{"id":200,"date":"2006-01-26T19:42:47","date_gmt":"2006-01-27T02:42:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.newcoolthang.com\/index.php\/2006\/01\/eden-as-allegory\/200\/"},"modified":"2020-01-09T06:38:03","modified_gmt":"2020-01-09T13:38:03","slug":"eden-as-allegory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.newcoolthang.com\/index.php\/2006\/01\/eden-as-allegory\/200\/","title":{"rendered":"Eden as Allegory"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the next post in my mini-series on the Garden of Eden story as an allegory<\/a>, I will respond to an interesting set of questions Tim J. posed in one of my posts over at T&S. He asked:<\/p>\n

I think to follow the Fall as an allegory, I would need the allegory to be pretty well spelled-out. What I mean is such things like: <\/p>\n

What does the Garden represent?
\nIs Satan’s role allegorical-if so what is he representing?
\nWhy was Eve first to partake of the fruit?
\nWhy did Adam refuse the fruit (if we are to believe the narrative that he was offered beforehand)?
\nIs the Atonement (which is inextricably linked w\/ the Fall) also purely allegorical, or literal?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/p>\n

Here are some answers.<\/p>\n

What does the Garden represent?<\/em><\/p>\n

The Garden represents our pre-mortal existence in general. We were in the presence of God in “paradise”. All the levels of pre-sentient life forms are represented there from plant life up through pre-sentient humanity.<\/p>\n

Is Satan’s role allegorical-if so what is he representing?<\/em><\/p>\n

Satan in the allegory represents pride, ambition, and acquisitiveness. He represents the ambition common to humanity – the acquisitive nature in humans that manifests itself in greed and the general lust for power, pleasure, and wealth. It also represents our lust for knowledge though. Therefore, God used that aspect in our nature to drive us from pre-sentience into to the full sentience that is humanity. But even though God used that to get us this far, he also knows that the very ambition, pride, and insatiable acquisitiveness that got us this far must be cast out from among us if we are to progress further to become like him (and become one with him).<\/p>\n

Why was Eve first to partake of the fruit?<\/em><\/p>\n

This is a tough one. My guess is that besides representing males and females separately, Adam and Eve could represent aspects of each one of us. That is, we each have aspects of Adam and Eve in us. Maybe it is sort of a left-brain\/right-brain thing. It seems that Adam represents the pragmatic side and Eve represents the more intuitive and visionary side. As the visionary, Eve naturally was the side that recognized the upward reaching opportunity and seized it first.<\/p>\n

Why did Adam refuse the fruit (if we are to believe the narrative that he was offered beforehand)?<\/em><\/p>\n

As the pragmatic side, Adam’s character is all about getting the job done in the prescribed way. “I know not save the Lord commanded me” (Moses 5:6<\/a>) If this left-brain\/right-brain analogy is accurate, then Adam was never a candidate to see the bigger picture and take the opportunity presented.<\/p>\n

Is the Atonement (which is inextricably linked w\/ the Fall) also purely allegorical, or literal?<\/em><\/p>\n

See my atonement posts here<\/a>. Specifically, check out my Parable of the Pianist<\/a>. If my theory is right, the Fall represents our move into sentience. The Atonement is all about our move from human-level sentience to the next level of intelligence and glory. It is literally the description of God’s process of helping us become “at one” with him.<\/p>\n

Some other questions that might come up…
\n
\nWhat does the tree of life represent?<\/em><\/p>\n

I assume it represents the same thing it did for Lehi and Nephi – the love of God<\/a>. Specifically, it represents unity with God in a perfectly loving relationship. We cannot have it without taking the steps to build that perfect relationship. The cherubim and flaming sword set to guard it sound very much like the angels that stand as sentinels guarding the way to the presence of the Father as described by Brigham Young<\/a> to me.
\n
\nWhy is Satan described as a serpent? <\/em><\/p>\n

Pride is the great sin (according to President Benson). It is among the most subtle of sins too.<\/p>\n

What is the coat of skins God gave them?<\/em><\/p>\n

Human mortal bodies.<\/p>\n

Anyway, it seems to all fit pretty well to me. What do you think?<\/p>\n

[Associated radio.blog song: Fishbone -Ma and Pa<\/em>. The post is about Adam and Eve right? Plus this is one of my favorite Fishbone songs.]