The Fall as Allegorical Fiction.

[Jenny A]

The scene as set in previous verses is one of an idyllic paradise, two naked people in a garden, not a care in the world, under the watch of a divine benefactor who has one simple rule. We can already see the fabric of a story about childhood and disobedience forming, which is fitting ( I think), in an origins narrative. That god is a parent and the humans are children is established in as few words as possible, and this is an impressive bit of authorship - an extremely judicious use of breath. <snip>
How relevant does this narrative seem to you, under a reading like this one? Is it surprising that a story like this would survive so long?

It's very relevant looked at in this way. Many a Bible-As-Literature does just that too. And I don't think it's all that far off the mark from the original intent. Unfortunately, I have heard the tale so often as an explanation for 1) original sin --- a Christian concept tacked on later; and 2) an explanation for the lower status of women that I have to take a deep breath and count to ten before I can look at it any other way.

Interesting how tied grown-up responsibilities and sex are. And in a world without birth control they really were, weren't they?

If I get enough kudos.... I might be tempted to go through the bible line by line......show some fundies how it's done. /kudoswhorecapon

Please do.