on a tangential aspect of the famous myth of Prometheus IN the Protagoras dialogue, Plato observes in passing that Prometheus might have stolen “political wisdom” (σοφίαν πολιτικὴν, sophian politikon), but Zeus kept it too closely-guarded so he settled for fire instead, which he enclosed in a hollow fennel stock as he raced down Mount Olympus to convey the gift to mankind. Of course, Prometheus can conceived both as a benefactor of man as well as a tempter of sorts, and can fruitfully be compared to the Serpent in the Garden, which tempts mankind with the Forbidden Fruit, and with Lucifer, “Light-Bearer”
When we consider Lucifer placed in the Garden of Eden, it is as if a supersensible being, not previously described, suddenly appears out of nowhere. This is how Genesis, chapter 3 starts:
"Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! 5 For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings."
So, if we attempt to dissect just this portion, what is going on? It is obviously a temptation and a test, which is rigged by the Lord God in order to see if Adam and Eve will be faithful and obey. They prove not able to obey and uphold the commandment. Thus, the consequences are severe. We can read the remaining verses of this chapter, in which the Lord God first speaks His Word to these three who have disobeyed. I want to only draw attention at this point to what the Lord God says to the Serpent (Lucifer):
14 The Lord God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this,
Cursed are you more than all cattle,
And more than every beast of the field;
On your belly you will go,
And dust you will eat
All the days of your life"
Would this not be the point where Lucifer splits into its alter-ego, Ahriman? It gets worse for Adam and Eve. They are expelled, with a Cherubim stationed in all directions to guard the tree of life. Yet, by chapter five a new hope has arisen. The Generations of Adam and Eve. Noah becomes the important integer for the future. The laboring is redeemed by way of Noah. Yet, the Flood starts a new descent phase. Steiner called it, "post-atlantean cultural epochs", which infuriates even anthroposophists today.
Yet, the phenomenologists have their points to be made, don't they? An Earth that was once alive and thriving passes into a death phase, and is now a quantifiable entity. These are the so-called 'facts', are they not?
When we consider Lucifer placed in the Garden of Eden, it is as if a supersensible being, not previously described, suddenly appears out of nowhere. This is how Genesis, chapter 3 starts:
"Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! 5 For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings."
So, if we attempt to dissect just this portion, what is going on? It is obviously a temptation and a test, which is rigged by the Lord God in order to see if Adam and Eve will be faithful and obey. They prove not able to obey and uphold the commandment. Thus, the consequences are severe. We can read the remaining verses of this chapter, in which the Lord God first speaks His Word to these three who have disobeyed. I want to only draw attention at this point to what the Lord God says to the Serpent (Lucifer):
14 The Lord God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this,
Cursed are you more than all cattle,
And more than every beast of the field;
On your belly you will go,
And dust you will eat
All the days of your life"
Would this not be the point where Lucifer splits into its alter-ego, Ahriman? It gets worse for Adam and Eve. They are expelled, with a Cherubim stationed in all directions to guard the tree of life. Yet, by chapter five a new hope has arisen. The Generations of Adam and Eve. Noah becomes the important integer for the future. The laboring is redeemed by way of Noah. Yet, the Flood starts a new descent phase. Steiner called it, "post-atlantean cultural epochs", which infuriates even anthroposophists today.
Yet, the phenomenologists have their points to be made, don't they? An Earth that was once alive and thriving passes into a death phase, and is now a quantifiable entity. These are the so-called 'facts', are they not?