Eric Brown ([info]outotoro) wrote,
@ 2009-05-30 16:59:00
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Everything you wanted to know about Theology but were afraid to ask
Alright - here it goes. I am now opening this blog to taking any questions about things theological that you were afraid to ask other random people before. With these questions, you can get:

A) My opinion (i.e. what is X, or what do you think X is?)
B) Historical Explanations (i.e. Why do the Baptists think Y or Rome teach Z?)
C) Explanations to pop religious references (For example - why the Rabbi who wins "What's My Perversion" in the Woody Allen movie getting spanked by gals while his wife sits at his feet and eats pork is really, really funny).

If you have a thought, question, or comment, bounce them off here.

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[info]kencf0618
2009-05-31 12:26 am UTC (link)
I am about to dive into a discussion with friends about Original Sin, the Tree of Life, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and those garden variety trees which were pleasant to the eye and which provided sustenance (there were three types of trees in the Garden of Eden). I can't track down the reference now, but I believe that in (Luranic?) Kabbalism the two trees which get all the press come from the same root. Perhaps they all do... My own take on it is that consciousness is so self-referential that the myth can be fruitfully read as being about the nature of consciousness. So my serpentine question to you, sir, is "What is your homiletic approach to this subject?"

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[info]outotoro
2009-05-31 12:32 pm UTC (link)
I don't put much credence in the Kabbalic stuff which I have seen. On the basis of the Scripture, the idea of the 2 Trees having the same root is problematic given that the order of creation presented is that every tree would produce fruit according to its own kind. Therefore the hybrid theory seems to do damage to the text.

I end up referencing Genesis 3 in preaching all the time (probably my most referenced piece of Scripture), and I would argue that the point of it is really about the 1st Commandment - Thou shall have no other gods before Me. The basic nature of sin is that we allow desire and want to override our understanding of what is right or wrong. . . the fruit is appealing to the eye.

Thus, I end up using as an example of how sin and temptation work. Sin is always an ignoring of God's Word - Temptation always sees to place ourselves and our own wants and desires above God and above the neighbor. This is further shown by the Serpent saying, "Did God really say" - showing once again that the movement of sin is to cast doubt upon the idea of right and wrong so that you can elevate your own desires above it.

As to the meaning of the Tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil. . . the word for "know" there in Hebrew is not merely a book knowledge, but it is an experiential sort of knowledge. In eating of the tree, Adam and Eve do gain an experience of the impact of evil. . . and have only the lingering experience of what Good was. This works with the idea of the Tree of life - where there is evil life does not stand. Life withers. Hence there is even a teaching contrast there - wickedness leads to death and destruction - be it physical death, death of friendships, emotional suffering and agony. The two are contrasted - and seeking to experience wickedness does damage.

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[info]alteredhistory
2009-06-01 12:07 am UTC (link)
Is the Pope Catholic?

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[info]outotoro
2009-06-01 11:23 am UTC (link)
I would argue that the Pope is rightly called "Roman Catholic", but that he no longer is rightly to be deemed "Catholic" because the Church Universal does not acknowledge his headship. While the Pope would be part of the Church Universal, he is not the source or locus of catholicity (or apostolicity, for that matter).

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