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Re: Tree of life

Posted By: John M. Riada
Date: Wednesday, 30 October 2002, at 9:13 p.m.

In Response To: Tree of life (Naomi)

I have followed some of your amazing detective work in other threads here; it was fun watching you work out some very tough puzzles, how do you do it? The Tree of Life is introduced without explanation, as though the writer assumes we understand what he is talking about. In the same manner, the tree of knowledge of good and evil makes its debut without preamble. Could it be that these enigmatic references today were common expressions then (six or seven thousand years ago)? My guess is the audience likely knew their common meanings and therefore understood their subtler, spiritual references.

In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 2:8-10)

I saw a (David Rohl I believe) documentary earlier this year that tracked the location of Eden to Northern Iraq/Turkey, in which area was discovered an ancient reference to a type of vine (grape?) that was referred to as the vine or bush of life. Although the area is an urban eyesore today, a digital simulation re-created a truly stunning panorama of luscious, over grown plains worthy of the title paradise. For a moment I thought I was transported back to the dawn of (human) time. It was not hard to believe that some prized, prolific staple/fruit was thought of as a life-giving gift from God. Perhaps esoteric meanings were layered on top of this more apparent connotation. More at his web site - http://www.nunki.net/PerDud/index.html

Later references to the tree of life in the bible help us understand what other writers believed it to mean, I have attached a complete reference below. In several instances, tree of life seems to be a somewhat common expression - perhaps synonymous with 'blessing' or 'gift'. In other instances, "The" tree of life is clearly a reference to eternal life and to God. Not a big jump then to go from an organic life sustaining tree of life idea to an eternal life giving tree of life concept.

Explains nothing but maybe a starting point. I think also that it is important to consider the tree of life in contrast with the tree of knowledge of good and evil. On the surface it appears that we are to be denied deep knowledge and understanding of the true nature of cosmos. However that conclusion is not necessarily consistent with the near uncountable number of mystical, enlightening experiences pointing to higher understanding throughout the bible. In fact the bible seems to be preoccupied with information about good and evil. What then is this forbidden fruit? I wish I knew more about other competing religions in the area at the time, I can only imagine that the mountain shaman dazed on psychotropic 'shrooms (fruit from the wrong tree?) tripping through the twilight zone was perhaps an affront to the God of the Edenites.

I have also wondered if it is a mistake to assume that 'knowledge of good and evil' was a reference to a 'holistic' understanding of creation but rather may have been talking about an unhealthy type of inner duality - a deep knowledge (or commitment to) good, coexisting with an equally deep knowledge and reverence of evil. Perhaps the resulting schism makes us, well crazy. There's a pretty good chance too that a closer look at these phrases in archaic Hebrew may yield more fruit (groan).

Finally the New Testament implies that Christ is the 'substitute' tree of life that mends the Way back to the Garden and to eternal life. The story comes full circle then and the deeper mystery is revealed. As a Christian Naomi, and at a deep spiritual level, I 'spiritually' accept the tree of life to mean God. I suppose that is a less scholarly and less sophisticated answer but strangely it provides me with considerable comfort when grappling with these daunting concepts. Being clever on the other hand only seems to keep me awake at night :-)

- John

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