Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 18, 2001, Page 82
psychologically, exploring the meaning for each reader. Interpretations that are different
from the theologically common ones are not necessarily in conflict with the theology, but
considered in a different context.
The Garden of Eden
The Biblical story of the Garden of Eden is likely to be familiar to most clients. It is also
likely that we all have had exposure to the story over many years and have many
associations that arise from that history. In the story of the Garden of Eden, God has
created the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, who live in peace and harmony with
animals and all of creation. The word ―Eden‖ is from a Hebrew word meaning, ―delight‖
(Campbell, 1972, p. 25). Then it is written, as we all know, that the serpent beguiled Eve
into eating fruit from the forbidden tree of knowledge of Good and Evil. At Eve‘s offering,
Adam joined in eating of the forbidden fruit. When God discovered the transgression, He
(gender taken from common translation) punished the snake, Eve and Adam, in that order.
Eve was given pain in childbirth and relegated to being ruled by Adam. Adam was destined
to toil for his food until death took him back to the dust from which he came. After these
pronouncements, God said, ―Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and
evil‖ (Genesis 3:22).
Some ex-members of USCs may have experiences they associate with leaving Eden. While
in the community, there may have been at least a verbalized ideal of total acceptance akin
to no duality of good and evil. There may be a perceived abandonment by the teacher and
previous close friends similar to God‘s expulsion of Adam and Eve. Clients may also perceive
the world in which they find themselves to be stark, mundane, lacking the perfection touted
in the community they left and requiring overwhelming work for survival. All this can paint a
world that is seemingly dirty with no hope of redemption after the disillusionment of their
USC experience.
However, God does pronounce that Adam and Eve, knowing good and evil, are one of ―us.‖
This suggests an alternate interpretation. In their innocence previous to eating the fruit,
was Eden perfect or were Adam and Eve, lacking the ability to discriminate, unable to
understand the nature of the world in which they lived? In a similar fashion, clients leaving
USCs have gained an ability to understand the dark aspects of the community they have left
and the rest of the world, and may feel bereft in the way of Adam and Eve. But far from
dismissive, God‘s last words suggested that Adam and Eve were now closer to God and
other unnamed celestial beings. We may ask our clients how they think Adam and Eve felt
on the other side of the garden wall, and what they may have said to each other about the
choices they had made. What would have become of the world had Adam and Eve never
eaten the forbidden fruit? The Bible is ambiguous as to whether there would have been
childbirth at all prior to that act. Was the loss of innocence necessary for creation to
continue? Was the loss of innocence and willingness to bear the pain of creation necessary
for clients to continue to mature in leaving the USCs? What does a client believe about the
existence of Eden in the present? Where is the client now in terms of the sequence of the
events in the story (childlike -inside the garden, aware of good and evil, bereft and in
transition – newly outside the wall, wandering in the world, transformed)?
Abraham and Isaac
In Genesis after Noah, Abraham and Sarah are the parents to whom God made the promise
that he would bless their offspring and make them as numerous as the stars in the sky
(Genesis, 22:17). As such, Abraham became the father of the Hebrew people, and the
forefather of Christianity as well. As Abraham and Sarah aged, Abraham despaired and
questioned God about the promise of the progeny he was to receive. Finally when Abraham
was 99 years old and Sarah was past menopause, Sarah bore Isaac. We can easily surmise
that Isaac was deeply important to Abraham after years of longing for a child.
psychologically, exploring the meaning for each reader. Interpretations that are different
from the theologically common ones are not necessarily in conflict with the theology, but
considered in a different context.
The Garden of Eden
The Biblical story of the Garden of Eden is likely to be familiar to most clients. It is also
likely that we all have had exposure to the story over many years and have many
associations that arise from that history. In the story of the Garden of Eden, God has
created the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, who live in peace and harmony with
animals and all of creation. The word ―Eden‖ is from a Hebrew word meaning, ―delight‖
(Campbell, 1972, p. 25). Then it is written, as we all know, that the serpent beguiled Eve
into eating fruit from the forbidden tree of knowledge of Good and Evil. At Eve‘s offering,
Adam joined in eating of the forbidden fruit. When God discovered the transgression, He
(gender taken from common translation) punished the snake, Eve and Adam, in that order.
Eve was given pain in childbirth and relegated to being ruled by Adam. Adam was destined
to toil for his food until death took him back to the dust from which he came. After these
pronouncements, God said, ―Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and
evil‖ (Genesis 3:22).
Some ex-members of USCs may have experiences they associate with leaving Eden. While
in the community, there may have been at least a verbalized ideal of total acceptance akin
to no duality of good and evil. There may be a perceived abandonment by the teacher and
previous close friends similar to God‘s expulsion of Adam and Eve. Clients may also perceive
the world in which they find themselves to be stark, mundane, lacking the perfection touted
in the community they left and requiring overwhelming work for survival. All this can paint a
world that is seemingly dirty with no hope of redemption after the disillusionment of their
USC experience.
However, God does pronounce that Adam and Eve, knowing good and evil, are one of ―us.‖
This suggests an alternate interpretation. In their innocence previous to eating the fruit,
was Eden perfect or were Adam and Eve, lacking the ability to discriminate, unable to
understand the nature of the world in which they lived? In a similar fashion, clients leaving
USCs have gained an ability to understand the dark aspects of the community they have left
and the rest of the world, and may feel bereft in the way of Adam and Eve. But far from
dismissive, God‘s last words suggested that Adam and Eve were now closer to God and
other unnamed celestial beings. We may ask our clients how they think Adam and Eve felt
on the other side of the garden wall, and what they may have said to each other about the
choices they had made. What would have become of the world had Adam and Eve never
eaten the forbidden fruit? The Bible is ambiguous as to whether there would have been
childbirth at all prior to that act. Was the loss of innocence necessary for creation to
continue? Was the loss of innocence and willingness to bear the pain of creation necessary
for clients to continue to mature in leaving the USCs? What does a client believe about the
existence of Eden in the present? Where is the client now in terms of the sequence of the
events in the story (childlike -inside the garden, aware of good and evil, bereft and in
transition – newly outside the wall, wandering in the world, transformed)?
Abraham and Isaac
In Genesis after Noah, Abraham and Sarah are the parents to whom God made the promise
that he would bless their offspring and make them as numerous as the stars in the sky
(Genesis, 22:17). As such, Abraham became the father of the Hebrew people, and the
forefather of Christianity as well. As Abraham and Sarah aged, Abraham despaired and
questioned God about the promise of the progeny he was to receive. Finally when Abraham
was 99 years old and Sarah was past menopause, Sarah bore Isaac. We can easily surmise
that Isaac was deeply important to Abraham after years of longing for a child.
