amorphous_constellation
Well-Known Member
So when people think about the garden scenario in genesis, I wonder if they often attribute 'evil' to the snake, or evil to man for listening to it. I think perhaps this changes if you might change your perception of what the snake is, and understand its role between man and god. For in the bible, you might come to understand that the snake is actually the primary representation of the 'trickster god,' a primary element which is common to ancient spirituality
For a better understanding of this, I have read the norse poem 'Lokasenna,' where the 'garden' metaphor is transformed into a feast hall. For in lokasenna, all the gods become humanized in a fairly full way, for Loki shows exactly where they are the most impious. Great and 'holy' powers are shown not to be beyond criticism. Naturally, they want him to leave, to get kicked out of the 'garden,' but the wisest god will not allow this. In this, you can see that the trickster's role is not actually entirely in deception, but it is integrated as an element that will tell the truth.
The snake in bible is surely a great analog to this. Now god didn't make the snake 'evil,' but he made him crafty or cunning. Like Loki, the snake is allowed to dwell near to god, and for a reason: it has a valuable perspective rather than a purely malevolent one, though perhaps it is an unwelcome or 'rude' one. So we can see that perhaps when it spoke to Eve, it had told her a hard truth that perhaps the other god or gods did not want to admit. So then, the snake is made to slither - but it is still there, because its perspective remains relevant, though those who are more powerful may dislike it
So to spell it more clearly, the snake in the bible was revealing that a part of god's psyche did not want humans to have an 'objective notion' of good and evil. (if good and evil are actually to be objectively known) At least that seems to be a conclusion that could be drawn, and also that this was possibly a flaw in god's thinking, and with the snake pointing this out, we can discern the snake's functionality to god
There are other observations that could be made on the 'trickster' god element, and why it may have been seen as useful to our ancestors around the world... what do you think?
For a better understanding of this, I have read the norse poem 'Lokasenna,' where the 'garden' metaphor is transformed into a feast hall. For in lokasenna, all the gods become humanized in a fairly full way, for Loki shows exactly where they are the most impious. Great and 'holy' powers are shown not to be beyond criticism. Naturally, they want him to leave, to get kicked out of the 'garden,' but the wisest god will not allow this. In this, you can see that the trickster's role is not actually entirely in deception, but it is integrated as an element that will tell the truth.
The snake in bible is surely a great analog to this. Now god didn't make the snake 'evil,' but he made him crafty or cunning. Like Loki, the snake is allowed to dwell near to god, and for a reason: it has a valuable perspective rather than a purely malevolent one, though perhaps it is an unwelcome or 'rude' one. So we can see that perhaps when it spoke to Eve, it had told her a hard truth that perhaps the other god or gods did not want to admit. So then, the snake is made to slither - but it is still there, because its perspective remains relevant, though those who are more powerful may dislike it
So to spell it more clearly, the snake in the bible was revealing that a part of god's psyche did not want humans to have an 'objective notion' of good and evil. (if good and evil are actually to be objectively known) At least that seems to be a conclusion that could be drawn, and also that this was possibly a flaw in god's thinking, and with the snake pointing this out, we can discern the snake's functionality to god
There are other observations that could be made on the 'trickster' god element, and why it may have been seen as useful to our ancestors around the world... what do you think?
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