This document discusses the origins of evil and human suffering according to the biblical story of Adam and Eve's fall from grace in the Garden of Eden. It describes how Eve was tempted by a serpent to eat the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which she and Adam then did, disobeying God. As a result, they lost their original state of innocence and harmony with God and each other, and brought sin, hardship, and death into the world. The document suggests that while evil stems from human free will and turning away from God, God continues working for redemption and will never abandon humanity.
3. God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to cultivate
it and guard it. He told him, “you may eat the fruit of
any tree in the garden, except for the tree of
knowledge of good and evil.
4. The snake asked the woman, “did God
really tell you not to eat the fruit from
any tree in the garden?”
5. “We may eat the fruit of
any tree in the garden
except the tree in the
middle of it. God told us
not to eat the fruit of
that tree or even touch it;
if we do, we will die,”
replied the woman.
6. The snake replied, “That’s
not true; you will not die.
In fact, you will be like
God.”
The woman gave in to the
invitation of the serpent.
She took some of the fruit
and ate it.
8. As soon as they
had eaten it, they
were given
understanding and
realized that they
were naked; so
they sewed fig
leaves together
and covered
themselves.
That evening
they heard God
walking in the
garden, and
they hid from
Him for they
were naked.
9. sent out of the garden
hard work
pain in giving birth
suffering
10. Her offspring
will crush the
head of the
serpent.
God let them
explain their acts.
God clothed
them.
God let them
till the land for
daily existence.
Message of Hope
14. Original sin
Original justice
state of sinfulness in which
we are born as members of
the human race
state of total happiness of man
with God
15. In rebelling against God, man
and woman destroyed their
original harmony with
each other (nakedness)
others (Cain and Abel)
the community (Tower of Babel)
nature (Great Flood)
21. abuse of freedom
sin
eating the fruit
giving in to temptation
man’s
turning
away from
the love
of God
who calls
us to
relate in
love with
Him and
our
fellowmen
22. Are all evils sinful?
Are all sins evil?
Evil
1. Moral evil
2. Physical evil
absence or privation of goodness
Concupiscence
inner disorder of our basic drives