Cain and God

[CynthiaCypher]

Let's talk about Cain and God. We all know that Cain killed his brother. But within the narrative there is an ongoing conservation between God and Cain. God rejects Cain's sacrifice not because it isn't good but because of Cain's attitude, because of the condition of his heart. It is has like somehow Cain never realizes that all life comes from God but Abel, who is just a fleeting moment does, Abel knows that his work and hardship will end and Cain does not, Cain somehow thinks everything he does should be meaningful to the Demiurge. Yet the Demiurge rejects Cain's work and tells him that he can do better. But Cain refuses and places his inability to do better on his brother and sees his own brother has the one who keeps him from perfection. So he kills him.

Then the Demiurge comes to Cain, not in judgement but asking Cain to confess to him so he can understand and so Cain can confess and be forgiven. It's like Cain took another portion of the forbidden fruit.

But Cain refuses to open up to God and lays blame upon God, which God confesses but still must avenge Abel, so he curses Cain but t the same time offers protection in the hope that Cain will realize what he has done.

That's my take on the story. Please share yours.

 

[1137]

My take was that the demiurge wanted life taken. Fruit isn't enough to stroke his ego and so he found the offering unworthy. In the end though, he didn't do something like kill Cain but allowed him to live on. Along with the story of Samael / Lilith I think this is another instance of God creating two paths - one of blind submission and ease with another of walking alone and struggle.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

My take: the early Jehovah required blood sacrifices. Cain offered fruits and vegetables. God didn't like it, Cain got mad, Abel died.

 

[Mycroft]

Why could god simply not have forgiven Cain? Always with the human theatrics, is god. According to the idea of omiscience, god already knew that all this would happen and so had, practically, set up Cain to fail in the first place.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

That's my take on the story.

Inkblot theology distorting Jewish text. Not much new here …

 

[idav]

he has done.

That's my take on the story. Please share yours.

It shows gods unwillingness to help even his chosen few just to allow people to do what they want, but not without consequences which only get worse as time goes on.

It's almost like a narrative for the first "real" sin, since the original sin was kinda bunk. Cain wasn't so naive that he didn't understand there would be consequences, he was even told beforehand.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

Inkblot theology distorting Jewish text. Not much new here …

The thing is called a myth, do you know what that means?

It's not a Jewish story, it is a story that is told in various cultures.

The only thing not new is your b---sh-t trolling. Your schtick is getting old.

 

[ruffen]

Let's talk about Cain and God. We all know that Cain killed his brother. But within the narrative there is an ongoing conservation between God and Cain. God rejects Cain's sacrifice not because it isn't good but because of Cain's attitude, because of the condition of his heart.

And God makes no attempt in showing Cain what he wants or how the offering should be done. He does not work with Cain, he just acts as a total ..... not giving Cain any credit for his attempt. This makes Cain vent his anger on his brother, as God is unattackable. God the omniscient who has only a few people to worry about, must see the murder coming, but does nothing to prevent it and does nothing to show Cain how to be good in a friendly way.

 

[ruffen]

Cain didn't need punishment. He needed help and guidance. God never gave him that.

 

[Amechania]

My take: the early Jehovah required blood sacrifices. Cain offered fruits and vegetables. God didn't like it, Cain got mad, Abel died.

I think this is closest to the truth. The spirit is in the blood, so blood is required for sacrifice. The story is a justification for blood sacrifice. There will be blood one way or another seems to be the underlying message. Better to offer the blood to the god then let it be on your own head.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

My take: the early Jehovah required blood sacrifices. Cain offered fruits and vegetables. God didn't like it, Cain got mad, Abel died.

I don't think it is about God's preference for blood sacrifice. God tells Cain that his efforts would be acceptable if he would just change his heart. What I think it reflects is the clash of two different culture. That of the pastoralist and that of the agriculturalist. When people became agriculturalist, we became aggressive landowners who often times refused to share the land with the more nomadic people and the agriculturalist often would wage war upon the nomads.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

I don't think it is about God's preference for blood sacrifice. God tells Cain that his efforts would be acceptable if he would just change his heart. What I think it reflects is the clash of two different culture. That of the pastoralist and that of the agriculturalist. When people became agriculturalist, we became aggressive landowners who often times refused to share the land with the more nomadic people and the agriculturalist often would wage war upon the nomads.

“Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

In other words, "Why are you mad? You know I like blood. Your anger could lead you do something rash."

 

[Amechania]

I don't think it is about God's preference for blood sacrifice. God tells Cain that his efforts would be acceptable if he would just change his heart. What I think it reflects is the clash of two different culture. That of the pastoralist and that of the agriculturalist. When people became agriculturalist, we became aggressive landowners who often times refused to share the land with the more nomadic people and the agriculturalist often would wage war upon the nomads.

Do you think the story reflects a prejudice against agrarian society and religious practices by a herder culture? The idea that the city dwellers bear the mark of Cain?

 

[idav]

Cain didn't need punishment. He needed help and guidance. God never gave him that.

God told him not to. It was Cains own choices.