Human Nature in Gen. 1-11

Week 3 Post from OT 501

Q. How does Gen. 1-11 shape your conception of humanity and how does that conception relate to your culture's dominant construal of human nature?

A. The clear picture I get from Gen. 2 is that humankind is relational, social by nature. Even Gen. 3 says the same, but it also describes relationship when it's dysfunctional because of sin. Gen. 4 shows the "inhumanity" of Cain's punishment, via his pitiful reaction to forced isolation from others. Later on, Babel shows the social nature of humanity, and what it can become when self-exaltation and narcissism goes unchecked. There are many examples beyond these few. We are clearly made for healthy relationships, and are hurt by their lack, or their distortion.

Our predominant cultural model of rugged individualism, shaped by both the Enlightenment and the Frontier, argues directly against the inherent value of relationship and community. One of our culture's highest values is independence; we despise dependency. We seek autonomy, shun collectivism; we praise self-reilance, condemn an entitlement mentality. We put relationship and interdependence on the back burner, sacrificed to achievement and self-fulfillment.

We should be careful not to think that the existence of sin renders the case for relationality moot. Sure, we can hurt each other because of sin, and often do. But, we only hurt in our relationships because we are hungry for wholeness there, and painfully feel its absence. It proves the case, not disproves it. Personally, I am only now beginning to realize my own deficiency in this regard. I still value independence and autonomy higher than I do relationship and community, but less dramatically so than even 5 years ago. I can at least now argue the case for them in a balanced way.