Saturday, 19 July 2014

Theological Reflection on THE FALL

Reflection: What further understanding can get from the story of THE FALL?


This question was posed for those studying the Old Testament in Year One of Education for Ministry (WK 4).

The Sacred Tools of Discernment indicated that the answer to this question may be obtained by reflecting on the primary influence of the tribe of Dan and the secondary influence of the tribe of Asher; that is,  Judgement + Favor = Partial.

Hadar (haw-dar’) in Hebrew indicates being “partial” in the sense of being “honored.”

The text associated with Hadar in the Hebrew Scriptures is the commands regarding “Justice for all (Exodus 23:1-9).”

These commands of YHWH appear in the Reaction section of the reflection cycle, which means that EXAMINATION, CHANGES and OUTCOME are still in process. The inference we can draw from this is that the story of The Fall is a turning away from the right way and because of that there are consequences.

We are always more partial to those we have an intimate relation with.  However, in terms of the commandments we should apply justice to all equally.

EXAMINATION
The text says that we should not even rob an enemy.

CHANGES
The metaphor illustrated in The Fall has sexual implications. Not that sex is bad because our bodies are made to reproduce, which is an act of creation. It is the partiality that sexual love brings that is in question here. In the actual story of Eve disobeying YHWH and eating the fruit that was forbidden, Eve reacts to being denied. That is she felt left out: YHWH was withholding partiality (favor) from her. She had to learn that there are GOOD actions and BAD actions in the material world. As we all do. Not everything that feels good is necessarily good. Love and partiality can have negative consequences.

OUTCOME
With respect to GOOD and BAD remember the Golden Rule: treat others as we would have them treat us.


TODAY’S WORLD
Society understands that we are partial to those we love and this is understood. In courts of law the testimony of a spouse is considered to have less weight or validity because of this partiality.

References:
See Bibliography: Sacred Tools of Discernment by Jonn Lavinnder

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