The American Spectator

Reader Mail

p> IS ORIGINAL SIN SEXUAL? br> Re: the "Forbidden Fruit" letters in Reader Mail's Bush Out-Foxed and Yale Kramer's Paradise Regained : /p>

I have been rightfully challenged by readers on the editorial liberty I took when I referred to the tree of "Sexual Knowledge" in a recent posting. The reference was not relevant to the central point of the piece but because it caught the eyes of several friendly readers I feel compelled to explain my view on this interesting matter.

First I believe that part of the tradition of Biblical scholarship entails the notion that the Bible is characterized by ambiguous and contrary statements. And this accounts for the wealth of various conflicting interpretations -- interpretations which have been carried down through the centuries.

Secondly, the whole episode which led to Adam and Eve being kicked out of the Garden of Eden seems to refer to sexual issues throughout. Before they taste the fruit of the tree Adam and Eve appear to be innocent and the main sign of their innocence is their freedom from shame in their nakedness. In fact it is their shame -- their hiding -- that gives their transgression away to God. Their shame also requires them to hide their genitals from God and each other with aprons. If this doesn't suggest sexually conflicted feelings I don't know what does.

Thirdly, how does God punish Eve for her transgression? By inflicting on her a punishment that is only related to sexual congress: "Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children...."

Lastly, the noun "knowledge" and the verb "to know" have more than one meaning in the Bible. In Genesis 4:1 one finds "And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bore Cain...."

p>But I believe also that there is much room for disagreement in the world of the Bible. br> --

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