insight on Genesis

[DanielT]

Studying Matriarchy lesson.  A lot of what I have read so far kind of hints at this, but you could interpret the myth of Genesis thus:

Adam and Eve, are forbidden to sample the fruit from the tree of knowledge.  A serpent entices Eve to sample a fruit from this tree of spiritual knowledge and she consents.  As punishment for this "heinous crime", they are banned from paradise.  Or something to that extent.

Well this is the most useful myth one could use to start a religion that is all about keeping peasants powerless to know their own Spiritual potential.  Keeping them dependant on self-appointed holy muckymucks for their "redemption".

What kind of god would forbid their disciple Knowledge?! I imagine the serpent represents the potential for Kundalini awakening and thus spiritual knowledge (serpent is intertwined around this tree).

A kind of warning myth that served this early religion business model as it sought to instill fear in those who would seek enlightenment and independance.

[Vyana]

That is probably true. Still, I like it better if you turn it all upside down, and se it like this instead:

Adam and Eve were living with God in the now in a state of enlightenment. To keep in that state it was necessary for them to keep away from excessive intellectual %ldquoego-thinking%rdquo. But an entity, the snake, convinced them to explore the intellectual knowledge and thus they were carried away from the now and into the world of the ego instead. After realizing what they had lost, they blamed God for it, a typical ego reaction.

[Mystress]

 Joseph Campbell has some interesting thoughts on the topic. The Hebrew Genesis was borrowed and altered from the Sumerians. Their genesis myth had a serpent who taught humans the secrets of life, sex, agriculture, farming, weaving, etc.
 The Hebrews were at war with the Sumerians, and one group's God became another groups demon.. as is typical of the propaganda of war.

: Studying Matriarchy lesson.  A lot of what I have read so far kind of hints at this, but you could interpret the myth of Genesis thus:

: Adam and Eve, are forbidden to sample the fruit from the tree of knowledge.  A serpent entices Eve to sample a fruit from this tree of spiritual knowledge and she consents.  As punishment for this "heinous crime", they are banned from paradise.  Or something to that extent.

: Well this is the most useful myth one could use to start a religion that is all about keeping peasants powerless to know their own Spiritual potential.  Keeping them dependant on self-appointed holy muckymucks for their "redemption".

: What kind of god would forbid their disciple Knowledge?! I imagine the serpent represents the potential for Kundalini awakening and thus spiritual knowledge (serpent is intertwined around this tree).

: A kind of warning myth that served this early religion business model as it sought to instill fear in those who would seek enlightenment and independance.

[DanielT]

Yes I like this interpretation as well.  That is what is so interesting about myths.  They can be interpreted however your unconscious needs them to be so that you gain insight.  Of course myths are also often interpreted by ego for less noble causes.

: Adam and Eve were living with God in the now in a state of enlightenment. To keep in that state it was necessary for them to keep away from excessive intellectual %ldquoego-thinking%rdquo. But an entity, the snake, convinced them to explore the intellectual knowledge and thus they were carried away from the now and into the world of the ego instead. After realizing what they had lost, they blamed God for it, a typical ego reaction.

[b0b]

I had the story of Genesis explained to me by a Jewish Rabbi...he had a very interesting take on it.
Adam and Eve had reached puberty. The snake was a metaphor for the penis of Adam. It tempted Eve, and they both tasted the forbidden fruit of sex.  Having reached this point God "kicked" them out of paradise by telling them about life.  They no longer were under the protection of their loving father.  Adam must work to make a living and survive.  Eve was told about the pain involved in bearing children.  They are just two adolescents reaching the point where they have to go out in the world and stand on their own two feet.
There is no "punishing God" only a loving father explaining what life will be like in the future.

Love and Light!

b0b