The Tree in the Garden of Eden and its Possible Origins

Thanks to Jim West who at his blog links to an article by E. Tsireli about the trees ancient religious history:

http://auth.academia.edu/EvlampiaTsireli/Talks/51280/The_Tree_in_the_Garden_of_Eden_and_its_Possible_Origins

and a quote from the conclusion

“The tree has become the means of communication between man and deity, as well as a way of expressing this relationship. This strong relationship passed into the biblical text and formed the tree of life and the tree of knowledge scene,however with a very different connotation. 

……However, with respect to the tree in the Paradise story of the Bible, it seems that its role reaches its peak as it is involved in the most important and perhaps most sad event of all human kind; the Fall of Man. Nevertheless, in the Christian eschatology there is the hope in the book of Revelation that the righteous men will be allowed to eat of the tree of life in the End Times. This is the only time the figure of the Tree is used by the writers – the biblical writers in this connection- to ‘open’ and ‘close’ in some way such a great sacred Book as the Bible.”

Now, I don't believe the Fall of Man was a sad event.  It was necessary and made it possible for us to come to be.  And I believe in the happy ending at the close of Revelation.

A Capitol Couple: In Absentia: Blake and Catie are now Uncle Blake a...

From my daugter-in-law in Washington.

A Capitol Couple: In Absentia: Blake and Catie are now Uncle Blake a...: Blake's brother, Marcus, recently became a father, and we are thrilled for Marcus and Suzy!  We're so bummed we're stuck up in DC while our...

Here's the video she put together on my grandson:

Simone Weil Quotes

Thanks to Len Hjalmarson for reminding me of Simone Weil in a post about her which refers to an article by May Ngo.  Based on these tantalizing and pithy quotes, I plan on exploring her in the near future.

May Ngo writes in “Responding to Simone Weil,”

       “Reading Simone Weil is like being exposed to a tornado, being hit on the head and drinking a clear glass of water all at once."

I (Steve) went to http://thinkexist.com/quotes/simone_weil/ for these quotes of Simone.

This next quote is a critique of the the kind of science I learned.  I  could have used some help many years ago when I socialized/apprenticed at Harding U, Memphis U. and U. of VA for my vocation.  Of course we know more now than we did then.  People like John Haught and Teilhard du Chardin and Brian McLaren have been a big help.

“A science which does not bring us nearer to God is worthless.”

 

This next one says something about striving for objectivity, that is not attainable I know, but it is in our own best interest ultimately to be detached.  

“Attachment is the great fabricator of illusions; reality can be attained only by someone who is detached”

 

This is timely, don't you think?

 “Those who are unhappy have no need for anything in this world but people capable of giving them their attention.”

 

And this is deep too.  

 “A hurtful act is the transference to others of the degradation which we bear in ourselves.” 

 

and this is a major mistake of Protestantism, in my opinion 

“In the Church, considered as a social organism, the mysteries inevitably degenerate into beliefs.”

Quotes from Falling Upward

from Falling Upward by Richard Rohr.  Highlighted on my Kindle.

Each thing and every person must act out its nature fully, at whatever cost. It is our life's purpose, and the deepest meaning of “natural law.”

We actually respond to one another's energy more than to people's exact words or actions.

By denying their pain, avoiding the necessary falling, many have kept themselves from their own spiritual depths—and therefore have been kept from their own spiritual heights.