Theology Minute

So, if you're not interested at all in Biblical fundamentalism, then skip this post and go check out something a little different like this.  You probably should be interested, though because, depending on your perspective, either bunches of your pals are going to burn for ever in hell, or crazy people are in the process of trying to indoctrinate your children with their superstitions and teaching them to ignore rational thought and avoid critical thinking.

Anyway, my issue today is this whole "original sin" thing that is crucial for all of Christianity.  The story is something like "Adam and Eve were created without knowledge of good and evil.  They were commanded by God not to eat some fruit that would make them know good from evil.  They ate it anyway and now they know good from evil."  This is called the original sin.  Now, how could they have sinned if they didn't know good from evil before they ate the fruit?  Either they didn't know it was wrong, so they didn't sin or if they did sin, then they must have known it was wrong.  It doesn't make any sense.  I've heard some apologists try to explain this with some elaborate mental gymnastics, but it still doesn't make sense.  Feel free to give it a shot though.  Seriously.

The supposed repercussions of the o-sin are guys having to dig in the dirt and girls having excruciating pain in childbirth.  Thanks alot for that, God.  So christian men, if you were thinking of picking up dinner on the way home from work, maybe you should pick up a shovel and get to work in those fields instead.  You've got to stay right with the Lord.  And, ladies.  Epidural...?  I don't know if that would be in God's will for you.  Better go natural to be safe.

Oh.  And check out Van Der Goes' painting.  Silly artist didn't know Adam and Eve didn't have bellybuttons.