In my independent study, I have been focusing on exile. Also, I think this class really inspired me to look at mythology in conjunction with the concept of exile. Specifically the first bit of Genesis so part of my independent study thinking relates enough for a blogging journal in this class. I do believe there is not one exact way to tell any myth and part of its impact is the way it’s told (which does fluctuate from person to person) and fortunately Genies has a mass variety of different tellings. So I read a couple of them. At the moment, I feel like Eugene Peterson’s version has the most flavor and impact so I will reference The Message’s account in this journal.
“So GOD expelled them form the Garden of Eden and sent them to work the ground, the same dirt out of which they’d been made. He threw them our of the garden and stationed ante-cherubim and a revolving sword of fire east of it, guarding the path to the Tree of Life.” - Genesis 3:23-24
It’s fascinating to think that the Abrahamic faiths were born in exile. What I find most fascinating about this myth is how humanity was given a home in the world yet it is also from the same world were we were banished from. In a sense they myth says our exile is not so much literal as it is mental. No longer is the raw world a place where man finds refuge. Instead it becomes a place of wondering. Think about what we call the wild. The Wild is a place that is untampered by man - it is the raw world. And it is in the raw world where humans are not at home. What was originally intended to be our home, our most solid refuge, now is a place no man can fully dwell in. In response to our banishment we’ve changed the name of the untampered Earth from Eden to Wilderness, now we only wonder above its surface never able to call it the refuge, the fruitful garden, we were intended to care for.
Almost right from the get-go we find humanity being not only banished form Eden, but more importantly banished form walking directly with God. In Eden man walked with God, once banished Man never had the same face-to-face relationship. Playing along with this banishment, another exile comes apparent in the very next story.
"God said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?”
He said, “How should I know? Am I his babysitter?”
GOD said, “What have you done! The voice of your brother’s blood is calling to me from the ground. From now on you’ll get nothing but curses form this ground; you’ll be driven from this ground that has opened its arms to receive the blood of your murdered brother. You’ll farm this ground, but it will no longer give you its best. You’ll be a homeless wanderer of the Earth.”
Cain said to GOD, “My punishment is too much. I can’t take it! You’ve thrown me off the land and I can never again face you. I’m a homeless wanderer on Earth and whoever finds me will kill me.”"
- Genesis 4:9-14
According to Genesis, our race was intended to be the caretakers of the Earth. But, we are never comfortable on land. And our origin shows us as hunter-gather wandering across the earth. In Genesis our story is founded off a lack of refuge in both the Land and God. The origin begs for redemption, as such the feeling of any who is banished exile.
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