Step is still there, listening and making some replies, but then everything just sort of stops
I hate that whole Genesis reference thing, that’s what, Step.
Why, Dickerson, what about it?
There’s a Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and a Tree of Life. God says to Adam and Eve, they can eat of the fruit of any tree except of the good and evil one, but he doesn’t say anything about the life tree, so one would assume they could eat from it if they felt like. But really, they can’t. It’s implicitly understood they can’t. So that’s two trees they can’t eat from, not one. One is explicitly banned, the other implicitly. God wants the life tree to exist, but he doesn’t want it to be a tree the couple ever attains. He doesn’t want to give away that tree. They’re to suffer the presence of the life tree in the Garden of Eden with no right to touch it. The other tree, the good and evil one, they know they can eat from, except God told them explicitly they couldn’t. He makes one tree a barrier to the other. If God hadn’t told them, the good and evil tree’d be the first whose fruit they’d try, and nothing’d happen to them. Except that would go down as experience, and they’d be ready for the life tree.
So why would he do that, Dickerson?
Because he made them some kind of promise of eternal happiness or life he could never keep, so he came up with the tree ruse as a way out of it.
But that assumes he knew –
Of course he knew, Step. Of course he knew they’d try the fruit of the good and evil tree, just like they would have tried it anyway. That’s because he made them creatures of experience, which meant they were destined to suffer, no matter what. He came up with the tree thing to wash his hands of it, so the blame for their fall would be on them and not because he made them that way. A creature that is made to suffer cannot be granted eternal life. It’s either one or the other. And he might have washed his hands, but it still doesn’t take away the lie of it.
But, sad as it is, that’s good news, isn’t it, Dickerson? I mean, if you’re a creature of experience and suffering, then you will yearn for eternal life – where there is no more pain, or wailing, or grief. If they just got eternal life, they’d never understand the value of it. It’s only through experience and pain and hardship and loss and suffering that the gift of eternity can ever make sense.
My point, Step, is why promise them something he was never going to give them anyway? Why tell them they had something and that he was now taking it away when they didn’t have it in the first place? Why not just say, Okay, listen, I made you, do what you want, but you’ll pay the consequences. Maybe after that you’ll turn back to me. Why make them live an illusion – even if it was for a few days? Why do it? If you’re God, what need do you have? Why?
Maybe it was a terrible thing, Dirk, even for God. Maybe because, by setting off the force of experience in them, it was so powerful, he knew even he wouldn’t be able to control it. Imagine that – creating something on purpose, in this case free will, knowing you’d have no control over it. That it was out of your hands. You’re responsible for them, but they do what the hell they want. They didn’t ask to be there, but once you put them there, how can you deny them doing as they please. You’re responsible for them, but they don’t answer to you. So, maybe it was his awkward way of having some time alone with them before it happened. And when it happened, and even though he knew it’d happen, it pissed him off anyway, and he kicked them the hell out of there, and just to be an asshole, put an angel there to bar the life tree, even though that was completely unnecessary, since they’d never have access to it again anyway.
But that’s the point, Step. Why treat them that way if you made them the way they are in the first place? If in obeying God they never tried the good and evil tree, they’d never know what they were missing, and so they’d never get the fruit of the life tree. And then they’d die anyway. But if they tried it, the good and evil tree fruit, they’d suddenly gain understanding and want the fruit of the life tree, but their punishment for knowing and for wanting would be to get kicked out of the garden. And then they’d die – but not anyway. They’d die knowing.
So maybe that’s better.
Ah, I don’t know, Step. Whatever it is, all I know’s God had it all planned out like that from the beginning, and that just doesn’t sit right with me. It was a precarious arrangement from the start, an impossible situation. Who can live like that? And by having a reason for kicking them out, he’d wash his hands of the empty promise, which still doesn’t make it any less a lie on God’s part. And he’d have the Tree of Life all to himself, even though he needed it least of all. Whatever happened to fucking everything up just like you were meant to and then if you’re smart enough to realize all the damage you’ve done, you finally understand to come back from where you started. Whatever happened to not being judged – for experience – for being something you can’t help being? And when you want to return, you’re just accepted, without being judged. Because he knows he made you that way and you couldn’t come to him unless you’ve already made all those mistakes. Your mistakes are always yours and you will always have to live with them, and deal with the consequences – sure, that’s fair enough. No one ever said it wasn’t. But those mistakes are also why you go back to him. You get back to him by paying the price. But if you ever want to get back to him, no one can turn you away. Because there is no judgment, and there’s no forgiveness. Any forgiveness is in the punishment you suffer, which is in proportion to your crimes. The more you bear out your punishment, the more you are forgiven. Likewise, your reward grows in the same proportion as your desire to be with him.
Dickerson – are we dead?
Vanity and vexation of spirit. What does it matter to you, Jack? Haven’t you learned anything? What matters is you keep fighting. Or don’t you think you’re fighting anymore? Have another drink, Step. What do you think it is you leave behind?
But what about him dying for our sins?
We can die for any reason, and we can sacrifice our lives for others, but no one ever dies for anyone’s sins. What does that mean? So we could go on being assholes? That’s just more vanity, Step. You don’t need any intermediaries, Step. You have a direct line to God.
These two have nothing more to say.
Filed by Saint Stephan, October 12, 2014
END OF VOLUME 2
Volume 3? Will there be one?
We shall see…
October 12, 2014: Note Unautorized. Author Unknown.
Who says this is the end of Volume 2? Well, if it IS Saint Stephan, we can tell you this much – he has NO SAY in what goes on around here. And THAT, friends, would be true even if he were alive. See: “Secret Editorial Board Takes Issue…” somewhat further below.