It is traditional to think of Genesis 2–3 as concerned with obedience and disobedience, human sin and divine punishment, and in a word, the “fall” of humanity. But of course, none of these words or concepts is ever mentioned in the text. Humankind had chosen to live within the challenge of conscience rather than within the delusion of immortality. In other words, realities are not penalties, and human consequences are not divine punishments.
