What is the story of the events in the Garden of Eden really about? Is Eve as bad as many of us have been taught? Is the story about original sin? Or could it be a wisdom tale?In this participatory sermon from July 26, 2026, Rev. Diana Gibson, Pastor Emerita, invites us to examine Genesis 2 and 3 more closely, and have some fun with it. She offers insights from feminist and queer biblical theologians, and prompts the congregation to contribute.Looking at some Hebrew words, we discover that the word to describe Eve (frequently translated “helper”) is also used to describe God. From a queer reading we notice that when searching for a suitable partner for the first human, God creates, and let’s the human decide who their appropriate companion is. There are also good reasons to challenge the traditional notion that this story is about sin. With new perspectives on the story, Gibson suggests that Eve can help us face the losses and endings in our personal and political lives. Eve’s models the gospel song, “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round.”
