I have jumped on the bandwagon of reading Untamed, after a reconstruction Christian ministry I support, as well as people who I admire, have been, for better or for worse, addressing the book. So far, the author is brilliant. I am only twenty pages in, and it is a terrific read so far. But something that I really want to address, is Doyle's recollection of her Catholic school teaching on the events that transpired in the garden of Eden (and which she uses as a starting point in her assertion of restrained female power).
One of the greatest features of the Catholic Church, and why I ultimately accepted the invitation to be initiated into it in 2010, is because it is steady teaching across the board. All teachings come directly from two main texts, and never deviate. And while there are esoteric realms for the mystics within the Church, the teachings are for the most part comprehensive and black and white.
And so I question the accuracy of Doyle's recollection. While it's possible a parish could trust an unqualified teacher, they are nevertheless required go through an instruction course before becoming teachers of the faith. The entire story of Adam and Eve as relayed by Doyle is false teaching, and I don't know any Catholic or Protestant that would 1) Say that Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil because she was "hungry", 2) Leave out the entire part about the knowledge pertaining to good and evil, and 3) Not teach about the star of that scene, Satan.
While Doyle's incredible sensitivity, intellect, and bravery are demonstrated in her response to the story when she asked her teacher to clarify, her recollection of the actual story is either incomplete, or in the postulating of her question, missed a big part of the story, where in fact the entire moral of it is.
Something that I am very passionate about, because I have fallen prey to it time and time again, and learned how to come out the other side and identify it, so that I can continue daily to resist the temptation, is that I am a person, intended to be humble, on the same level as all others. In other words, I am not God. In our new age, we are all little gods it seems, and we are taught and encouraged to reach for our desires, instead of conforming to God's will. But we are all here on Earth for a fleeting moment in time, and we are up against major obstacles daily.
The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil had to be placed in the Garden of Eden, because we are made in the image of God, but are not in this world immortal like God. The knowledge is that we will die, and we were protected from that knowledge, until we were made aware of it.
Eve did not eat the fruit because she was hungry, she ate because she was deceived. Satan attacked by making a move on the one thing that she did not have: permission to eat from the tree. When Satan exploited what he perceived to be a weakness in Eve, a lack, he tempted her by making her doubt what God had said. "Are you sure God said that?..."
The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was a mercy. Today, we know death and decay, because we wanted to be like God. We forfeited our role in an act of pride, but we have been offered it back, when taking the right instruction.
Today I know two things: 1) I am not God, and 2) Because I am not God, I am subject to death. Life to me isn't about taking what I think is worthy of being mine, or what I think I deserve, or even about having fun or rest all the time. It's about being continuously aware that I am vulnerable. The Earth and her people need constant support, because we are all subject to natural and social laws that can make life difficult. When I know that I am not God, I am on the same level ground as all other people, and even all life on Earth. Being no better than and no less than, and this is the true definition of humility.
This is a testing age, an age that says we can conquer the world, but at what cost? Character building is rejected in order to take what we can get. But there is one other part of the story of Eden that is often overlooked: Adam was this planet's caretaker. I inherited the role of servant, I am not God. I misjudged my part and I owe this world an amends for misreading my lines and saying, "Give me!", instead of "How can I help?" This is what those who want to serve need to be aware of, and find and learn how to use the tools that will enable humble living.
One of the greatest features of the Catholic Church, and why I ultimately accepted the invitation to be initiated into it in 2010, is because it is steady teaching across the board. All teachings come directly from two main texts, and never deviate. And while there are esoteric realms for the mystics within the Church, the teachings are for the most part comprehensive and black and white.
And so I question the accuracy of Doyle's recollection. While it's possible a parish could trust an unqualified teacher, they are nevertheless required go through an instruction course before becoming teachers of the faith. The entire story of Adam and Eve as relayed by Doyle is false teaching, and I don't know any Catholic or Protestant that would 1) Say that Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil because she was "hungry", 2) Leave out the entire part about the knowledge pertaining to good and evil, and 3) Not teach about the star of that scene, Satan.
While Doyle's incredible sensitivity, intellect, and bravery are demonstrated in her response to the story when she asked her teacher to clarify, her recollection of the actual story is either incomplete, or in the postulating of her question, missed a big part of the story, where in fact the entire moral of it is.
Something that I am very passionate about, because I have fallen prey to it time and time again, and learned how to come out the other side and identify it, so that I can continue daily to resist the temptation, is that I am a person, intended to be humble, on the same level as all others. In other words, I am not God. In our new age, we are all little gods it seems, and we are taught and encouraged to reach for our desires, instead of conforming to God's will. But we are all here on Earth for a fleeting moment in time, and we are up against major obstacles daily.
The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil had to be placed in the Garden of Eden, because we are made in the image of God, but are not in this world immortal like God. The knowledge is that we will die, and we were protected from that knowledge, until we were made aware of it.
Eve did not eat the fruit because she was hungry, she ate because she was deceived. Satan attacked by making a move on the one thing that she did not have: permission to eat from the tree. When Satan exploited what he perceived to be a weakness in Eve, a lack, he tempted her by making her doubt what God had said. "Are you sure God said that?..."
The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was a mercy. Today, we know death and decay, because we wanted to be like God. We forfeited our role in an act of pride, but we have been offered it back, when taking the right instruction.
Today I know two things: 1) I am not God, and 2) Because I am not God, I am subject to death. Life to me isn't about taking what I think is worthy of being mine, or what I think I deserve, or even about having fun or rest all the time. It's about being continuously aware that I am vulnerable. The Earth and her people need constant support, because we are all subject to natural and social laws that can make life difficult. When I know that I am not God, I am on the same level ground as all other people, and even all life on Earth. Being no better than and no less than, and this is the true definition of humility.
This is a testing age, an age that says we can conquer the world, but at what cost? Character building is rejected in order to take what we can get. But there is one other part of the story of Eden that is often overlooked: Adam was this planet's caretaker. I inherited the role of servant, I am not God. I misjudged my part and I owe this world an amends for misreading my lines and saying, "Give me!", instead of "How can I help?" This is what those who want to serve need to be aware of, and find and learn how to use the tools that will enable humble living.
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