Was sending Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden a blessing or a curse?

[Melisa Jane]

Blessing or curse it depends on how you view it. "The apple" refers to reliance on God to continue to provide and protect them as a couple. Blessing would be in acceptance of this belief. The curse is not a curse but a consequence of choosing to rely or not and taking responsibility for that action instead of passing the buck or laying blame.

I agree with you. But don't you think a mere consequence should not affect the whole generation? I mean, it's only a curse that affects one's generation.

[Melisa Jane]

I think that God sending Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden was a curse and a blessing. It was a way for Adam and Eve to atone for their sins and experience hardship. It also made them appreciate the good life that they had in the Garden and work harder for God's acceptance. I think that this story represents the hardships that humans must go through in order to appreciate what they have and be grateful for what they have.

I agree with you. It all depends on who is viewing it. Or the angle of the view. At times, someone may argue that it's a curse because they were driven by God after the disobedience, but again, they found freedom.

[Melisa Jane]

I believe that sending Adam and Eve out of the garden of Eden was neither a curse nor was it a blessing. I think it was the price they had to pay for being disobedient to God. if they had continued to live in the garden they would have not appreciated all the priviledges that enjoyed.

I agree with you that their continuation to live in Eden would have made them not to regret their disobedience. I just wish they had suffered the consequences alone, without involving the whole generation.

[Melisa Jane]

I think sending Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden was a blessing. I think it was a form of discipline to make them understand they need to trust and rely on God, but also that their own behaviors and ideas may not be the best thing for them. I also think if they were allowed to stay in the garden then they would have not learned anything from what they did.

Yeah. It was God's way of teaching them responsibility. God wanted man to take full responsibility for his actions and disobedience. Thanks so much for the imput

[Melisa Jane]

Personally I enjoy variations in my emotions. And when am sad for example am able to look back at times I was happy with more appreciation. When am happy on the other hand, I appreciate the happiness more. The joy and comfort of God in my heart when am going through trouble is more wonderful to me than when everything is simply smooth. That's how I feel.

Emotions are a blessing. You wouldn't enjoy the love of your loved ones without them. To iterate on my statement: I will leave you with the wise words of Hellen Keller, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.”

Thanks for the quote... indeed that's where the most beauty is found.

I agree with the sentiments too. Emotions are very important in humans. They make one appreciate the love and give love in return. That's wise.

[Melisa Jane]

I think God sent them from the garden as a loving punishment. I think God wanted them to realize that they need to have faith and when they try to do things through their own devices they fail. I think if they were allowed to stay in the Garden of Eden, they would not have learned from their actions.

Yes. God wanted them to realize that there is a consequence for a sin. God is just. He had to serve them with justice.

[Melisa Jane]

Sending them out of the Garden is neither. It is just the natural outcome of their choice. Since the fruit basically symbolizes the lack of trust toward nature and God and thus the awaking of the Ego and the need for knowledge, it is only natural that human beings found themselves to be isolated. It is not a curse and not a blessing.

If humans trusted God and let go of their Ego, the gates of Eden would reopen in the afterlife. It is a choice, nobody is punishing us.

I love your perspective.

Thank you so much!! I try to read books on Christian mysticism and psychology that talk a lot about this. I would highly suggest J. Peterson's "Garden of Edem" lecture, on youtube. It gives a really unique perspective and changed a lot the way I think about the Bible. Let me know if you liked it (if you choose to watch it)

Wow! This is a good recommendation. I'll definitely watch it. I hope it improves our views on the creation and the fall of man.

[Melisa Jane]

I partly agree with you. But, what's there to enjoy with emotions. I don't think emotions are "a blessing" as you put it.

Personally I enjoy variations in my emotions. And when am sad for example am able to look back at times I was happy with more appreciation. When am happy on the other hand, I appreciate the happiness more. The joy and comfort of God in my heart when am going through trouble is more wonderful to me than when everything is simply smooth. That's how I feel.

Emotions are a blessing. You wouldn't enjoy the love of your loved ones without them. To iterate on my statement: I will leave you with the wise words of Hellen Keller, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.”

I like the quote. I now agree that emotions are very important to humans. Feelings are beautiful. They make us who we are. Your input is highly appreciated.

[Melisa Jane]

As I read this book, I realized that the tree of knowldge and the tree of life were used metaphorically. Adam ckearly stated that eating from the tree of life after their sin would grant them a scapegoat, which would protect them from God's punishment and thence re-union with God. I, therefore, concur with Tieman that sending the first oarents away from the Garden of Eden was a blessing in disguise.

I don't think the main purpose was to protect them from Lucifer: they had failed to respect God's instruction. Sending them away was a repercussion of their behavior.

Yeah. I understand your views. Only, the book seems to suggest that God was protecting them from Lucifer.

[Melisa Jane]

Just after Adam and Eve had eaten from the tree of knowledge, God drove them away from the Garden. The author of this book seems to justify every curse that God put on Adam. At some point, Adam seems grateful for the curses. What really captured my attention was the justification of the fact that God sent them away from Eden. Do you think the main purpose was to protect them from Lucifer? Do you believe that eating from the tree of life would have worsened the situation?

I don't think the main purpose was to protect them from Lucifer: they had failed to respect God's instruction. Sending them away was a repercussion of their behavior.

But, reading the book, you'll realize that Adam and Eve were happier. They appreciated their new environment and found peace in it.

[Melisa Jane]

Sending them out of the Garden is neither. It is just the natural outcome of their choice. Since the fruit basically symbolizes the lack of trust toward nature and God and thus the awaking of the Ego and the need for knowledge, it is only natural that human beings found themselves to be isolated. It is not a curse and not a blessing.

If humans trusted God and let go of their Ego, the gates of Eden would reopen in the afterlife. It is a choice, nobody is punishing us.

I love your perspective.

His perspective is indeed interesting. The only question is, can mere repercussions affect the entire generation?

[Melisa Jane]

I believe it was both a blessing and a curse. In the garden they could not enjoy the varying levels of emotions such as sadness and pain, at that they would not be able to fully appreciate the good times. The curse comes with separation from God and even facing death ultimately.

I partly agree with you. But, what's there to enjoy with emotions. I don't think emotions are "a blessing" as you put it.

Personally I enjoy variations in my emotions. And when am sad for example am able to look back at times I was happy with more appreciation. When am happy on the other hand, I appreciate the happiness more. The joy and comfort of God in my heart when am going through trouble is more wonderful to me than when everything is simply smooth. That's how I feel.

I now get it. Emotions are very important. As someone put it, the best things in the world are only felt.

[Melisa Jane]

As I read this book, I realized that the tree of knowldge and the tree of life were used metaphorically. Adam ckearly stated that eating from the tree of life after their sin would grant them a scapegoat, which would protect them from God's punishment and thence re-union with God. I, therefore, concur with Tieman that sending the first oarents away from the Garden of Eden was a blessing in disguise.

Your views are interesting and quite in line with the book. Escaping the punishment of God after sinning would have made them think it's okay to disrespect God. Thanks for your views.

[Melisa Jane]

To me, the judgement passed on them isn't a curse. It is a blessing.

Okay. Why do you think so?

Although this is debatable, I think the judgment made them realize there is a price for every misdeed. Reading the book, you'll also realize that Adam and Eve appreciated each other more.

[Melisa Jane]

Just after Adam and Eve had eaten from the tree of knowledge, God drove them away from the Garden. The author of this book seems to justify every curse that God put on Adam. At some point, Adam seems grateful for the curses. What really captured my attention was the justification of the fact that God sent them away from Eden. Do you think the main purpose was to protect them from Lucifer? Do you believe that eating from the tree of life would have worsened the situation?

I think God sent them away to know how much they have fait to are God and protect them because God still forgiven people who have sins thats why he sent his only son Jesus to save us/forgive or sins.

Yes. God forgives people who sincerely repent, but in Adam and Eve's case, God didn't forgive them. He cursed them (Notice the court ruling of their case, where God was the Judge in Genesis 3: 16-19)

I'm glad you put in scriptural reference. In case you've read the book, do you realize that the author seems to look at it positively? He seems to see these as blessings rather than curses.