No problem. I look at stories like these through the lense of a god-based
religion transforming the positive images of a goddess-based religion into
negative images. In this way, what was once good is now bad. If I'm not
being clear, look at Merlin Stone's "When God Was a Woman." Another helpful
book is Elaine Pagels' "Mary, Alone of All Her Sex." Jealously doesn't
necessarily play a part in either but that was the quote I gave to the
students.
My understanding is that Lilith is punished for running away, for not
submitting as a good wife should. Therefore, God threatens to kill 100 of
her children a day and Lilith is blamed for these deaths. (I may be going
out on a limb here but I think it's an early explanation for sudden infant
death). But, Liilith is not doing the killing, God is. He is punishing her
for diobeying. And, since she is impregnated by the nocturnal emissions of
men, men are also punished in this story: they can't even dream about sex.
As for Eve, she is convinced by the snake to eat of the forbidden tree and
then she persuades Adam to do so as well. The knowledge that was forbidden
was carnal knowledge. They are both cast out of the Garden and, I think, Eve
is punished with painful childbirths for this. (And, a by-product is that
all women descended from Eve share her guilt). Here again are
transformations of positive images of a different religion into negative
symbols in the competiting religion. The snake symbol of rebirth and Goddess
(because it crawls on and lives in the Earth) is now the corruptor. Also,
the tree was a symbol of the Goddess because it grew from the earth and bore
fruit. Finally, is the taboo that a female should have carnal knowledge not
given to her by her male partner. After all, still today (and this hits home
with undergraduates) girls are supposed to be virgins when married (remember
the public announcement of the results of Princess Diana's pre-marriage
pelvic exam) and her sexual knowledge should only be gained through her
husband. In some Goddess-based religions, priestesses were allowed, perhaps
encouraged, to freely share their bodies with men.
Although this is a little off the track but does connect: just what kind of
snakes did Saint Patrick drive out of Ireland?
----- Original Message -----
From: silke <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2000 2:30 AM
Subject: Re: passage (question)
> As the answers to your question flood in, i'd like to ask *you* a
question:
> In what way was the subject of Lilith and Eve linked to divine jealousy
and
> vengeance in your class?
>
> silke
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Loretta Lorance <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2000 4:02 PM
> Subject: passage from bible
>
>
> > Hi, I'm wondering if anyone can help me locate a passage from the Old
> > Testament. While discussing the stories of Lilith and Eve, I mentioned
> that
> > the Christian God was vengeful. A student challenged me and said I
should
> > not impose my viewpoints onto them. When I explained that God claimed
that
> > he was "a jealous and vengeful God," the student rejected my
explaination.
> >
> > I can't locate the passage. Either I've gotten it wrong or actually did
> make
> > it up. Does anyone know where this passage is? Thanks in advance.
> >
> > Loretta Lorance
> > [log in to unmask]
> >
> >
> > _____NetZero Free Internet Access and Email______
> > http://www.netzero.net/download/index.html
> >
>
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