THE ORIGIN OF SIN - PART 10 THE FINAL CHAPTER [REVISED 26 MAY 2022]

(Scene opens with WRITER walking in the sun)

“The name Genesis is from the Latin Vulgate, in turn, borrowed or transliterated from Greek Γένεσις, meaning "origin"; Biblical Hebrew: בְּרֵאשִׁית, romanized: Bərēšīṯ, "In [the] beginning"

VOICE OF GOD   I see that you've gathered a lot of stuff about Genesis. What are you going to do with that? Do you have an understanding of it?

WRITER   Honestly?

V.O.G   Is there any other way?

WRITER   No. My answer, no.

V.O.G.   What do you see?

WRITER   The story of the Garden, Adam and Eve is a myth, a mean-spirited myth written in and translated into multiple languages, casting the human elements as childish and vain.

V.O.G.   You know that this is untrue?

WRITER   I know nothing. I have taken the published story at face value and given it a dramatic re-interpretation. This is my idea of what might have happened.

V.O.G.   Interesting, As the writer, you have the power and the privilege of re-shaping time, of calling on me whenever necessary. I am immortal, transcending time. Are you saying you’re my equal?

WRITER   I could not and would not. If you are willing, I would like to ask YOU some questions.

V.O.G.   Is there an unspoken “if I may” pinned on to that speech?

WRITER   if I may, ask you questions?

“ 5 b The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And d the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it e grieved him to his heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah f found favor in the eyes of the Lord”.] “

V.O.G.   I see you have assembled more information. I’ll agree to some questions, I will decide how many “some” is. 

WRITER   The above quote is from the Book of Genesis and makes claim to detailing a conversation between YOU and Noah. Is it true? Did it happen?

V.O.G.   It paints me very cruel, doesn’t it? Vindictive even. Threatening to destroy all life, for the short fallings of one species? Were there tape recorders in those days? 

WRITER   It shows a GOD capable of tears and regret.

V.O.G.   You doubt that I am capable of either?

WRITER   your followers do. They seem incapable of awareness and emotion.

V.O.G.   Your point?

WRITER   As those who follow take on the attributes of who or what they follow; so must the who to whom their adoration is given. The rules that govern their life become the rule that constrains the adored. In the final analysis, the adored and the adoring become one. The inquisitions are an example, and the witchhunts; in a weird sort of way, The Holocaust that claimed millions of Jewish and non-Jewish lives is also an example. Under delusions of Faith, human beings act as if the rules of relating did not apply to them. How do you react to that?

V.O.G   Ah, yes, my followers. They can be excitable can't they, and over-enthusiastic.

WRITER   And they know how to manipulate language, to justify their acts. How do you feel about that?

V.O.G.   Uncomfortable

WRITER   You had your flood, cleansed the world; get rid of evil, pettiness, petulance, pride, ambition?

V.O.G.   No

WRITER   Did you not see ambition and the lust for power among the congregation of the faithful throughout the ages? Wars amongst denominations? Wars between religions? Religions promoting and talking peace and love? Has it all been worthwhile? How does it feel to be GOD loved by three religions, at war with each other? Feel successful, or another day at the office?

V.O.G.   Question time is over. 

WRITER   Eve did not bring sin into the world. Did she?

V.O.G.   (Angrily) Question time is over.

 

(Scene change: God’s office, centuries before the birth of Jesus)

 

(GOD sits at a desk reading The Book of Genesis) 

                     

No! No! No! That is not what happened!                           

(Gets up from the desk, and searches in 

Piles of paper., the search takes some minutes). 

Here it is! (returns to the desk, looks through his acquisition

 

Sees handwritten notes on the sections 

Concerning Eve and Adam, and reads them out aloud 

“This did not happen! Talk to scribes, tomorrow!” 

Then he remembered. “Tomorrow” didn’t come

 

He had been distracted by something else. 

He stares into the distance and recalls Eve 

As a vibrant, curious, intelligent being,

Then looks at the written account

 

And mutters no! No! No!; HE remembers 

Her laughter, her enthusiasm, her kindness, 

And at that moment feels a strange sensation

Of loss and regret. Adam and Eve, Eve’s fear 

 

Of being objectified and cast as a second class 

Being - all come true; it had been in his power 

To prevent it. He remembered them both collectively

And singly; two individuals cast into a strange world

 

Trusting, naive, eager to learn, curious and resolute

Two people, he remembered with great fondness, 

Had been misrepresented and maligned. 

At that moment, alone in his office, GOD wept

 

No one watched, no one saw; as the creator of this tale

I believe the enormity of what he had allowed happening

Struck him. At that moment, he did what any sensitive 

Sentient being would do; he felt the loss, the sadness

 

The betrayal of the trust they had put on him; he wept

 

THE END