We start again at Genesis where the Bible declares that the human person is made in the image and likeness of God. 

 

 It would seem that this declaration sees the human as being or meant to be perfect as God is perfect.  It would be a perfection based on humankinds awesome power as a sentient being created with God like abilities. 

 

The human was not merely a creature of instinct but of reason and the ability because of that rationality to act independently. 

 

The action of rational independence is displayed in the story of the eating of fruit of the tree. 

 

 Simply stated, the point of the story is that the rational person looked, saw, recognized, considered the data, extrapolated the possibilities, and with the addition of outside influence (the voice of the serpent) the person made a considered judgement and then acted consequentially. 

 

 This action is based upon the image of God qualities given to the human person by God.  It is evidence of the difference of sentient humankind from animals. 

 

 However, the moral value of the story is in the second part.

    

 In the second part God comes to the human persons seeking relationship and conversation but Adam and Eve are hiding. 

 

They are afraid. 

 

For His part God seeks them, calls out to them, asks them to enter into conversation and relationship. 

 

However, the humans respond to God defensively and with accusation toward each other and toward God. 

 

 Asked why they are hiding, they respond that they are naked.  This new perception by the humans "surprizes" God who asks "Who told you that you were naked?"  Is there some thing outside of yourself that has imposed this perception upon you? 

 

 Quickly, however, God follows up with the question, "What did you do?  Did you do what you were not supposed to do?"

    

Looked at from a sympathetic point of view, God is here asking a simple question.  It is a question intended to restore relationship. 

 

Stated in another way, we might phrase it like this, " Hey Adam, what's up with this hiding stuff?  What happened?  Come on, tell me, won't you? "

 

"Come on Adam, tell me what you've been doing and how you came to this situation of hiding from me and feeling that you and Eve are naked?" 

 

Seen in this sympathetic way, God calls for the restoration of relationship and conversation based upon the use of the human person's God given abilities of thought, action, reflection, and evaluation.

 

  If the human person can synthesize these actions it indicates to God a high level moral judgement on the part of the human person. Such high level reflection, evaluation and synthesis would be an awesome proof that the human person was capable of self inspired moral valuation. 

    

Sadly, the human person, created in the image and likeness of God and possessing all of the God like abilities of a rational independent mind, reveals an essential flaw. 

 

The man evades responsibily and therefore accountability by blaming the woman and by inference blaming God.

 

 The woman does the same saying (in effect).."It's not my fault.  It was the serpent, (whom you created and placed in the garden) who beguiled me." 

 

 Ultimately, the man and the woman seek to escape the effects of their God given abilities.  They decide and the decision is to refuse to accept within themselves the responsibility and therefore accountability for their own decisons and consequent actions. 

 

This presents God with a problem.   Humankind's flawed moral relativism brings God to the understanding that such a God like creature can choose non responsibility and excuse.

 

God the creator realizes that he has created a God like creature who can choose to consider itself to be outside morality.

 

What then can be done to prevent the disasterous effect of such a creature living a-morally and forever?

 

Death!