and the order of creation and the end of our first reading being together in a garden, in a place where even God can be seen walking about. Yet that wasn't good enough. There was one thing that they were asked to leave alone, and they couldn't stay away.
Our Western understanding of sin often gets wrapped up in some kind of sexual sin. Perhaps it's because of a prudish upbringing or because of how destructive sexual sin can be. The sin of Eden wasn't that at all....in fact as a result of the Eden sin, suddenly we became ashamed,and all of the other stuff came after. The sin of Eden strikes me as being the sin of wanting more, of wanting the one thing we are told we could not have. Isn't that the root of most of the sin (evil) in our world today. Whether it's war, destruction of the creation, power struggles, violence against women, children or for that matter anyone or thing. It always seems to come down to not being content with what we have been given in life and demanding what someone, or some creature, has. What do you think the sin of Eden was? How do you see that playing out in our world and our own lives today?
Our Western understanding of sin often gets wrapped up in some kind of sexual sin. Perhaps it's because of a prudish upbringing or because of how destructive sexual sin can be. The sin of Eden wasn't that at all....in fact as a result of the Eden sin, suddenly we became ashamed,and all of the other stuff came after. The sin of Eden strikes me as being the sin of wanting more, of wanting the one thing we are told we could not have. Isn't that the root of most of the sin (evil) in our world today. Whether it's war, destruction of the creation, power struggles, violence against women, children or for that matter anyone or thing. It always seems to come down to not being content with what we have been given in life and demanding what someone, or some creature, has. What do you think the sin of Eden was? How do you see that playing out in our world and our own lives today?
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
Genesis Chapters 1 and 2
I like what Ann said about the rhythm of the reading. The repetition sort of lulls the reader. As I read it, I found it very calming. We know from science that the earth has been formed by violent processes, such as volcanoes and plates rubbing against each other. But this Genesis account gives a different complementary picture: underneath all the apparent chaos is God's supreme unerring power and control and love. It's true poetry and the rhythm really makes the reader feel God's gentle power.
I was struck by the fruitfulness of it all. God's creating things that then create more of themselves: plants, trees, animals, even people! That's such a huge difference from the things we create, which just wear away, break down and go into landfill sites. God's not only creating good things, but good things that multiply.
I love how the reading ends: a guy and a girl working together in a garden. Why have things become so complicated? I guess we'll find out...
I was struck by the fruitfulness of it all. God's creating things that then create more of themselves: plants, trees, animals, even people! That's such a huge difference from the things we create, which just wear away, break down and go into landfill sites. God's not only creating good things, but good things that multiply.
I love how the reading ends: a guy and a girl working together in a garden. Why have things become so complicated? I guess we'll find out...
Tuesday, 18 October 2011
Welcome to the E100 Challenge Blog
Each Week a parish animator will start the discussion about two of the E100 Bible passages. Feel free to join in on the discussion. This blog will aim to complete the E100 Challenge in 1 year
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