> What was that Original Sin and why is was it so signifigant? Sure, they ate an
> apple, right? But which one? From which tree? That's right, kids, from "the
> fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil". And why were they kicked
> out of paradise? Let's look at the actual quote:
> "And the Lord God said, `Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good
> and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life,
> and eat, and live forever:
> "Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the
> ground from whence he was taken." --Genesis 3:22-23 (KJV)
>
> Why were they booted out of Eden? What was that "Original Sin" that makes all of
> the rest of religion necessary?
>
> Awareness. Knowing that there *can be* a right and wrong and having to *choose*,
> is man's primary inborn blemish.
-- This is similiar to the story told in the book _Ishmael_ (very interesting reading). It gives a different viewpoint for the story of original sin. .. There are two groups of people the leavers and the takers. "Civilized" people represent the takers, and groups like the original american indians, etc. represent the leavers. The story of eden was a fable written by the leavers about the takers, which was later adopted by the takers without there awareness of it's origin. The idea is that the leavers believed that who lived and died was up to "God", and felt that they were no better than animals. The takers using agriculture & domestication of animals, put themselves above animals, and destroyed "nature" to make sure they did not die. This was the Knowledge of good and evil that made us more like God, and because of it we had to leave Eden. .. I can't remember the details, but if this at all intrigues you I would recommend reading this book. I did not agree with everything it said, but it gave me another way to look at life&society, and it was very interesting.-Paul Prestopnik