The Fall of Man

In Abrahamic religion, The Fall of Man, or simply The Fall, refers to humanity's fall from a state of innocent bliss to a state of sinful understanding. The cause of this Fall was disobedience to God and the result of it was that humankind could no longer remain in God's beautiful Garden of Eden, or walk in the sight of God.

As told in the first book of the Bible, Genesis, Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, are created by God in his own image from the soil of the earth and are given the breath of life. God places them in his Garden of Eden and makes only one rule- that they do not eat fruit from the tree of knowledge (often symbolised in European art and literature as an apple tree). Satan comes to Eve in the form of a serpent, and convinces her through deception to eat fruit from the tree. Eve shares the fruit with Adam and immediately they come to a knowledge of shame for their own nakedness. God first questions them and then punishes them by expelling them from the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve's disobedience and subsequent "expulsion" has continuing consequences for their descendants, all humanity, who from that time forward must strive and suffer and die.

Interpretation

The story is an origin belief shared by Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, but interpretations vary, and the accounts in Genesis and the Qur'an differ greatly. Although the Fall is not mentioned by name in the Old Testament, the expulsion from Eden is recorded in Genesis 3, and served as the foundation of the Christian teachings of Saint Paul in Romans 5:12–19 and 1 Corinthians 15:21–22, and, in particular, the Christian doctrine of original sin. Protestants hold that Jesus death was a "ransom" by which man was forever free from the ways of sin as begun with the Fall, and other denominations believe that this act made it possible for man to be free without necessarily ensuring it.

The term "prelapsarian" refers to the state of sinlessness of humanity prior to the lapse, or fall. It is sometimes used in reference to sentimental musings of a time in the past when everything was great in comparison to the present.

Accounts of the fall

Genesis 2:4b - 3:24

"In the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, when no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no one to till the ground; but a stream would rise from the earth, and water the whole face of the ground— then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being. And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there he put the man whom he had formed. Out of the ground the Lord God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

A river flows out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it divides and becomes four branches. The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one that flows around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; and the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there. The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one that flows around the whole land of Cush. The name of the third river is Tigris, which flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.’

Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.’ So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said,
‘This at last is bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
this one shall be called Woman,
for out of Man this one was taken.’
Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed.

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God say, “You shall not eat from any tree in the garden”?’ The woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; but God said, “You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.” ’ But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.

The Lord God said to the serpent,
‘Because you have done this,
    cursed are you among all animals
    and among all wild creatures;
upon your belly you shall go,
    and dust you shall eat
    all the days of your life.
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
    and between your offspring and hers;
he will strike your head,
    and you will strike his heel.’
To the woman he said,
‘I will greatly increase your pangs in childbearing;
    in pain you shall bring forth children,
yet your desire shall be for your husband,
    and he shall rule over you.’
And to the man he said,
‘Because you have listened to the voice of your wife,
    and have eaten of the tree
about which I commanded you,
    “You shall not eat of it”,
cursed is the ground because of you;
    in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
    and you shall eat the plants of the field.
By the sweat of your face
    you shall eat bread
until you return to the ground,
    for out of it you were taken;
you are dust,
    and to dust you shall return.’

The man named his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all who live. And the Lord God made garments of skins for the man and for his wife, and clothed them.

Then the Lord God said, ‘See, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever’— therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken. He drove out the man; and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim, and a sword flaming and turning to guard the way to the tree of life."The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized Edition), copyright 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Islamic Beliefs

Quran states that when Adam was created, God asked angels to 'prostrate to Adam'. The angels prostrated but Iblis (Satan, Devil) refused because of arrogance. God cursed him because of his arrogance. Iblis sought respite and vowed to mislead Adam who was the cause of his disgrace. He misled Adam and his wife Eve to eat from a tree that was forbidden for them by God.

This disobedience displeased God and He ordered Adam and Eve to leave paradise and go to earth. God promised that the earth will be a dwelling place for them and their children a limited time (Till the Day of Judgment).

God warns human beings that they should not allow themselves to be deceived by Satan and fall into disobedience (disbelief, polytheism and sins) which will eventually lead them to Hell. If human beings obey God, they will lead a successful life on earth and will get paradise as a reward.

The following verses from the Noble Quran detail the story.

The Noble Qur'an Al-A'raf 7:11-27

11. And surely, We created you (your father Adam) and then gave you shape (the noble shape of a human being), then We told the angels, "Prostrate to Adam", and they prostrated, except Iblîs (Satan), he refused to be of those who prostrate.

12. (Allâh) said: "What prevented you (O Iblîs) that you did not prostrate, when I commanded you?" Iblîs said: "I am better than him (Adam), You created me from fire, and him You created from clay."

13. (Allâh) said: "(O Iblîs) get down from this (Paradise), it is not for you to be arrogant here. Get out, for you are of those humiliated and disgraced."

14. (Iblîs) said: "Allow me respite till the Day they are raised up (i.e. the Day of Resurrection)."

15. (Allâh) said: "You are of those allowed respite."

16. (Iblîs) said: "Because You have sent me astray, surely I will sit in wait against them (human beings) on Your Straight Path.

17. Then I will come to them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their left, and You will not find most of them as thankful ones (i.e. they will not be dutiful to You)."

18. (Allâh) said (to Iblîs) "Get out from this (Paradise) disgraced and expelled. Whoever of them (mankind) will follow you, then surely I will fill Hell with you all."

19. "And O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in Paradise, and eat thereof as you both wish, but approach not this tree otherwise you both will be of the Zâlimûn (unjust and wrongdoers)."

20. Then Shaitân (Satan) whispered suggestions to them both in order to uncover that which was hidden from them of their private parts (before); he said: "Your Lord did not forbid you this tree save you should become angels or become of the immortals."

21. And he (Satan) swore by Allâh to them both (saying): "Verily, I am one of the sincere wellwishers for you both."

22. So he misled them with deception. Then when they tasted of the tree, that which was hidden from them of their shame (private parts) became manifest to them and they began to stick together the leaves of Paradise over themselves (in order to cover their shame). And their Lord called out to them (saying): "Did I not forbid you that tree and tell you: Verily, Shaitân (Satan) is an open enemy unto you?"

23. They said: "Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers."

24. (Allâh) said: "Get down, one of you an enemy to the other Adam, Hawwa (Eve), and Shaitân (Satan), etc.. On earth will be a dwellingplace for you and an enjoyment, - for a time."

25. He said: "Therein you shall live, and therein you shall die, and from it you shall be brought out (i.e.resurrected)."

26. O Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover yourselves (screen your private parts, etc.) and as an adornment, and the raiment of righteousness, that is better. Such are among the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allâh, that they may remember (i.e. leave falsehood and follow truth^*).

27. O Children of Adam! Let not Shaitân (Satan) deceive you, as he got your parents and Hawwa (Eve) out of Paradise, stripping them of their raiments, to show them their private parts. Verily, he and Qabîluhu (his soldiers from the jinns or his tribe) see you from where you cannot see them. Verily, We made the Shayâtin (devils) Auliyâ' (protectors and helpers) for those who believe not.

Other traditions

Ancient Greek mythology held that humanity was immortal during the Golden Age, until Prometheus (the serpent), brought them fire to help them live through cold. The gods punished humans allowing Pandora to release the evil (death, sorrow, plague) into the world due to her curiosity.

In classic Persian Dualism, the world is an admixture of two substances, Good and Evil. Since only Good is eternal, a person who wants to live forever must purify themselves from evil.

See also Tree of Knowledge for other traditions.

Interpretations

Judaism and Islam

Judaism and Islam interpret the account of the fall as being simply historical, and draw no particular theological implications for human nature. Quite simply, because of Adam's actions, he and his wife were removed from the garden, forced to work, suffer pain in childbirth, and die. However, even after expelling them from the garden, God provided that people who honor God and follow God's laws would be rewarded, while those who acted wrongly would be punished. As such, both Islam and Judaism reject the Christian doctrine of original sin.

Christianity

Christianity interprets the fall in a number of ways.

The doctrine of original sin, as articulated by Saint Augustine's interpretation of Saint Paul, provides that the fall caused a fundamental change in human nature, so that all descendants of Adam are born in sin, and can only be redeemed by divine grace. Sacrifice was the only means by which humanity could be redeemed after the Fall. Jesus, who was without sin, died on the cross as the ultimate redemption for the sin of humankind.

Traditional Christian theology accepts the teaching of St Paul in his letter to the Romans Paul's Epistle to the Romans, chapter 3 verse 23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" and of St John's Gospel that "God so loved the world that he sent his only son (Jesus Christ) that whoever believes on him should not perish, but have everlasting life". Gospel according to John, chapter 3 verse 16

Catholicism holds that humankind is born in original sin, but that a person retains free will, so as to be morally responsible for their sin, and dependent on both divine grace and works for salvation.

Among the teachings of Protestants John Calvin and Martin Luther were, in a variation and adaptation of the Pauline-Augustinian teaching, that God foresaw and predestined those who were to be redeemed by grace and those who were to be eternally condemned, thus giving humanity, in its sinful state, no real choice in spiritual matters, except to act at God's direction.

Many Protestants (including some of the above mentioned Lutheran and Calvinist groups) understand the account of "the fall" in Genesis 2 and 3 not as a historical-factual account of the origins of human sin, but rather as the narrative (myth) that the Israelite people used to express their recognition that humanity's relationship with God was broken, (a "myth" in the sense that the truth contained in the narrative does not depend upon its historical factuality).

Some more liberal Protestants ^* see the person and work of Jesus Christ has God's act to restore relationship, but tend not to view this restoration in terms of a sacrifice necessary for an unpaid debt.

Eastern Orthodoxy teaches that humans are born with a tendency to sin due to the fallen condition of our own natures and that of the world. It follows Maximus the Confessor and others in characterizing the change in human nature as the introduction of a "deliberative will" (θέλημα γνωμικόν) in opposition to the "natural will" (θέλημα φυσικόν) created by God which tended toward the good.

Pelagianism rejects the doctrine of original sin entirely, holding that the fall did not permanently taint human nature, and that humans are therefore capable of choosing good even without divine aid.

Mormonism adheres to the belief that the Fall was necessary as part of God's plan. Without the fall, Adam and Eve would have remained in a naive state (similar to children) and would be unable to progress or have children.

Unification Church interpret the fall as Adam and Eve having sexual relations before marriage, or as Unificationists call it, the blessing. Since "the fall", humans lost God's lineage, and were closer to Satan. Unificationists believe that the fall is reversed through the Blessing Ceremony.

Felix Culpa (the fortunate fall)

One interpretation of the doctrine of the fall is that it is necessary so that humans might benefit from God's grace. It includes the notion that, had humankind not been given the capacity for evil, our choice through free will to either serve God or not would not have been as meaningful. For example:

"A fall it might seem, just as a vicious man sometimes seems degraded below the beasts, but in promise and potency, a rise it really was" (Sir O. Lodge, "Life and Matter", p. 79).

There is, however, a second interpretation of felix culpa. If Eve had not given the fruit to Adam to eat, none of us would be here to enjoy this world.

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References

Christian philosophy | Christian theology

Sündenfall | Chute (Bible) | Syndafallet

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