"If the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was not a material fruit, then it must be a symbol which represents something else. Why should we stubbornly adhere to a literal interpretation of the fruit when so much of the Bible makes use of symbolism and metaphor? We would do well to abandon such a narrow and old-fashioned attitude of faith."
http://www.unification.org/ucbooks/expodp/edp-fall.html#Sec1_1
Questions
- Since "so much of the Bible makes use of symbolism and metaphor" isn't the whole story of the Fall of Man in the Bible and in the Unification Church Divine Principle allegorical, symbolic and metaphorical?
- Would it not be an "old-fashioned attitude of faith" to "stubbornly adhere to a literal interpretation" of the Divine Principle Fall of Man story?
- What would a "metaphorical" interpretation of the Divine Principle Fall of Man story look like?
Answer
"But would God, the loving Parent of humanity, make a fruit which could cause the Fall to look so attractive? (Gen.3:6) Would He place it where His children could reach it so easily? Furthermore, Jesus said, "Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man." (Matt.15:11) How, then, can a food which one eats cause one to fall?"
http://www.unification.org/ucbooks/expodp/edp-fall.html#Sec1_1
Questions
- Why would a loving God make sex so "attractive" and "reach it so easily" if he didn't want Adam and Eve to "eat it" right away?
- If "not what goes into the mouth defiles a man," why would what goes into the vagina defile a woman?
- Didn't God "bless" (as in the "Holy Blessing") Adam and Eve way back in Genesis 1? "God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply."
- Didn't Jesus really mean it when he said "what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man?"
"What was the hope of Adam during the time he was immature and growing toward perfection? He must have hoped to become a man who would realize God's ideal of creation by growing to perfection without falling. The tree of life in fact symbolizes a man who has fully realized the ideal of creation. Perfected Adam was to be this ideal man. The tree of life thus symbolizes perfected Adam."
http://www.unification.org/ucbooks/expodp/edp-fall.html#Sec1_1_1
Questions
- How could Adam have foreknowledge of "falling" if he didn't eat from the "tree of the knowledge of good an evil" yet?
- How can Adam grow from "immaturity" to "perfection" without other human beings around to interact with?
- How does Adam grow from "immaturity" to "perfection" without interacting with Eve in a husband/wife sexual relationship?
- How does Adam grow to perfection without first becoming a parent himself?
Answer
"Had Adam not fallen but attained the tree of life, all his descendants could also have attained the tree of life. They would have built the Kingdom of Heaven on earth."
http://www.unification.org/ucbooks/expodp/edp-fall.html#Sec1_1_1
Questions
- Isn't the "Kingdom of God" in the Divine Principle a symbolic metaphor?---in contrast to say a literal political reality?
- Why would there be any need for an actual literal "Kingdom" (with a literal king) if "all his descendants could also have attained the tree of life?"
- Wouldn't they all be "kings" and "queens?"
- If the "King" of the "Kingdom of Heaven" is God, and God is eternal (no beginning, no end), wouldn't the "Kingdom" already exist "on earth?"
- Do God's children have to be "perfect" for him to be their king?
- If they were "perfect" why would they need a king? What job would the king have to do (other than mutually love them)?
"God provided the symbolism of two trees to represent perfected Adam and Eve."
http://www.unification.org/ucbooks/expodp/edp-fall.html#Sec1_1_1
Questions
- Why is the tree called the "tree of the knowledge" of both "good" and "evil" if it is symbolic of perfected Eve?
- Is evil a part of perfection?
- Why isn't perfected Adam called the "tree of life and death?"
- Wouldn't perfected Adam and Eve just be "the tree of life" and "the tree of good?"
- Could the tree of life represent both perfected Adam and Eve?
- Could the tree of the knowledge of good and evil be symbolic of both fallen Adam and fallen Eve after losing innocence?
- Isn't it the goal of every woman to obtain the tree of life also?
"In the Bible we read that a serpent tempted Eve to commit sin.17(Gen.3:4-5) What does the serpent symbolize? Let us investigate the true identity of the serpent, based on the Genesis account."
http://www.unification.org/ucbooks/expodp/edp-fall.html#Sec1_2
Questions
- If the "serpent" is symbolic, isn't the "temptation" also symbolic? Symbolic of what?
- Isn't the "sin" itself also symbolic? Symbolic of what?
- Isn't "Eve" also symbolic? Symbolic of what or who?
- If the Fall of Man story in the Divine Principle is "based on the Genesis account" shouldn't we also ask what the Genesis account was based on?
- If our goal is to "investigate the true identity of the serpent" shouldn't we also investigate what the serpent symbolized in the cultural context of the Genesis writers themselves?
"It is clear that the serpent who tempted the human beings to fall was an angel..."
http://www.unification.org/ucbooks/expodp/edp-fall.html#Sec1_3
Questions
- If the "serpent" is a symbolic, mythological creature (see above), isn't an "angel" also a symbolic mythological creature?
- In this same chapter the Divine Principle states "so much of the Bible makes use of symbolism and metaphor." Isn't an angel also metaphorical?
- Metaphorical of what?
"A serpent has a forked tongue. It depicts someone who utters contradictory things with one tongue and lives a two-faced life with one heart. A serpent twists its body around its prey before devouring it, a metaphor for someone who ensnares others for his own benefit. For these reasons, the Bible likened the angel who tempted human beings to a serpent.."
http://www.unification.org/ucbooks/expodp/edp-fall.html#Sec1_2
Questions
- If a serpent is a "forked tongue" "two-faced" "ensnares for his on benefit" why did Jesus compare himself to a serpent in John 3:14?--"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life."
- Why, in John 3, is a serpent compared with eternal life?
- Isn't in the Jewish tradition the serpent Moses lifted up on a pole a symbol of healing?
- Could it be that there is a hidden, ironic, ambiguous symbolic meaning to the serpent (angel) in the Fall of Man story?
- In general terms, what has a serpent commonly symbolized in human cultures? In Jewish Culture?
"From this passage we can infer that the angel fell as a result of an illicit sexual relationship.
Fornication is a crime which cannot be committed alone. With whom did the angel commit the illicit sexual act in the Garden of Eden? In order to unveil this mystery, let us examine what kind of sin the human beings committed."
http://www.unification.org/ucbooks/expodp/edp-fall.html#Sec1_3
Questions
- If "fornication is a crime which cannot be committed alone" why did Jesus say in the Sermon on the Mount "whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart"?
- Is Jesus being ironic?
- Why did Jesus just single out the men--"them of old time"--in this verse?
- Given Jesus' teaching, is an "illicit sexual act" ("in the heart") something that happens naturally and quite often (and was he reminding the elders that they know it happens quite often within themselves as well)?
- Isn't the main theme of the Sermon on the Mount mercy, forgiveness and not judging others (even the "evil and the good" and "your enemies")?
- Given Jesus' teaching, how could the angel not help but have an "illicit sexual relationship" ("in the heart") with Eve (first woman on earth)?
- Is biological sexual desire inherently "illicit?"
- Can a "mystery" really be "unveiled?"
- If a mystery is unveiled is it still a mystery?
- Is the Garden of Eden story expressing a "mystery?"
- Why does Genesis 3 also say "And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil"?
- Is Genesis being ironic?
- Are we meant "to know good and evil" given that Genesis also says "let us make them in our image"?
"Thus far, we have explained that an angel seduced human beings to fall, and that both the angel and the human beings fell due to illicit sexual love."
http://www.unification.org/ucbooks/expodp/edp-fall.html#Sec1_3_3
Questions
- If angels could have sex with humans, was it for reproduction?
- If not for reproduction, for what purpose was sex between angels and humans created?
- If angels could have sex with humans why couldn't they just happily and naturally interbreed?
- Could humans have a licit sexual relationship with the angel?
- Could it be that this story of illicit sexual love between Eve and the angel is wholly symbolic and metaphorical?
- Why didn't Adam proactively develop a sexual relationship with Eve (or a female angel)?
- Did Adam have low sexual desire?
- Did Adam and Eve sleep in the same bed at night? If not where?
- If Adam and Eve's sexual organs were biologically "mature" enough to function, why would Adam and Eve not be "mature" enough to experience sexual love?
- Does the biological act of sex really create any actual obstacle to sharing God's love?
- Why would a merciful God love Adam, Eve (or an angel) any less because they experienced sexual love?
- Wouldn't "illicit" imply the opposite of "love?" Isn't "illicit sexual love" an oxymoron?
- Why is it a bad thing that Eve, the angel and Adam "fell in love?"
- Why would "falling in love" make them love God or love their neighbor less?
- Aren't qualities like indifference, anger, or hate the opposite of love?
- What differentiates between illicit sexual love and licit sexual love?
- Don't most animals species put a premium on the ability to choose their own breeding partners to obtain the best genes?
- How could Adam and Eve be truly in the image of God if they had no personal choice in marriage?
- Wasn't illicit sexual love (adultery) a specific one-sided point of law in the Old Testament that viewed wives as property?
- Why did the Bible patriarchs practice polygamy?
- Why did the Bible patriarchs use prostitutes licitly? (e.g. Judah and Tamar)
Answer
"Since the Devil is identified as Satan we can assert that human beings are descendants of Satan, the "ancient serpent" who tempted human beings."
http://www.unification.org/ucbooks/expodp/edp-fall.html#Sec1_3_3
Questions
- Are not "descendants" created on the uniting (conception) of a sperm and an egg and the exchange of physical genetic material?
- Is there angel (Satan) sperm?
- Did Eve conceive an egg when she had sex with the angel?
- Are not Adam and Eve the descendants of God "created in God's image?"
- How does Eve having sex with an angel change Eve or Adam's genetic descent?
- Is not genetic descent determined one conception at a time?
- Did the angel conceive all of Eve's children?
- Is this Divine Principle verse talking about some other kind of descent other than genetic descent when it says "human beings are descendants of Satan?"
- Could it be that this narrative is wholly symbolic and metaphorical?
"Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees, "You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?" These verses affirm that we are the offspring of an illicit sexual relationship involving the angel and our first ancestors. This, in fact, lies at the heart of the human Fall.."
http://www.unification.org/ucbooks/expodp/edp-fall.html#Sec1_3_3
Questions
- Given that in this same chapter the "serpent" is identified as being a symbolic metaphor, isn't it safe to assume Jesus is also speaking metaphorically when he called the Pharisees "You serpents, you brood of vipers?"
- Are not the other verses cited here speaking metaphorically as well and not actually literally referring to a genetic lineage when it says "we are offspring of an illicit sexual relationship?"
- Given what we know scientifically about how genetic heritage works, wouldn't it be wise to assume this Divine Principle verse is also speaking metaphorically and not literally?
- Isn't this verse, "in fact," not referring to an actual scientific fact, but a symbolic, spiritual representation of the "heart of the human Fall?"
"The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was shown earlier to symbolize Eve. What does the fruit of this tree represent? It signifies the love of Eve. As a tree multiplies by its fruit, Eve should have borne good children through her godly love. Instead, she bore evil children through her satanic love. Eve was created in an immature state; she was to reach full maturity only after going through a period of growth. Thus, it was possible for her to bear either good fruit or evil fruit through her love. This is why Eve's love is symbolized by the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and why Eve is symbolized by the tree.."
http://www.unification.org/ucbooks/expodp/edp-fall.html#Sec1_4
Questions
- Given that Genesis 3 states: "lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever" why is the fruit of the tree of life not mentioned in this Divine Principle chapter? (did Adam not have any apples?) ;-)
- Can Eve also "put forth her hand and eat" of the fruit of the tree of life?
- Given the Divine Principle states the fruit of tree of the knowledge of good and evil symbolizes Eve's love, does the fruit of the tree of life symbolize the love of Adam'?
- Did Eve also eat of the fruit of the tree of life (Adam) while immature since she had a sexual relationship with Adam also?
- How can Eve grow from "an immature state" to a state of maturity in "godly love" without bearing children of her own given that God is our parent?
- Are the children of Eve really "bore evil" or just born with sin?
- Doesn't the qualities of "godly love" include grace, mercy, forgiveness and long-suffering when children make mistakes (sin)?
("And yes, Adam and Eve do have a kind of metaphorical belly button")
"Sexual promiscuity is a principal cause of the downfall of numerous heroes, patriots and nations. Even in the most outstanding people..."
http://www.unification.org/ucbooks/expodp/edp-fall.html#Sec1_5
Questions
- What are some examples of the "heroes, patriots and nations" and "outstanding people" named above?
- Isn't "sexual promiscuity" also the "principal cause" of many great victories and heroes in the Bible?
- Judah and Tamar (Jesus' ancestors)?
- Lot and his daughters?
- Ruth?
- Esther?
- Rahab?
- David and Bathsheba (king and queen mother, Jesus' ancestors)?
- Mary (mother of Jesus)?
- Jacob married Rachel and her sister Leah, as well as their servants Bilhah and Zilpah?
- Weren't there many heroes (like Jesus) conceived out of wedlock?
- Leonardo da Vinci?
- Alexander Hamilton?
- Confucius?
- Isn't Eve herself a great hero also as the initiator of human life, and first mother of all mankind, and the bringer of knowledge?
- Would the Bible (or life itself) be as interesting as it is without some level of sexual promiscuity? Wouldn't life be pretty dull without it?
- How could artists create interesting novels or movies without some sexual promiscuity?
- Isn't the Bible (and Divine Principle) a pretty interesting read because it has some promiscuity in it?
- Philosophically speaking, how would we know what sexual conformity is without some sexual promiscuity to compare (and vice versa)?
- Does the definition of sexual promiscuity vary from culture to culture and religion to religion?
- Has the definition of sexual promiscuity varied through historical time?
- Why does the Bible have so many occurrences of sexual promiscuity written into it?
Answer
"But no one can prevent the plague of sexual promiscuity, which has become increasingly prevalent as the progress of civilization makes lifestyles more comfortable and indolent. Therefore, the hope of an ideal world is an empty dream as long as this root of all evils has not been eradicated at its source. Christ at his Second Advent must be able to solve this problem once and for all."
http://www.unification.org/ucbooks/expodp/edp-fall.html#Sec1_5
Questions
- Is sexual promiscuity really a "plague?"
- Is it wise to describe sexual activity as a disease?
- Isn't sex a very natural and beautiful biological activity?
- Isn't the real cause of sexual promiscuity biological, hormonal and psychological in nature rather than just spiritual?
- Has sexual promiscuity really become more prevalent now than any other time in the past?
- Hasn't "the progress of civilization" made life actually more busy and stressful rather than "more comfortable and indolent?"
- If the goal is to solve sexual promiscuity, and sex is a biological and psychological impulse, wouldn't it be important to also take a more medical and scientific approach to discern the real causes and solutions?
- Can problems with chemical hormonal biological sexual impulses be regulated through the use of medication?
- Isn't the real outcome of sexual promiscuity just more babies?
- Isn't the purpose of sex to make babies?
- Why is making babies a bad thing?
- Isn't the term sexual promiscuity related to the perceived need to maintain a certain cultural norm for the family unit and child rearing?
- Have there been other family/tribal cultural norms for child rearing?
- Can't the problem of sexual promiscuity also be solved through changing our moral expectations and norms?--being more forgiving, merciful, accommodating and tolerant with people that don't (can't) live up to our cultural expectations and norms?
- If Christ at his (her?) Second Advent must be able to solve this problem once and for all, isn't the only way to really solve it "once for all" through establishing Christ like forgiveness, mercy and tolerance of differences as cultural norms also?
- Could the problem of sexual promiscuity also be addressed through better education in how to have a more satisfying sexual life inside the context and confines of our culture norms and expectations for the family unit?
- Didn't the early church fathers, like Origen, have themselves castrated and doesn't this show that the "problem" is biological in nature?
"A religion does not need to be interpreted literally in order to be valuable and taken seriously."
—anonymous
"Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."
—2 Corinthians 3:6
More resources:
Humor in the New Testament by Leonard Greenspoon, Oxford Biblical Studies Online
Irony in the Old Testament by Good, Edwin M.
THE IRONY OF JESUS by William Romaine Paterson
Humour and irony in the New Testament, illuminated by parallels in Talmud and Midrash / by Jakob Jónsson.
Irony and Meaning in the Hebrew Bible (Indiana Studies in Biblical Literature) by Carolyn J. Sharp
Irony in the Matthean Passion Narrative by Inhee C. Berg
Divine Irony Hardcover by Glenn Holland
utblog tweets on irony in the scriptures
utblog tweets regarding the Unification Church Divine Principle "Chapter 2 The Human Fall"
"Felix culpa... 'happy fault'... God judged it better to bring good out of evil than not to permit any evil to exist"
Introduction To The Old Testament (Hebrew Bible), Yale University
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