THE TREE OF LIFE: The Beginning

GENESIS 2:  God is discussing his new human creations with an angel companion
" we must not let the humans eat of the tree of knowledge.  For if they do so they will become aware.  Then they will eat of the Tree of Life and become as Gods.  We shall forbid it."  

This story is the beginning of gnosis.  Knowledge.  We discover in these stories how to eat from both of these trees.  Which are at the very center of the garden of life.  

But first a trip to the barbeque...

I'm no Certified Bible Scholar but I've heard that true Christians all must believe that every word of the Bible is true. So Creation took exactly seven days and we can toss all the scientific discoveries of the last 200 years.
And if you don't believe all of this? Your future will be barbecued.

But I just have one small question for those of you Christians who still retain an ounce of common sense: So God made Adam out of the mud on a riverbank?
And He made Eve from one of Adams ribs... So that she was part of him. A subservient part. A rib. To be his companion. To live for him.


Well... it's obvious I don't get out much.

Because I've never heard of anyone who was made out of a mud bank. Or anyone from a rib either.
I can't of course be so gauche as to simply ask how people were born. Of course.
But I've just never heard anyone in therapy for example. Even over 40 years! Tell me.
"My father told me he knew the moment he molded me from the riverbank (tears) I'd be no good."
"If you didn't want me why did you ever let someone make me out of your rib Dad!"

Nope. Never heard of this. Strangely enough when I do inquire I keep finding the same story. Everyone I meet seems to come out of women’s wombs.
Maybe it's just cause California is so "new age."
I’m sure down in Oklahoma, you know Christian country. You'll find whole families formed out of river mud.
Probably wouldn't surprise me.

Of course I'm sure you've seen this announcement from a Montgomery Alabama Baptist megachurch:
"This year's annual father's day “Honor the ribs that formed you" potluck will be limited to men and boys after some unpleasant incidents with some former ladies of the church last year. We are asking you all to practice Christian forgiveness. Their souls still need salvation. As always it's all you can eat baby back ribs.
No
I haven't seen it either but I'm looking!
But so far, even in the deep Republican south, I can't find any other birth story. There's always a womb somewhere. Which means a woman.
So my question:
Do you think it odd that the Bible would sacralize a Father as source of all creation and women as...well, Spare ribs? And wickedly tempting sources of evil at that? Apparently these spare ribs come with the devil's own barbecue sauce.  Her disobedience leads to a life of sweat and blood.  And then Hell for disobedience.  Do you wonder if there might be something a little off about this strange story?
Well if you take this story literally … It's a short walk to Donald Trump. But if you would like to know what is really going on here in the Bible … And in the world, and maybe save our world from Trump's black shadow of patriarchal power.  Read the next blog. The Tree of Knowledge.  
Learn. Prepare.
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> Next Post: The Tree of life Part 1: Today begins our exploration of the Tree of Life