My girlfriend's family doesn't eat fruit. Her parents told them that fruit (I guess all of it?) comes from the Tree of Knowledge and that God told us not to eat it, which is an interpretation I've never heard before. I've tried explaining to her that the story is meant as a metaphor and her father is wrong, but she get's really defensive. Anyone have any suggestions for how I can convince her that it's okay?
I've asked her before where they draw the line. Do they eat tomatoes? I asked so I could know what I could make that she would eat. She said no tomatoes, but wasn't really sure beyond that. She usually just tells me whether or not she remembers eating vegetable 'x' with her family. I'm not sure it's a denominational thing. It seems like it's more just a family interpretation to me.
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17 responses so far ↓
1 Vernon Dozier // Jul 14, 2008
Show her some literature on scurvy. Or these photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/boriskafka/2312899314/
2 the Neutral Christ RIRS // Jul 14, 2008
I have never heard of this particular literal interpretation. What sect does her family follow?!
ADD: Unfortunately, this is typical of the painfully confused, black or white attitude of most Abrahamic dogma.
Your best move is to get away from her because this belief is very deeply instilled into her. By trying to convince her that she should eat fruit (simple fact) she will take it as an attack on the very foundation of her faith (martyr).
You could try simply pointing out to her that Jesus ate fruit and that the laws of Leviticus how very clear rules about properly cultivating fruit, but good luck.
You could also try and transfer her religious disdain of fruit to a specific kind of fruit.
Figs: Adam and Eve clothed themselves in fig leaves after eating of the unnamed fruit. Also, Jesus cursed a fig tree for not giving him fruit.
Apples: Most westerners translate the unnamed fruit as apple.
Pomegranate: A more likely fruit than apple. Many cultures consider it symbolic of knowledge. The Greeks considered it the symbol of death and the underworld (see Hades and Persephone).
ADD ADD: Anastasia had a point. How does she define "fruit"? Botanically, most vegetables ARE actually fruit. How does her family define the forbidden fruit? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruit
3 kit kat // Jul 14, 2008
you are right that the story is a metaphor.
even if it was factual and historical, there was only one tree of knowledge. fruit comes from around the world
4 Mr. Stiggo // Jul 14, 2008
You've got to be making this up. After all, the story said that Adam and Eve were allowed to eat the fruit of any other tree, so obviously fruit is allowed.
5 sml // Jul 14, 2008
yes ; God gave us fruit to eat ; the tree of knowledge was not fruit trees; God said you may eat of every tree but not the tree of knowledge ;that was done by Adam and Eve , over and done with that one
6 Incognegro // Jul 14, 2008
I've never heard of that interpretation. Yes, we can eat fruit.
7 iamsad1313 // Jul 14, 2008
no FRUIT IS STRICLY PROHIBITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lol
sexxx
8 Gregory S // Jul 14, 2008
not if they believe other wise
9 Anastasia // Jul 14, 2008
Feed her some berries. They grown in bushes and smaller plants. Grapes grow on vines.
So her parents want to keep her stupid. Nice. Sounds like once she discovers they've lied to her simply because they don't want to feed her healthy food, she's going to fall away.
I'm dying to know what sort of religious movement her parents belong to.
10 Nightwind // Jul 14, 2008
I've never heard of that interpretation before. Considering that the Bible is very clear that Adam and Eve could eat anything in the garden except the fruit from one specific tree, I fail to see how that belief holds water from a Biblical standpoint.
Other than pointing that out, I don't know what else you can do. In the end, she has the right to believe what she likes.
11 Martee // Jul 14, 2008
If they are Christians, tell them to read Mark 7:18-19 — where it states plainly that all foods are clean (edible). This comes from Christ Himself — you can read it.
12 Greek & Coptic Translator // Jul 14, 2008
Have them read Genesis. There God gives man ALL the fruits to eat, except the one.
13 coffee_pot12 // Jul 14, 2008
wow…vitamin deficiency has gone to the brain….
14 Tara // Jul 14, 2008
Oh wow…whats the rest of the family like?
I think if she doesnt want to eat fruit then so be it…dont make her do something she doesnt want to…just as you wouldnt want her to make you do something you dont want to. Really its no big deal, its just fruit.
15 tqos_sekushii // Jul 14, 2008
I feel that it's an unfortunate interpretation of what is commonly accepted as a metaphor, but I question by what right do you feel that you can tell them that their interpretation of a Biblical story is wrong and that your interpretation is right? I can understand how she may get defensive if you are using the exact teminology "your dad is wrong." Try to see it from her perspective - this is probably a belief she's held her whole life.
16 iod.tiger // Jul 14, 2008
either a person believes all of the bible or they don't, Read Genesis 1:29 The story s not just a metaphor it really did happen, but we no longer have the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
17 Yehsub // Jul 14, 2008
Remind them of Matthew 15:11. I'll cite two Bible versions for clarity's sake:
"Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man." (KJV)
"What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.'" (NIV)
Also have them take a gander at Mark 7:18-19
""Are you so dull?" he asked. "Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him 'unclean'? For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.")" (NIV)