Jewish Interpretation of the Fall of Man...

Azzie

Azzie

New Member
(heads up: I am NOT making ANY judgements here. I am trying to state these from an academic point of view.)

I found this rather interesting...
From my last class in Religious studies, my professor stated that although the story of Eden and Adam and Eve sinning is the same, the interpretations differ in Christianity and Judaism.

In Christianity, the taking of the fruit of knowledge of good and evil is seen as disobedience against God, therefore a sin that led to consequences and a need for redemption.

In Judaism, however, my professor says that the Jews interpret the taking of the fruit NOT as a fall, but rather an ascension in human evolution to BECOME MORE LIKE GOD, which is a good thing. God did not COMMAND Adam and Eve to not take the fruit; He merely WARNED them of the consequences IF they were to take the fruit. The choice, as we know, was taking the fruit.

I feel the Jewish interpretation might clarify a number of questions, then. For one, the question of "why did God create Satan and the Tree" could be, in this interpretation, answered as "In order that humans could choose the fruit, FOR human evolution." In other words, the fall, Satan, evil, and suffering are POSITIVE consequences as a whole. The issue of why exactly the consequences had to be as horrible as it is often perceived, however, was not mentioned by the professor.

The rationale behind the decision made by Adam and Eve, according to my professor, was essentially boredom...no challenges, no exertion of human potential. The banishment from Eden, then, was a way for humans to do what they were capable of doing: choosing, living mortal, treasuring life, enjoying challenges, and gradually become more like God rather than be stuck in a constant state of perfection.

Just something to think about.

Cheers, Azzie
 
I will not that is not the Orthodox view of the fall. That is a Jewish view of the fall.

The orthodox are very similar to the "christian" view of the fall.
 
awww you're no fun...:( (jk)

Well, if you refuse to think about something unorthodox, it is your choice. Anyone else??? Any thought on WHY the interpretations differ?? :D
 
I can think outside the box. The issue here was that we need to portray our Jewish friends correctly.
 
oh. my bad...

Well, as I said, I am merely mirroring what my professor said and just found it interesting to think on issues of why. I understand my post may not be true for ANY Jew, let alone Judaism as a whole. But, that's one thing I wanted to clarify. Any information of correction, interpretation, or description would be helpful; I'm not trying to make this a personal discussion! Forgive me if it seems like I did. :)

I'm speaking from a perspective of trying to learn; I'm not trying to make a portrayal or judgement upon any person or people. The information posted above was presented to me, and I am curious of what people think about it, if anything at all.

Maybe leaving the post open-ended kinda didnt show what I was expecting responses to be. Essentially, I was posting in order for anyone interested to analyze the material of my professor and post thoughts on the material. Answering questions (that i should have asked...) like "why do you think there is this difference" or "why do you agree/disagree with the Christian/Jewish perspective" would be helpful.

Again, my thanks, and my apologies.
 
Azzie said:
The rationale behind the decision made by Adam and Eve, according to my professor, was essentially boredom...no challenges, no exertion of human potential. The banishment from Eden, then, was a way for humans to do what they were capable of doing: choosing, living mortal, treasuring life, enjoying challenges, and gradually become more like God rather than be stuck in a constant state of perfection.
Click to expand...

Sounds more like your professor came up with this theory do to his own boredom:) I wonder how long he had to search to find a jew with that belief...

Does he really believe that humans have become more like God in the last 6 thousand years?
 
"Does he really believe that humans have become more like God in the last 6 thousand years?"

I dont think my professor believes anything. He's just trying to present information for all I can see, and I'm just trying to mirror that information.

...I meant this post to contemplate the information given, not the credentials of the provider or the source itself. If the information seems flawed, please, indicate how it is so with biblical support or logical reasoning. If it must be hypothetical for this to be done, fine. Let it be hypothetical. Otherwise, please tell me how my post did not clearly address a question rather than make judgements on my professor or my textbook based upon what I wrote.

I'm just trying to learn something here, guys! I'm not trying to push for arguments! if I didnt seem to ask for that clearly enough, then tell me! I'll narrow down the question as best I can. :)
 
Hmm. This is quite interesting. When you combine both views I think you have what would amount to something close to the truth. Everything God does, He does to bring glory to Himself. While eating from the tree was a sin, it also serves to glorify God in the fact that he also gives us redemption from that sin.

As far as your professors interpretaion as to the reason of Adam & Eve's descision, he needs to open up his/her bible and read it for himself. God was pretty clear as to why Eve ate the fruit. SHE WAS TEMPTED! Duped if you will, Lucifer LIED and she fell for it. Lucifer lied by saying:
Gen3:
4 But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not die.

When in fact God said:
Gen2:
17 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."

**Something I just realized while writing this post, might explain things a bit better.
When you read that section of scripture, we see that God told Adam of the rules not to eat of the tree. When he told Adam, Eve was not yet created, so that leads me to believe that perhaps it was Adams job to pass along this warning. That would explain why Lucifer targeted her to be his victim. To her this information was not first hand, but passed down to her through Adam. This also sets up the fact that the husband is to be the spiritual leader of the household and the wife is to be submissive to the husband in spiritual matters. Interesting, perhaps some of the pastors that are a part of these forums could weigh in on this bit of revelation. Sorry that was a bit off topic but i think it was relevant to the discussion.

As for denying God because it sounds like a fun thing to do which is basiclly what the professor is saying, BEWARE! This person sounds like a wolf in sheeps clothing. Test what this person says against the scriptures Azzie and hold fast to God's word. God is the only one who can bring you the truth in a matter such as this.
 
^ well said ark, I agree.

That view of the fall is actually the teaching of the mormons. I really doubt mainstream Jews would teach that. If you ask your teacher if Adam and Eve were able to have kids before the fall, and he says "no", then he is probably mormon. If he says "yes" then I don't know what he is

Gen 2:17 KJ: "But the tree of good and evil; thou shalt not eat of it..."

in the phrase "thou shalt not eat", "thou shalt not" has no possible other translation than for exactly what it reads. The word "eat" is translated to the Hebrew word "akal"(aw-kal ) which is defined: to eat, consume, devour... So there is clearly no other interpretation of it.

could your teacher be mormon maybe?
 
Azzie didn't say anything about ascribing to his professors point of view, he thought it was an interesting interpretation and brought it up here for discussion. In effect, he is testing this interpretation.

Unfortunatly, there are no Jew's on the board (that I am aware of) to support or refute the professors claim that this is indeed the widely accepted Jewish interpretation of what happened in the garden.


Now having said all that,

Combining the two views probably gives the most accurate interpretation. This is because of how Christian are Jews differ in their world view. We Christians view ourselves as lost, fallen, sinful, seperated from God with Jesus being our reconciliator. Where as Jews few God as a father who guides, teaches, scorns, punishes, and moves his people towards a goal.

Both worldviews are correct, neither are more correct then the other. Combining the two views you get we are a fallen race but God has turned even that to his Glory.
 
"Azzie didn't say anything about ascribing to his professors point of view, he thought it was an interesting interpretation and brought it up here for discussion. In effect, he is testing this interpretation."
Thanks Peon; that's it exactly :)

"could your teacher be mormon maybe?"
Definitely possible, but I really have no idea. Thanks for mentioning that mormons think of it this way though! That's something I wanted to know.
 
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