Original Sin!

~ Original Sin ~
A painting by Michelangelo
On the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome
Left click on the painting to enlarge it

Back in the 1950's, when my brother and I visited our parents, who at that time were living in Rome, I made it a special point to tour the Sistine Chapel.

When I looked up at that “sacred ceiling” to view Michelangelo’s awesome paintings, my gaze was drawn to the tableau which depicted Adam and Eve sinning and being banished from the Garden of Eden. But what I saw, jarred me! Whereas I had expected to see Adam and Eve munching on the forbidden apple, the scene made it vividly apparent that Eve was being interrupted by the Serpent while she was engaged in performing fellatio with Adam!

How could this be? History tells us that Michelangelo and his Papal sponsor were in daily consultation about what was to be painted. So why hadn’t they stuck to the Genesis account of how Adam and Eve committed the sin that caused God to become so enraged? Perhaps, with the incisive clarity of two brilliant Renaissance minds, they probably felt it was more plausible for God to have reacted with anger when contrary to what He had so meticulously planned, He saw His two human creations engaged in a blatantly, non-reproductive sexual act. Wasn’t God’s afterthought to create Eve obviously predicated on the assumption that a female genital tract should be the natural recipient of male sperm, thus facilitating post-coital gestation in the woman’s womb? Clearly, continuing to reproduce humans by extirpating a male’s rib on every occasion, was not the way to go!

If the Pope and the Artist were correct in their speculation, then it helps to explain the rationale for baptism. In the act of submersing the human in “holy water” isn’t this an attempt to cleanse the “new soul” of the inherited stigma of its original progenitors, who, so soon after their creation, ostensibly infuriated God by actively performing an unnatural, un-procreative sexual act?

Please note: On April 18, 2005, I posted my first essay on this subject. It contains more theological content than this current posting. To access it, simply left click on April 2005 in the Archives listing.

Counterpoint: Atheist’s and Agnostics are disposed to dismiss all of the above as puerile much ado about nothing. The mathematicians among them would cite the indisputable fact that our planet earth, and all of the life it spawns, represents an incalculably insignificant part of our infinitely vast universe. Others unambiguously regard all of man’s religious and mythical songs and writings as the fictional products of actively fertile, skyward oriented minds. Particular exception is taken to religionists who arrogantly attempt to anthropomorphize our universe’s alleged creator.

Comments: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Caro Domenico ~ I send this to you from our graves. Upon reviewing your commentary, Michelangelo and I concur. We believe that some parts of the Bible do not speak with the truth and crystal clarity, that we of the Renascimento possessed . Just think - if Adam and Eve had not done what they did, I wouldn't be lying here ~ Coraggio, Papa Giulio II

Where is our path?

Quo vadis?

What would it take for us to cease being delusory and face the incontrovertible truth; man is not only bereft of humanity but unlike all other living species on this planet, he is essentially ungovernable and explosively dangerous!

Although we have had so-called golden ages, in fact none of them were truly and universally so, except in the minds of their besotted beholders. Clearly, from ithe moment of our creation, humanity has persevered in being menacingly hapless. And even when the Messiah, suffused with good will, dared to come to us with His divine words, we quickly nailed Him to the cross and continued uninterruptedly on our perverse paths. It makes me wonder what would happen if God Himself were to appear physically among us. I don't doubt we would hasten to inflict upon Him an even more gruesome fate than we did upon His Son?

As we listen to the contrived and tiresome rhetoric of our current presidential adversaries, do we hear words that we have never heard before? And when one of them finally wins the election in November, will we all relax and view the unfolding of a brand new and glorious future? Dream on!

In truth, those thoughts and devices that sometimes bring us ephemeral happiness and contentment were all designed and produced by independent, intelligent minds, not by governments or their leaders. But let’s not be oblivious to the fact that equally intelligent minds have been and are even now, busily creating the means for our ultimate destruction and perhaps our well deserved extinction.

It is hard not to believe that the creation of man was God’s most colossal blunder; or evolution's most aberrant detour. Indeed: If our planet appears to be undergoing malignant self-destruction, your perception is correct. Don’t search too far for the cause, the clinical name of its cancer, is homo sapiens.

Comments:Mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Unbelievable !

Can this be true?

What this current New Yorker Magazine cover purports to show, is Barack Obama as President in the White House Oval office. He is depicted as a Muslim and he is fist knocking with his wife Michelle, who is represented as an armed militant. On the wall, a portrait of Osama bin Laden hangs conspicuously and in the fireplace, an American flag is in a state of conflagration.

When this cartoon is brought to Ahmadinejad’s attention, look for that firebrand to connect with Barack Obama immediately. He will undoubtedly urge Obama to forego the speech he plans to make at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and fly toute de suite to Tehran where he will be free to deliver whatever he is prepared to say to an audience of multi-thousands of well wishing, friendly and understanding Iranians.

Meanwhile, here at home, our two political parties will begin hastily to explore every possible means to engage in a wide ranging, no holds barred, multi dimensional exercise of freedom of speech and caricature - with a willing, salivating media at the ready. What thinkest thou?

Comments:mail to:domgab1914@comcast.net

Cheers !

Today is my ninety fourth birthday ~

Why I have been granted this degree of longevity is known only to the fates. But I am grateful (even though the gift comes with assorted pains and strange disabilities). My father and mother died when they were 84 and my only two siblings expired several years ago. I am my immediate family’s lone survivor.

My wife, Lenore, is 91. She and I continue to live our lives together, in our own home. At our advanced ages, we are enjoying many opportunities to more fully explore and probe the meanings and depths of love. May our family and friends who follow us, find similar happy paths through this awesome and trackless wilderness, we call life.

Comments: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

If you see the Dow rise during this trading session, it's because the NYSE has just discovered that today is my birthday . And please don't fail to notice that President Bush celebrates his birthdays on July 6th, which makes us "quasi birthmates." It may explain why I can often feel his pain (and revel in his glory) ~ Dom Gabriele

Papa ~ Hope you have a great day. Don't forget, you still have to walk on your birthday ~ Love ya ~ Bruce

94! Congrats! Sorry I won't be able to see you tonight ~ I'm stuck working late, seemingly forever ~ Brian

Hi Dommie ~ I hope you have a great birthday today and that it's filled with lots of good things!!!!! ~ Chrissy

Happy Birthday!!! ~ Apparently good, dolce genes were imported from Abbruzzi and Sicily ~ Con Amore ~ Paolucci and Brianna

Hi Uncle Dom ~ Just wanted to wish you a belated birthday. I hope you had a wonderful day. Lots of love ~ Amanda

Hi Dad ~I've been thinking about you all day. Hope you're having a great birthday. I'm still at the office. Just about ready to head home now. Enjoy the rest of your day. Love you Dad, so very, very much! ~ Loretta