Jan 16 Response

The second account of creation written in Genesis chapters two and three differs from the first account of the creation story written in the opening lines of Genesis. The second story, which is considered to be written by authors J and E, sees God described in a more anthropomorphic way. Because of this, this version of the creation story emphasizes knowledge because God is described in a way that makes him more humanoid, and knowledge is a desirable characteristic for humans. When Adam and Eve eat from the “tree of knowledge of good and bad” Legaspi claims not that the humans have God-like knowledge but the ability to make judgements about what is good and bad. Adam and Eve’s direct disobedience of God’s command is even more offensive due to the act of eating. Eating is a deliberate physical act that requires thought and effort, and it cannot be done on accident. Also, the act of picking fruit from a tree seems more intentional and self-serving than stumbling onto the fruit sitting on the ground. This makes the first sin not one of accident, but of purposefulness. Though Adam and Eve were deceived by the serpent, they still made the intentional choice to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree. The failure of Adam and Eve was one of disobedience, but it is also one of questioning the authority of God. Adam and Eve were not satisfied with their position below God, and because of this they attempted to become more like Him. This act makes them more god-like in a sense that they can now judge, but ultimately, they are lesser because their curiosity got the best of them and is shown as a human weakness. It might be merciful that they are banished from the garden of Eden because Adam and Eve can no longer be tempted by the tree.