The Human Fall

Hell on Earth

The human condition People Conscience Evil mind Goodness, joy Evil, guilt Struggle

“I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is in my flesh. I can will what is right but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.” Romans 7:15-19

God would not create us with opposing purposes Good Inclination Evil Inclination 2 contradictory purposes Like a broken cup Evil Good

The mystery of evil If everything God created was good, where does evil come from? If everything God created was good, where does evil come from? If God is good, almighty and knows what is going on, why does He allow people to suffer? If God is good, almighty and knows what is going on, why does He allow people to suffer?

The story of Adam and Eve AdamEve Serpent Fruit Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil Tree of Life

Biblical language Much of the Bible is written in metaphor and symbol. We need to understand how the people who wrote it understood it. E.g. A tree is a symbol for a person “For the vineyard of the Lord is the House of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting...” Proverbs 11:30 “I am the vine, you are the branches.” John 15:5

What was the serpent? Serpent Symbol? Literal? “Now the serpent was more subtle than any other wild creature that the Lord God had made.” Genesis 3:1

“And that great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he and his angels were thrown down with him.” Revelation 12:9 Serpent = Devil = Angel Lucifer

Did God create Satan? Everything God created was good Everything God created was good Evil did not exist from the beginning Evil did not exist from the beginning Lucifer was created as a good angel Lucifer was created as a good angel He became an evil being He became an evil being  The Principle rejects dualism  Good and evil ‘gods’ always existed  Spiritual is good; physical is evil

Where do angels fit in? Created first Created first Helped God with the creation and development of the universe Helped God with the creation and development of the universe “Let us make man in our image....” Genesis 1:26 Servants and messengers of God Servants and messengers of God Take care of Adam and Eve Take care of Adam and Eve To be servants of Adam and Eve To be servants of Adam and Eve “Do you not know that we are to judge the angels?” I Corinthians 8:3 “Do you not know that we are to judge the angels?” I Corinthians 8:3

God’s commandment “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.” Genesis 2:16-17

What was the fruit? Fruit Symbol? Literal? “Here and understand: not what goes into the mouth defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” Matthew 15:10-11

Fruit in the Old Testament “ As an apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.” Song of Solomon 2:3-5

“ A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a garden locked, a fountain sealed. Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates with all choicest fruits.” Song of Solomon 4:12-13

“Let my beloved come to his garden, and eat its choicest fruits.” Song of Solomon 4:16 “Under the apple tree I awakened you. There your mother was in travail with you.” Song of Solomon 8:3

Eating - a metaphor for sex “And to him who is without sense she says, ‘Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.’ But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.” Proverbs 9:16-18

“ This is the way of the adulteress, she eats, and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I have done no wrong.’” Proverbs 30:20

The meaning of the fruit Trees multiply through fruit People multiply through love represents sexual love represents sexual love The fruit was good and necessary for God’s plan to be realised

The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil The tree could produce either good or evil fruit depending on whether love was God-centred or self-centred ‘To know’ a woman - a Biblical metaphor for sex

When should the fruit be eaten? The fruit Mature and married Immature and unmarried Goodness Evil God gave the commandment to protect Adam and Eve to protect Adam and Eve

Our highest values – realized through sexuality Love Love Life Life Lineage Lineage

What should have happened? Adam and Eve should have achieved individual maturity – the First Blessing Adam and Eve should have achieved individual maturity – the First Blessing Then God would have blessed them in divine marriage – the Second Blessing Then God would have blessed them in divine marriage – the Second Blessing They would have had children and established a happy family They would have had children and established a happy family

Spiritual maturity Do not “eat” Period of Growth AE G C AdamEve Free to “eat” Blessed in marriage

What did happen? Adam and Eve had children – Cain and Abel Adam and Eve had children – Cain and Abel It was not a loving family – Cain murdered Abel It was not a loving family – Cain murdered Abel Adam and Eve did not have a happy marriage Adam and Eve did not have a happy marriage Adam and Eve had a sexual relationship without being blessed by God in marriage Adam and Eve had a sexual relationship without being blessed by God in marriage Adam and Eve did not fulfil the First Blessing before they had a sexual relationship Adam and Eve did not fulfil the First Blessing before they had a sexual relationship

Spiritual Perfection Fall AE G C AdamEve Free to “eat” Do not “eat” Adam Eve

What happened at the fall?

What was the sin of the angel? “Remember too the angels, how some of them were not content to keep the dominion given to them but abandoned their proper home; and God has reserved them for judgement on the great Day,... Remember Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbouring towns; like the angels, they committed fornication and followed unnatural lusts;...” Jude 6-7

What was the sin of Lucifer? Lucifer committed fornication – illicit sexual relationship – with Eve

What does the Qur’an say? Children of Adam! Let not Satan deceive you in the manner he deceived your parents out of Paradise, pulling off from them their clothing to reveal to them their shame. He and his host surely see you from whence you do not see them. We have made satans the guardians of those who do not believe. Surah 7:27

Possibility of sexual relationship between humans and angels Records of substantial interaction between human and spirit beingsRecords of substantial interaction between human and spirit beings All the emotions and sensations felt between a person and a spirit are exactly the same as those felt between earthly people. EDP, 63

What was the sin of Adam and Eve? Before the Fall: “And the man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed.” Genesis 2:25 After the Fall: “Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons.” Genesis 3:7  Adam and Eve had an illicit sexual relationship

Other evidence that the fall was an illicit sexual relationship ‘Picking a fruit’ - euphemism for sexual love ‘Picking a fruit’ - euphemism for sexual love God is love yet sexual love which is holy and wholesome is often thought of as shameful God is love yet sexual love which is holy and wholesome is often thought of as shameful Sexual immorality led to the downfall of great men and nations Sexual immorality led to the downfall of great men and nations Many social problems traced to broken homes Many social problems traced to broken homes

Immorality the worst sin “Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God?” I Corinthians 6:18-19

Why did the fall take place?

God Lucifer Angels Universe God Lucifer Angels Universe God Lucifer Angels Universe Adam & Eve Children of God Adam & Eve I Cor. 8:3 What should have happened? Closest to God Servant of God

Adam was a child, not yet having his understanding perfected. It was necessary that he should grow and so come to perfection. Saint Irenaeus ( )

Lucifer’s responsibility Love Adam and Eve Receive love through Adam and Eve Serve Adam & Eve Multiply goodness with Adam and Eve

The process and motivation of the fall

How did it all start? God loved his children much more than he loved his servant Lucifer. God’s love for Lucifer did not change. It was the same before and after the creation of human beings. When Lucifer saw that God loved Adam and Eve more than him, he felt as if there had been a decrease in the love he received from God. EDP, 63

What was the motivation for the fall? Lucifer, feeling as though he was receiving less love than he deserved, wanted to grasp the same central position in human society as he enjoyed in the angelic world, as the channel of God’s love. This was why he seduced Eve and this was the motivation of the spiritual fall. EDP p. 64

Rebellion in heaven “ How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low. You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high;... I will make myself like the Most High.’” Isaiah 14:12-14

What does the Qur’an say? We said to the angels: 'Prostrate before Adam.’ They all prostrated except Iblis: he was not one of those who fell prostrate. We said to the angels: 'Prostrate before Adam.’ They all prostrated except Iblis: he was not one of those who fell prostrate. Allah said: 'What prevented you from prostrating, when I commanded you to do so?' He said: 'I am better than he. You created me from fire, and him You created from clay.’ Surah 7:11,12 Allah said: 'What prevented you from prostrating, when I commanded you to do so?' He said: 'I am better than he. You created me from fire, and him You created from clay.’ Surah 7:11,12

Origin of the fall Lucifer Closest to God God Adam Eve Felt less love Jealousy Wanted to rule humans Parable of Labourers in Vineyard Mt. 20:1-15 The fundamental motivation... lay in the envy the Archangel felt towards Adam, the beloved of God. EDP p.72

Lucifer tempts Eve Lucifer Desire for unprincipled love God Adam Eve Wanted to experience love and become like God before time was ripe When Eve responded to his temptation, the angel felt the stimulation of her love to be deliciously enticing. EDP, 64

Lucifer’s lie “ ‘You will not surely die’, the serpent said to the woman. ‘When you eat it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God…’ ” Genesis 3:4

Fall between Lucifer and Eve EveLucifer Illicit sexual relationship Spiritualonly Eve before the Fall was open to sensing the spiritual dimension Eve received from Lucifer Feeling of dread from guilty Feeling of dread from guilty conscience conscience Lucifer’s wisdom that Adam Lucifer’s wisdom that Adam was intended spouse was intended spouse

Adam and Eve

Eve tempts Adam Lucifer Rid herself of guilt and stand before God God Adam Eve

Results of the second fall Lucifer FearGuilt Premature knowledge God Adam Eve

Fall between Adam and Eve AdamEveLucifer Illicit sexual relationship Bothspiritualandphysical

What were the consequences of the fall?

God’s heart was broken God lost object of his love, the very purpose for which He had created the universe God lost object of his love, the very purpose for which He had created the universe Infinite love infinite grief, sorrow, hurt Infinite love infinite grief, sorrow, hurt God was betrayed by Lucifer whom He had trusted to take care of His children God was betrayed by Lucifer whom He had trusted to take care of His children God screaming at what happened to His children God screaming at what happened to His children God weeps at the way His world is God weeps at the way His world is

“You shall say to them this word: ‘Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease, for the virgin daughter of my people is smitten with a great wound, with a very grievous blow. If I go into the field, behold, those slain by the sword! And if I enter the city, behold, the diseases of famine.’” Jeremiah 14:17-18

“The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.” Genesis 6:5-6

Loss of relationship with God “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God... My tears have been my food day and night...” Psalms 42:1

How did Satan come to rule? Lucifer Adam Eve “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me the fruit of the tree and I ate.” “The serpent beguiled me, and I ate.” God: “Where are you?” “Who told you that you were naked? “Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” Adam blamed Eve; Eve blamed Lucifer. Denial of responsibility; denial of position; loss of freedom

Loss of the first blessing Sinful Person Mind Body Satan Conflict between spirit and flesh People born with original sin “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires.” John 8:44 ObjectSubject Addiction Greed Laziness Lust Dishonesty Contradictory nature Good inclination vs evil inclination Confused identity

Loss of the second blessing Society Nation World Fallen Family Adam Satan Eve “I will greatly multiply your pain in child- bearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband and he shall rule over you.” Genesis 3:16 Unfaithfulness Abuse Tyranny Violence

Loss of the third blessing Hell Person Creation Satan “Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to you.” Genesis 3:17-19 Materialism Consumerism Environmental degradation

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