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Originally Posted by Lord Larehip
So when do we take the bible literally and when do we assume they are just f-ucking around? And how do account for it being sentenced to crawl about on its belly? Did it fly before?
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the first question is a complex one. ancient texts often blur the line between historical truth and myth. perhaps it was taken as a literal truth that the events happened as described. but even if you take it literally that the serpent eats dust that would only make the story scientifically inaccurate. not exactly surprising for ancient folklore.
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In fact, there is no evidence that the snake that talks and the one that god curses were even the same. It reads like two stories being interpolated into one. The talking snake is a hero. In that version, god is a tyrant and a liar. He told Adam & Eve not the eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge or they would die. That was a lie. They ate it and did not die. The snake told them they wouldn't die and he spoke the truth. He said their eyes would be opened and, according to the author, that is exactly what happened. What did the snake do that was wrong?
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it would seem a bit odd if the snake from the story wasn't the one that god cursed. regardless of whether you want to side with the serpent or with god - there were 3 characters in the story that took the blame for adam and eve's disobedience to god. one was adam, one was eve, and the other was the serpent.
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There is no enmity between man and animals? Quite the opposite. We ride horses, we drink cow's milk and raise livestock for food, keep dogs and cats as pets--what enmity? The enmity is between man and god. That much can't denied.
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dunno if enmity is the best word but i certainly take from the story that mans relationship with nature changes after he is cast out of the garden. once again there is a similar narative in the gilgamesh tale. where enkidu was once capable of communicating with animals, he found after his encounter with the harlot that they would flee from him instead.
man's subordination of animals sort of fits perfectly with the biblical narrative as well. prior to the fall, all animals including man were supposedly vegetarian. there was no death. after the fall, god forced man to toil the fields and meek out an existence until he died
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Originally Posted by genesis 3
17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
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supposedly it went on like this until after the flood, when he tells noah it's now acceptable to eat meat, and that animals will fear man and man will subordinate them for his own existence
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Originally Posted by genesis 9
1 And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.
2 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.
3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
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