Tree of Knowledge

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Religion seems to me to be based on mankind’s desire to know the truth. We look at the vast universe and ask ourselves, why am I here? What is the purpose of all of this? Who created the universe?

From these questions, many people are led into religious beliefs and a spiritual life.

So if religion is supposed to quench one’s thirst for knowledge and the truth, why did God forbid Adam and Eve to eat from the Tree of Knowledge?

I know people will say that the real sin was not eating from the Tree of Knowledge, but rather disobeying God. While that may be the case, there is something distinct about the Tree of Knowledge. If God just wanted to test Adam and Eve, he could have picked any tree to forbid them from eating. But instead, he picked the one tree that gave knowledge. There seems to be something he wanted to hide. (In fact, why did he even put it there in the first place?)
 
Sinner1 said:
[W]hy did God forbid Adam and Eve to eat from the Tree of Knowledge?
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This is a complicated and controversial question (and it has been discussed here before).
The term “knowledge” in the Bible is often a euphemism for sexual relations. For example, it is said that Abraham “knew” his wife, Sarah, and Mary objected that she did not “know” man. These passages refer to sexual relations.

Perhaps, then, in the Garden, man and woman could appear to each other naked but without arousing emotion (either lust or shame). But, after this Original Sin, they became aware of their nakedness.

God’s command to “go forth and multiply” (which requires sexual relations) was not given until AFTER Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden.

What EXACTLY was the act of Original Sin? It certainly was not eating the actual fruit from some tree (of Knowledge) – this clearly is metaphorical language. In Biblical parlance, this partaking of “Knowledge” means having sexual relations with each other.
 
The tree is an interesting topic. It’s not just the tree of knowledge but the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When you read that you think, “Isn’t that a good thing? Shouldn’t humans have knowledge of good and evil?” But this is a consequence of the Fall. The most evil things that have been done on earth are always preached as the “common good”.

I think the sin was 1)Believing that God lied 2)Wishing to be like God. I think we can admit that the worst evils in the world come from men who would enforce their own version of good and evil upon others. The determination of good and evil is God’s alone. But, since our ancestors have eaten that fruit, we now have that awesome responsiblity of trying to point out good and evil in the manner we would hope that God would approve of. And He certainly has helped us in that department.

I think that early humans–before “civilization”–were more like animals. Good and evil were not at the fore. It was instinct and survival. In some areas, people still live much as Adam and Eve did. They hardly work, live off the land, and many have very little shame of their bodies. I think the story of the Fall came about because the storytellers saw the evil inherent in men pretending to be gods. It was probably first told about the same time the first civilizations came about.

As to why God put the tree there… He can only bring about a greater good if He shows us evil and error.

I love Genesis. Especially the first 11 chapters. The stories are so full of meaning. Looking forward to the discussion!
 
Obedience. Pure and simple. Forget all the theological pomp for a minute.
It boils down to obedience.
He could have told them to not eat grapes.
But, some people want to read into things that are just not there.
Notice what Satan told Eve.
Surely you will not die.
By what authourity did he have to make that claim?
 
notsmart said:
Obedience. Pure and simple. Forget all the theological pomp for a minute.
It boils down to obedience.
He could have told them to not eat grapes.
But, some people want to read into things that are just not there.
Notice what Satan told Eve.
Surely you will not die.
By what authourity did he have to make that claim?
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Then why was it called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Why not just grapes?
 
Ed_Rand said:
Then why was it called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Why not just grapes?
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Because it makes for exciting reading.
Do you honestly take everything literally in the bible?
 
notsmart said:
Because it makes for exciting reading.
Do you honestly take everything literally in the bible?
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wow. good reading? I can’t imagine a serious bible reader saying that. and no, I don’t take everything literally, especially the first part of Genesis. Taking things literally has nothing to do with it. We are supposed to look for meaning. It’s obviously important to explore these things. What is more exiting about it? The foundational chapters of the bible were formed in order to be exiting? It’s hard to take you seriously.
 
Ed_Rand said:
wow. good reading? I can’t imagine a serious bible reader saying that. and no, I don’t take everything literally, especially the first part of Genesis. Taking things literally has nothing to do with it. We are supposed to look for meaning. It’s obviously important to explore these things. What is more exiting about it? The foundational chapters of the bible were formed in order to be exiting? It’s hard to take you seriously.
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I am not sure that you can really claim that the account of Adam and Eve is purely literal.
I do not believe in a literal 7 days as we know days to be for the creation of the earth.
 
notsmart said:
I am not sure that you can really claim that the account of Adam and Eve is purely literal.
I do not believe in a literal 7 days as we know days to be for the creation of the earth.
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I claim exactly the opposite. Are you reading what I’m writing?
 
notsmart said:
What did I miss? What should I be careful about here?
By the way, try substantiating your point number one for me.🙂
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You missed that in post 7 i said the following:
I don’t take everything literally, especially the first part of Genesis.
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shortly after in post 8 you said this:
I am not sure that you can really claim that the account of Adam and Eve is purely literal.
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There is no reason for you to say that. It just seems like you’re not reading.

Do you mean this point #1?:
I think the sin was 1)Believing that God lied
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Sure, God said they would die if they ate the fruit. Satan said they wouldn’t die, and apparently, they believed him over God.
 
Ed, sorry- I do agree with you. I guess I don’t agree about God lying…
But I see what you are saying. So sorry for my confusion, I thought you were doubting God’s ability to do what he wills.

I see I am simply misunderstanding you here.😊

Forgive me!

Monica
 
notsmart said:
Ed, sorry- I do agree with you. I guess I don’t agree about God lying…
But I see what you are saying. So sorry for my confusion, I thought you were doubting God’s ability to do what he wills.

I see I am simply misunderstanding you here.😊

Forgive me!

Monica
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No prob. Monica! I wasn’t offended or anything. I appreciate your apology. Peace be with you!
 
It is not the Tree of Knowledge, but the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Genesis 2:

16: And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

God being good, one may only know evil through sin. The wages of sin is death.
 
And indeed they did die…spiritually. Their innocence was gone and sin entered human existence. The first human sin, a mortal one, removing their ability to remain in or re-enter paradise. .
 
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