Farmageddon

I've always been fascinated by the notion of original sin. Augustine believed that original sin was derived from sex, as this was an inherently idolatrous act, and yet it is through this idolatry that all humans come into existence. While interesting, and to some degree perhaps intellecutally defensible, I have a hard time accepting this. The original sin was outright disobedience, which produced a social and intellectual change, perpetuated without intention or action. As such, humanity's sinful nature, like its Fall, must be something more earth-shattering and yet mundane. The toxic fruit taken from the tree of knowledge was not likely a metaphor for embracing our carnal nature. I would argue instead that it was an abandonment of that nature. "...but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil for when you eat of it you will surely die." (Genesis 2:17) The emphasis is on the tree itself, and that which makes the tree unique. It is a tree of knowledge, and when eaten from, will cause death. My assertion is that humankind, not God, created that tree. The original sin was not consumption, but production. Farming.

The moment humanity was able to control food production, it began to provide for its own welfare rather than relying on Providence. It was the moment when humanity could pretend God was not the sole provider, but that it could truly be like God and bring forth life from the soil. It was arrogant, open defiance to the benevolent Creator. And most certainly, this was a knowledge that could not be undone. The moment it was known, it was unforgettable. More importantly, it was not forgotten. Life became about more than simple, fundamental survival. Agriculture fundamentally altered the human psyche, and eternally changed human society.

Agriculture was developed in a area known as the fertile crescent, which is the modern day region known as the Middle East. Somewhere around 9000 BCE, hunter-gatherer tribes began building permanent settlements and tending the earth. Populations rapidly grew too large to be supported by hunting and gathering, and thus humanity became totally dependent on tending the soil. In order to fashion farming implements and create adequate housing, forests were felled and minerals quarried. Eventually, groups came into contact and began competing for resources. Originally, a population could never grow enough to be a burden. In fact, having a large population helped gather effectively and hunt efficiently. Now, populations became necessary liabilities, and the best job for a necessary liability is a dangerous one. Able-bodied individuals could be conscripted to serve the tribe by attacking opposing groups who posed a threat, or controlled meaningful resources. Eventually, society became what we see today.

And what do we see today? Death would be a good description. Not necessarily in the individual, physical sense. Had we never tasted the fruit, individuals would still be born and eventually die. What we see today is a twofold type of death: the death of the planet, and the death of our souls. Civilization has rapidly consumed the world's resources, slowly destroying it through environmental degredation. More frighteningly, it is literally in our power to cause the death of everything on this planet. There are enough nuclear weapons in the world to completely obliterate it, and release enough radiation to finish off whatever may have somehow survived the explosions. Personally, I see this as the flashier but ultimately less important kind of death. Far worse is the spiritual death that is slowly taking over the developed world, that is, the world farthest from the earliest form of society. This goes far beyond the growth of atheism. In fact, the shallow spirituality of many who still identify with religious traditions is far more problematic. At any rate, this is the rational conclusion to "civilization." As God becomes less obvious and, in a pragmatic way, less necessary, our connection to the Divine becomes weaker. We are dying as a species, and dying as spiritual entities. Those deaths are far worse than the natural death of an individual, which is of little concern given the hereafter.

And so, I conclude. What has been credited as being humanity's second greatest discovery (I'll give making fire first) farming is in actuality humanities first great sin, and the beginning of our slow and agonizing death. This is not something that can be undone, nor should we consider trying. Instead, we must recognize the nature of our condition, and seek to live as simply and faithfully as possible. In the end, there will be a new creation. Let us make the best of this one until we get to the next.