The Editor,
Olorato Maplanka’s article titled’ The Fruit!’ in the Lifestyle section of the Sunday Standard edition of 23 to 29 August 2009 on page 31 seems to have missed the mark, and I felt it prudent to issue a rejoinder to set the record straight on an ages-old misconception that the Biblical fruit of Eden meant sex.
Many people have inadvertently subscribed to that simple mistake, and went on to expound their misnomered erudition in public, with disastrous consequencies, yet have their Bibles for reference. I have written this item to dispel that myth and correct many Christians out there who deliberately spread this untruth, and in the process muddling God’s word.
Olorato insinuated that the fruit had something to do with lovemaking, and went on to deliver an insightful article on relationships that, however, failed to adumbrate on how sex can enlighten people on how to discern between good and wrong or in the article’s wording; right and wrong.
According to the Bible, when God created Adam and Eve, He gave them dominion over everything in the garden and even blessed them with the ability to reproduce. Genesis 1 verse 28 says, “…be fruitful and multiply…”. Common sense should tell us how the first people could have multiplied without engaging in some sort of sexual contact.
The same Bible goes on to chronicle the deception of Eve by the snake in Genesis 3 verse 6. The first people ate from the tree of knowledge long after the Lord had bestowed them the right to mate in the creation days. God had created men in His image, but were not like Him, that is why the Devil succeeded in luring them to disobey the rule; the urge to be like Him.
People should also take note of Genesis 3 verse 22 which tells us why God had to expel the two from Eden. It says,”…since man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil, he must not reach out, and also take from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever….”. I hope the same people who subscribe to Olorato’s school of thought have another explanation for that tree of life now that they feel the tree of knowledge is sex.
Premising an article on the word of God is wonderful and commendable, but I wish to encourage a culture of research on the subjects before one vilifies him/herself on sensitive and sacred issues like religion. I hope my dear sister will not take offence on this stance, I felt it was in the best interest of her, me and the readership to know the truth..
