Adam & Eve

Day 1

BIG STUFF
BEING ITSELF (creation of the world) HUMANITY ITSELF (first human event and its aftermath) MEANING ITSELF (interpretations of creation and first event)

Gen. 1:1

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Gen. 1:3

Then God said, Let there be light And there was light.

FIAT LUX

Gen. 1:27

So God created the human in his image; In the image of God He created him; Male and female He created them.

Gen. 2:7, 2:22

Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground
And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman

Major Issues for the Course

Genesis 1-3 as a problem text
(hermeneutics)

Interpretations of Genesis 1-3

(1st c.-20th c.)

Politics of Interpretation
(power/ideology) (gender/sexuality/race)

What Is a Problem Text?

Difficulties of interpretation Ambiguities of meaning Narrative gaps Narrative inconsistencies Many ultimate questions Few answers

Ultimate Questions
Who is God? What is humanity? What should human beings do?

Ultimate Questions

Are human beings created equal? Are men and women created equal? Are all races created equal?

Ultimate Questions

Where does life come from? Why do people die? Is humanity good or evil? Where does evil come from?

Narrative Questions

Where/when was God before he created the world? Who was he talking to when he said, Let there be light? Why did he create the world? Why did he create us? Why are we here?

Narrative Questions
Why was Adam created first and Eve second? Was Adam created first and Eve second? Why was Adam made from earth and Eve from Adams rib? Why is the story of the creation of Adam & Eve told in two different ways?

Narrative Questions
Why is the forbidden fruit forbidden? Why do Adam and Eve eat it? Why does Eve eat it first? Why does God let it happen? What do Gods punishments mean? Why does the snake talk???

More Questions!
How have readers interpreted this contradictory, ambiguous problem text? What do their interpretations tell us about them and the societies they lived in? How do religious beliefs overlap with other social, cultural, and political needs?

Course Goals
NARRATIVE Investigate the OT story of Creation INTERPRETATION Consider how authors from different historical periods have interpreted the OT story IDEOLOGY Speculate on how religious insights shape moral, social, political issues

Important Information
Reading Assignments Attendance PowerPoint on SmartSite Ask for help/Raise your hand 12/6 10:30-12:30 (final exam)

Important Information
Paper assignments Expository essay format Grading rubrics Plagiarism Asking for help Office hours