The Garden of Eden: The Doubting Thomas Theory

I have spent a considerable bit of time preparing a Sunday School lesson this week on the Garden of Eden. My inspiration comes from two sources: 1)The recent collector's edition, "Secrets of the Bible", from U.S. News & World Report, and 2) the even better book by Eric H. Cline, "From Eden to Exile." I do not intend to regurgitate them. Rather, they form the basis of this article. If you want to check them out, please do so. There are no "hyperlinks" here to follow!

There has been considerable effort placed into the task of trying to "locate" the Garden of Eden. There are many theories that can take one on a grand journey from the Nile River in Egypt, through Arabia, southern Turkey, Iran, and yes Iraq. On a wild ride, one could even come to Jackson County Missouri, not far from my beloved home in the Ozarks! Being Celtic in background, I personally would have placed the garden in Ireland!

As far as location goes, I have been quite fine approximating the location of the Garden somewhere along the path of what has been called "the fertile crescent." Cline makes some good argument to me for postulating the location there. Early archaeological evidence has shown us that this was one of the first places on earth to: domesticate animals, plants grain crops, develop towns and cities. Personally, I would also add the development of fermented beverages to the list, lest we allow the Egyptians all the credit!

At the end of the articles and book, we are left we the same question: "where is it?" As the old television commercial used to say, "the world may never know!" We simply cannot pin down the actual location of the garden with any certainty. Anyone surprised?

Why do we need to know "for sure?" It has nothing to do with "story" of the garden. Like many oral traditions, including modern ones, the story is a blend of myth and fact, pseudo evidence, that aims at making a point. In this case, we are to learn lessons about trust, relationships, truth telling, and the like. There is a lesson about "the sinful nature of humanity" here as well. We all have to face our Jungian "dark side." How did we get so sinful? Has God truly condemned us? These type of questions are the "meat and potatoes" of the story. I am not at all surprised that one can find parallels to the story in cultures all around the fertile crescent.

To need to "know for sure" that the garden existed is part of what I call a "doubting Thomas theory" to theological understanding and true biblical faith. It is as though we have this need to prove to the world that Christianity was right! Considering the fact that even Jesus did not convince everyone of his purpose, one may be in for long ride---trying to prove to the world the "truth' of the Bible, or the stories contained there in.

What is truth? Who is right? I am not qualified to answer that question. I can find enough source of truth, for me, in the what the ancient stories of the Garden of Eden are attempting to teach. One can learn much from history. After all, humanity has been making history for a very long time.

slainte,

Ray Province

Ray Province is a retired minister and owner of the The Celtic Ozarkian website. He writes on issues related to life in the Ozarks. He resides in Fair Grove, Missouri-the heart of the Ozarks. He is currently a IT programer in the healthcare industry.