The Department of Philosophy and Religion invite the UTC community and
general public to the following lecture to be held tomorrow, Thursday, April
15, 2010:

"Adam, Abraham, and the Ethics of (Dis)Obedience: an Intertextual Reading of
Genesis 3 and 22"

Presented by: Dr. Todd Hibbard (UTC)
Thursday, April 15, 2010
3:00 p.m.
Holt 304
 
(Lecture is free and open to the UTC community and general public)

This study brings together two biblical texts that appear on the surface to
have little connection: the Garden of Eden narrative (Gen 3) and the near
sacrifice of Isaac narrative (Gen 22). A deeper examination reveals,
however, interesting areas of overlap between the two. Consider the
following: both have a divine command at their core; both involve a test of
some sort; the issue of life and death is raised prominently in each; the
idea of exile and return is addressed; both raise moral and ethical
dilemmas. The traditional interpretations of these two texts are generally
well known: the Eden narrative reveals the human propensity toward
disobedience and the sacrifice of Isaac story reveals dimensions of
Abrahamic faithfulness. Hence, Adam and Eve are condemned and Abraham is
commended. In this paper I wish to read these two narratives intertextually
and ask whether both might plausibly be read within their religious and
historical settings in the opposite direction. In other words, is it
possible to praise the first human couple and condemn Abraham? The warrant
for such a reading would lie, in part, in the ethical issue(s) raised by
these two texts.