Understanding Eve in Modern Times
The next chapter in the series "The Bible Is for Feminists"
We had a wonderful missionary speak at our parish on Sunday. After explaining what led him to the priesthood and being a missionary, he launched into an engaging discussion about Adam and Eve. His perspective changed the way I think about the story of the Fall of Man.
As we mentioned in the previous chapter, Eve is often blamed for our spiral into sin. Adam falls with her, but Eve’s decision to eat the apple leads to their demise and the rest of humanity. It’s so easy to see the conclusion as “women are the root of all evil.” And feminists can rightly view this as a falsehood perpetuated by a patriarchal society.
As Fr. Greg pointed out, however, it’s not so much “the woman” ’s desire to have more as it is human’s desire in general. The serpent tells Eve that if she eats from the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil she will be like a god and know everything. It’s the hunger for more that entices Eve to eat the fruit. Adam follows along, and soon they are both in trouble with God.
We always want more. The whole point of the Bible is understanding that the most you can get is God. There’s not supposed to be any greater need, nothing else to satiate. But often doesn’t feel like it’s enough.
The holy women we focus on in this book experienced that hunger and relentlessly sought fulfillment in God. Some of them started the journey at a young age, like Mary. Others, like Mary Magdalene, overcame obstacles and eventually found their path. Many of them got lost along the way but made their way back. It’s a process that the women in the Bible understood.