The Truth About Evil in Myth

Brooke Harris 111542140 March 15th RE104 Evil and Symbols Essay The Truth About Evil in Myth Many questions fall in been posed when it comes to the ever-controversial topic of evil, and will continue to be posed throughout time. Although prominent in everyday life, the battle between good and evil thunder mug likewise be seen in two of the most famous creation novels the Christian myth of go game and Eve and the Garden of Eden, and the Native Creation novel of Turtle Island.In the tale of Adam and Eve, it is said that God banishes the couple for eating from the forbidden Tree of Knowledge, leaving them to deal with harshnesss all of their lives1. In contrast, the Creation tommyrot is one that tells about the creation of land, with the mother giving birth to two tallys on the back of the turtle, each copulate being a deal of evil and of good, creating the multi-faceted landscape of earth2.Although in both of the myths in that location are elements of evil, a closer analysi s of the symbols and underlying motives and reasoning can conclude that there was no malicious intent in either stories and that they are ultimately not evil but relatively good. Throughout Kushners article and re-telling of the Christian myth of Adam and Eve, he poses the question of whether God was carrying out an evil act in banishing Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. He argues that although there are fouled acts being carried out, they are not with malicious intent, but with the intent to create a more fulfilling life for the couple3.Kushner continues, explaining that by eating the apple from the Knowledge of satisfactory and Evil tree, Adam and Eve have been elevated to a conscious bow helping to be aware of their surroundings and themselves as humans and as a couple4. Kushner swears that this act was the bravest and most liberating events in the history of the human race and continuing with saying that although their mystifys were full of pain and hardship, it was wor th the pain5. Overall, their expulsion to the outside valet de chambre and their experience with hardships is a way of teaching Adam and Eve to appreciate the good occasions.In all respects of native tradition and belief, sacred balance is an ever-present theme, whether it is sacred balance in the forces and features of nature or in good and evil in day-to-day life, tying back to Kushners belief in a higher state of consciousness, as one can perceive the difference between good and evil. This perception is also seen in Thomas queens telling of the native creation story Woman Who Fell from the Sky, which deals with the creation of the features of Turtle Island (North America). In constructing Turtle Island, each twin designing the features is pictured as a good twin and evil twin6.For instance as the right-handed and generally good twin is creating a vast, flowing river, the left-handed twin drops jagged rocks in it, forcing the river to only flow in one direction and making it more difficult for the animals to live in7. Like Adam and Eves situation, this can be seen as a blessing in disguise. Instead of having easily flowing water throughout the river, it can be interpreted to believe that the left-handed twin wanted the water creatures to appreciate when they did have an easy swim by knowing what its like to go through the hardship of the one-way current river.Many symbols are apply in the myths, which are linked to Kushners idea of a blessing in disguise, as the symbols are utilise in the myths as representations of evil but in actuality and in the conclusion, are essentially for good. Throughout the myth of Adam and Eve, an apple and tree are used as the main symbols of evil8 but with a closer examination can also be seen as liberating and good. The apple that Eve initially eats and gives to Adam to eat is used as the main symbol of evil. According to J.C Coopers book An Illustrated Encyclopedia of conventional Symbols, apple can be seen as knowledge wi sdom divination, solidifying the idea that it is the ultimate ticket through the threshold to knowledge of consciousness, and the good and evil. The Tree of Knowledge (tree), when examined, is perceived as an axis mundi or the centre of the earth and life10. As the knowledge of good and evil a is the liberating factor in Adam and Eves life, livery them to the ultimate state of consciousness, it is only appropriate that the centre of the world symbolize this idea.In Kings story of the woman who created Turtle Island, the features that the left-handed evil twin created are seen as the evil side of the world such as the thick forests and tall mountains7. According to Cooper, a forest is a place of interrogatory and initiation the secrets of nature which a man must penetrate to find the meaning11, implying that although it is trivial and can sometimes be difficult to maneuver, it can also teach the secrets of earth and the lessons it can provide.Lastly, as the right handed twin is bui lding, vast, flat planes of land the left handed twin stomped around in the mud, piled it up, and created sound valleys and tall mountains7, creating rocky terrains that are seen as part of the evils of the myth as they create difficult to manage terrain. When looking at mountains, Coopers defines the mountaintops as the represent the state of full consciousness. 12. In contrast to Kushners perspective, the hardship of voyaging up the mountains to the top can be seen as a virtuous experience as one gains the state of full consciousness, as Adam and Eve did with the apple.In closing, through analysis of Kushners theory of good and evil and a heightened state of consciousness in both myths, a deduction can be made about the good and evil components of the myths. Although both myths contain evil aspects, there is no malicious intent to classify them as inherently evil, as the evil devices were meant to bring a sense of appreciation for the things that are good. In victorious Kushner s theory and an analysis of the various symbols of the myths, it can be said that these tales are not evil. . Harold Kushner, How Good Do We wee To Be? A refreshing Understanding of Guilt and Forgiveness (New York Little, Brown and Company, 1997), 26-27. 2. Thomas King, The Truth About Stories a Native Narrative (Toronto House of Anansi Press Inc. , 2003), 13-20. 3. Kushner, How Good, 27. 4. Kushner, How Good, 30. 5. Kushner, How Good, 31. 6. King, The Truth,18. 7. King, The Truth,19. 8. Kushner, How Good, 17. 9. J. C Cooper, An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Traditional Symbols (London Thames & Hudson, 1978), 14. 0. Cooper, Traditional Symbols, 176-177. 11. Cooper, Traditional Symbols, 71. 12. Cooper, Traditional Symbols, 110. Bibliography 1. Cooper, J. C. An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Traditional Symbols. London Thames & Hudson, 1978. 2. Cooper, Thomas. The Truth About Stories A Native Narrative. Toronto House of Anansi Press Inc. , 2003. 3. Kushner, Harold. How Good Do We Have T o Be? A New Understanding of Guilt and Forgiveness. New York Little, Brown and Company, 1997.