The ability to choose is what sets us apart from most other life forms. When Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of knowledge in the Garden of Eden they received the ability to see, to know. In the Garden of Eden they had security, but not freedom. They were blind, had not yet learnt to see. The fruit of the tree of knowledge taught them polarity, gave them the ability to differentiate between good and evil. The eating of the fruit gave them choice.
Choice is not just deciding which pair of shoes to wear today, or whether to go somewhere or not. Choice is about deciding who we are, how we live our life, how we express ourselves, and most importantly – what we think and believe. Choice is about how we can make a difference in the world and if we want to make a difference to the world.
There are two general approaches to life: fatalistic (pre-determined) or freedom of choice. All too often we are told that it is written in the stars, it is god’s will (meaning we have no freedom). How do the people, who tell us that, know what is god’s will? Have they read god’s mind? Did they receive instructions directly from god in these matters, and not just from their human superiors or predecessors? They may have read the bible, but saying it is god’s will is their interpretation of what they perceive to be god’s will!
The bible clearly also talks about the freedom to choose. Right from that same story of Adam and Eve. Individually or together they could have chosen not to eat of the forbidden fruit and stayed within the security of the Garden of Eden. They both knew there would be a price to pay for eating of the forbidden fruit. God had told them that if they ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge they would die. And still both of them chose to eat of the fruit.
We should ask ourselves two questions here:
- Why did they choose to eat of the fruit?
- Why did god create a tree and plant it in the garden and then told them not to eat of that fruit, on the punishment of death?
As to the first: Maybe it was just too boring to be within that security of the garden, always watched over by an over-protective parent. As humans they were supposed to be intelligent. Of course they were also naked – naked as children. Now where is the excitement and stimulation living like that? What kind of experiences could they possibly have within that kind of life?
As for the second: god from the beginning intended us to make choices. God challenged Adam and Eve with the temptation of banning something. (Yes, I know the bible says the snake – the snake is another intriguing aspect in this). Is there anyone here who has never broken a rule without finding it challenging and exciting? (But be careful about which rules you break). Mybe God wanted Adam and Eve to break the ban, to receive the ability to differentiate, to choose. But the initiative had to come from them. They had to show that they were willing to accept responsibility for the choice they had made, that they had matured into adults. Up until then they had been children. With knowledge they became adults.
Can you imagine what would have happened to Adam and Eve had they been thrown directly into the world without the earlier experience of living a protected life in the Garden of Eden? Can a child survive without the learning of childhood?
Now we all have a choice.
- To live our whole life in circumstances as if we were in the original Garden of Eden (security), as children being watched over by an over-protective parent
- Or to live in freedom out of choice and experience life, as we were meant to do.
There is one more aspect. In the Garden of Eden there seemed to be no real communication between god and Adam and Eve. After all, their lives were protected, they could wander all over the place, and there was plenty to eat. Outside the garden, when they had to work for everything, now they needed to communicate with god. Or rather now they were individuals with whom god was willing to communicate in order to show the real way.
