The following guest sermon was submitted by ULC minister Torre Huffines. All ULC Ministers are invited to contribute their own sermons for consideration/publication. To submit a sermon, please email it to sermons@ulc.org.
The relationship between divinity and humanity is both unique and, perhaps, the most profound relationship we could ever know- the creator and their creation. In fact, the moment of creation often stirs other questions about awareness, life, and the deeper purpose of humanity. Behind the poetic prose of nearly all creation myths, there is often a serpent that alters the original nature of humankind from that of what creation had intended. What does the serpent tell us about the connection between creation, life, and awareness?
We find the concepts of the serpent and creation encircling each other time and again. In the traditions of Christianity, we are introduced to Adam and Eve. Eve commits the first sin when she eats from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. She not only condemns herself by these actions but also the rest of humanity. The serpent also appears in the Epic of Gilgamesh where the hero loses the plant of immortality to the snake. Gilgamesh is given a second chance at immortality yet fails once more. The serpent is also mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita. While advising him in battle, lord Krishna declares to Arjuna that he is the Ananta, or cosmic snake of infinity which coils in the waters of creation.
These parables (with plenty more to include) are undoubtedly used to show us the first aspect of our relationship with the divine- to know that we are not god or the gods but rather made in a mortal likeness. In each case, it would seem the serpent power, not only cunning and primal, has its own agenda. The serpent, made of earth and possessing gifts of persuasion, seeks to overwrite humanity's divine destiny and relationship with the creator and life. Referring to the bible, the interjection of the serpent seems to alter the predestined course of humanity to live in Eden (a place free of physical conditions of time) and the only factor that is said to have changed is our awareness of self. Where before, the human mind lay void of suffering and contrary truths, the polarity of life was cast upon the mind's eternal nature. This moment changed that prime creator's innocent view of humanity to an uncertainty of our true potential and intent. Throughout each of these stories, the serpent, having already been aware of the true nature of consciousness, changed the original destiny planned for us. One described as harmony with divinity, as well as opened our eyes to the polarity of life as though the serpent knew how good can lead to evil and how cause turns to effect.
These polar truths, good and evil, war and peace, pain, and elation, and so on were never meant to be grasped by human thought as far as divine beings are concerned. In the original plan of the divine, we were never meant to see the harsh, and even irrational side of life that exists between the extremes of truth. Rather, prior to the knowledge of good and evil, we saw the interconnected nature of all truths leading back to one final idea; all things embody creation and divine purpose. The serpent, to both our demise and revelation, warrants us to take ownership of our own willpower, bringing choice into prophecy. After we are exposed to the polarity of conditions and have seen the struggle and pain that comes with the glory of life, will we honor or rebuke our divine nature?
16 comments
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Susan Colmenares
Good question! If we are part of a duality in which we must choose to divinity or the serpent, then obviously the doctrine of Gnosticism should be taken more seriously. The Gospel of Mary of Magdala should be considered canonical.
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Timothy Holland Sr
Amen
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Lionheart
But more to the point, is any of it real? I guess we’ll never know. 🤷🏼
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Krystina S.
This is a thoughtful and interesting sermon. Well done.
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Lionheart
Yes, fallacious, but I’m sure many will accept much of it as truth. Such is the world of those who only rely on faith (because that’s all they have) and because it’s possibly scary to think they have been duped/indoctrinated.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
We know Garden of Eden is located in Jackson County, Mo from God in the Book of Mormon. - No mystery there.
And thanks to the Belgian Catholic priest, Georges Lemaitre who was a theoretical physicist, mathematician, astronomer, and professor of physics at the Catholic University of Louvain he discovered the primordial atom which everyone now calls the Big Bang. - No mystery there either. And the Webb telescope we are getting closer to seeing the Big Bang.
Lemaître was greatly troubled by his discovery as it proved the Bible and the word of God to be wrong about the creation of the Universe. How did God get it wrong for days, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6?
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Jack Gerber
This is a stunningly brilliant sermon that carries a tremendous depth and I appreciate it. It uses symbols to convey a fantastic depth of understanding. I am going to have to give it careful thought and re-read it several times as I pursue an deeper understanding of the ideas that are presented here. There is much more here than appears on the surface. Thank you very much.
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Lionheart
Just another mythological story that of course will embrace metaphors of a talking snake. The only real snake here in this story is Torre Huffines, who insists on creation, and a purpose for life. In reality, no one knows why life exists, but there are plenty of people who will insist they do, due to their belief in anecdotal stories and tales in an old book, and some will even say that their god has spoken to them, or speaks to them, even though their deity seems totally unable to show itself and heal sick children dying of cancer.
I wonder if there was a reason to life for prehistoric animals, and trilobites, etc? 🤔 It's perhaps as well most of those big ones died out, because mankind would have really struggled if they'd still been alive. I'm sure apologists will be able to conjure up a reason for them, with a god involved of course, and with no evidence to support their claims. 🤷🏼
PS: Spoiler alert: All the stories in Harry Potter books are also fictional, just in case there are still some people on earth that believe everything they read. Oh.....and while we are at it, there is still no supporting evidence Joseph Smith was a mouthpiece for a deity. I know that will upset some of you, but most Christians don't believe that because they say there is no supporting evidence. Strange though, that there's no evidence for those stories in the book they believe. Mmmm weird 🤔
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Susan Colmenares
Excellent points! Of course, most of us know that all of these stories are myths. They are meant to make a point/teach a lesson. Unfortunately, we have chosen only certain myths to express the opinions of only some, while others are deemed apocryphal.
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Rev. Jean Duve
This got me on a long meditation scripture search and I found it intriguing
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Nicholas J Page
Hmm Animals can't speak to humans So how could it be possible.Ok animals have their own communication to us humans.And to other species.But a talking serpent? I disagree.
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The Gray Minister
Wow Wow.
I except all that.
I also add. In the last message to humanity The Hebrew Lord God leader of the Elohim explains to Rael the french man at a ufo encounter, an this interview makes the Book Intelligent Design by rael.org
Satan is a groups of people on their planet they were afraid that is human would go against them.
Just to the point. Theres alot more. —
Then theirs My thoughts of reading so much & with an open mind.
Sure the Evil side I’ll call, is because everyone links it to one when nothing is one but the Higher Power that is the Higher Power that all deities link to in a meditation way.
So we have the garden We have this, that is said about how it was. But The serpent wanted to release us from being slaves that have no choice to follow if they wanted to be given everything they want, but only when this creator decides to give it. Evil But the good of this advent is now people, most of the time,(influenced by others sometimes is the choice of why they choose to follow) come to these creators and give them selfs to these deity’s.
I could go on But thats the main point.
Threw this so called Evil because I don't see it as Evil, but you probably do read.
Evil can become good Good can become Evil
Look around. Talk with witch’s, Satanists and any others that aren’t a main stream religion, most of the time 90% of the time. These people are way more excepting and understanding then these holy rollers that say they follow Jesus but don’t. I see this because they don’t except other people. They will find out in the end. All that judge are judge even if its this Holy Sprit judging threw you. The sprit doesn’t do that. This sprit will wait for the judgement day. Sure your saved from original sin, but you still have to go threw judgement.
I look around and see the world is the way it is because of people doing their own thing thinking they are following their Higher Power but not following the rules. Like in the beginning.
Thats why this planet is made for trails and tribulations. We are here to be tested to the fullest. Some make it Some well you find them by a tree or in a bath with a toaster in it.
Also People say the Devil made me do it. One Mostly the Devil would whisper in your ear and you choose to do it. You did it don’t blame someone else.
The Devils after me. Sure he wants your soul. Giggles. But are you talking about the Devil in a bad way? If so then the story of Job comes to Mind. The Devil got permission to mess with you.
And for another thing
Shall not murder is in the 10 commandments. But then people run around killing in Gods name be it by the hand or by word. If this was true that God said do it. Then he him self is going against his commandments. God being this all loving, forgiving, patient being I just dont see him saying go kill someone because they don’t believe. I’ve had a talk with the God Allah. We were talking and he asked me what do you think about killing an infidel. I said well if you kill them then how can they come to you. If you kill them by changing all they believe, then they can come to you. He said yup. Dont kill them with the knife kill them with word. By killing who they were and what they believed.
God’s people have now turned into the problem on this planet. Taking away peoples free will because there free will says its ok because of religion. Horse honky.
They say that religion and government are separate they are not because we have religious people running the government unless you’re an atheist you shouldn’t run the government or are you excepting of other people but if you run on what your religion believes than you are the cause of losing our free will and if my free will is to not believe in a higher power more power to me and praised by the higher one because I’m not running to him for every little thing and most of the time people don’t run to him just to say thank you or hi how are you today no it’s in time desperation the call out and then fall away after all is done.
The White Horse rider. Horse one, The Lord of Lords, King of Kings, The Savior, faithful and true for his name is really unknown. When he comes back he has a tounge as a sword. This sword isnt for the people of this world. It is because his people went bad and think they are good.
I see different Their are 2 white horse. The first horse is what I call The Awakening.
The second white horse is the pale white horse.
People say there are two yes but not 2 white horse as people see it today.
The second coming is what I call a UFO invasion. Not so evil but it could turn out evil if they don’t except the Christ.
Enough said.
I Minister Gray as spoken the truth of the truth he has been guided by the unseen an what I found is unbelievable at this point in time. Blessed Be, Amen in The name of Jesus Christ, So Mote it Be
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Asa William Sprague, II
"Eve commits the first sin when she eats from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. She not only condemns herself by these actions but also the rest of humanity."
That's seems a heavy handed statement to make; as well as being kind of off-point. Shouldn't the sermon have focused on or at least mentioned the Serpent in the Garden at this point? Seriously, I cringe when thinking about how many listeners might get stuck on and fixate over the it's "all Eve's fault" point and thus miss the other good thought provoking onformation presented.
I also wonder why some insight regarding the fact that our all-knowing, all-powerful God allowed the Serpent into the Garden to begin with is not presented. Is God's divine plan for all of humanity actually so easily knocked off the rails by one single person? Or is it maybe progressing the way God knew that it would?
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Lionheart
And more to the point, is your God real? Do any of the worlds gods exist, Asa? As we still have no demonstrable evidence any of the worlds gods that man has created are real, we have to assume they are not. I never did like the Old Testament one, anyway. He was always a bit of a bully, and didn’t really care much for humanity.
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John D. Partin
When the entire universe isn't enough demonstrable evidence of God's existence for you, since it can't do anything for itself without a Mind behind it to make it do it and is as stupid as your car is that can't drive itself around, either, there is no possibility of giving you demonstrable evidence when everything isn't enough!! You don't want all of the lies made up about you or even all of the truths about you to be believed by other people, but hypocritically don't have any problem believing all of the stories made up about a God whom you don't even believe exists! That is very illogical of you, too, since Someone who doesn't exist, according to you, can't do any of these things that he is accused of doing. Why do you only believe the Bible when it says bad things about God, but not when it says any good things about God. That is very inconsistent of you!! Enough words wasted on you again and pearls cast before swine!!
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How sad to read this article viewing snakes from a distorted Eurocentric worldview. To many of us indigenous peoples, snakes have a totally different meaning. For some tribes, they are symbolic of wisdom and renewal. For others, snakes carry messages. Nothing cunning or evil. Some Anglos may be aware of the Great Serpent Mound in Ohio, built by the Mound Builders, ancestors of the Cherokee people in the Southeast. Christians had to use an animal to prove women were manipulative and manipulated by a snake with a male voice and focused on "good and evil." We do not view any animals to be evil or polar opposites. They are our relatives, who we honor and respect.