The Myth of Adam and Eve

 

This story, told for close to two thousand years, has profoundly affected our attitude toward God.  We have come to believe that Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Paradise because they dared to search for truth (“the tree of good and evil”).  God is portrayed as the Punisher of this sin, separating Himself forever from mankind.  We are also told that we, as unworthy descendants, are inherently evil, guilty of Original Sin.  Our only hope has been in Jesus, who would redeem mankind by his crucifixion.

Our Creator has never separated Himself or abandoned us.  Humans think they are separate, and this belief has caused their feeling that God is a distant being, demanding worship and reparation. While this belief is false, it is the reality of millions of people.

Jesus was a human who attained a high level of consciousness by believing that he was an aspect of God. As an Essene, a Jewish group dedicated to ancient wisdom, he traveled to Egypt, India, and Greece in his search for knowledge. In his travels throughout Palestine, he taught that love of God, self and others, was the purpose of life.  His miracles attested to his high level of consciousness.  He told us, “Whatever I do, you also can do”, a promise that we, too, could attain his level of consciousness.  These are not the words of a god.  In fact, Jesus was voted to be god in the year 333 by the bishops at the Council of Nicea in Greece.

His criticism of the Jewish hierarchy earned their contempt, and along with the Roman fear of rebellion, resulted in his death.  He was not the sacrificial lamb of the Father, Redeemer of mankind from Original Sin.  He was a loving human who dared to attack organized religion, and was crucified for it.

It was not his idea to create a church.  He wanted each person to be responsible for his/her connection to the Creator, just as he was.  His example shows us that we can also raise our consciousness to a higher level, without benefit of priests, doctrines, or dogmas. Through meditation, mindfulness, and living a loving life, we can reach a state of recognition of our divine origin. We are facets of God.

Jacqueline M. Shuler
June 5, 2018