Garden of Eden a Myth

Dean Inge calls it a “Mystery Play”
(From the London “Express.”)
“The time has now come when we must give up the idea of the ancient parable of the Garden of Eden and the Fall of Man as a chapter of actual history.”
This was one of the conclusions of Dean Inge, in an address to a large audience at the Kingsway Hall. His subject was “Sin and Modern Thought.”
“The narrative of the Fall,” he said, “will always be valuable as a kind of mystery play of the psychology of man.”
The Dean, for once, was by no means pessimistic. Here are some of his points: ―
“The modern idea is, ‘What is a man good for?’ and not ‘What is he bad for?’”
“Threats from the pulpit are no longer in use in the Church of England.
“Modern thought tends to suppress sin. What has decayed among us is the sense of sin.”
“I do not think it is fair to say that in earlier centuries the difference between good and bad was recognized and that now it has been lost. It would be more true to say that disproportionate punishments were then so familiar that they shocked no one, whereas now they seem to us unworthy of God and incredible in a universe governed by God.”
“A great deal of what we call evil is manifestly inseparable from the conditions under which we live.”
The Psalmist says: ― “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psa. 11:33If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Psalm 11:3)).
St. Paul, dealing with men like Dean Inge, says:― “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, ‘The Lord knoweth them that are His,’ and Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Tim. 2:1919Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (2 Timothy 2:19)).
What greater iniquity can there be than casting doubt upon the integrity of God’s Word. The foundation that stands sure, in spite of all Dean Inge and others like him may say. God has magnified His Word above all His name (Psa. 138:22I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. (Psalm 138:2)).
God will judge those who seek to deceive by “vain words,” and “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God,” who not only gave the Word, but will maintain it in its integrity when heaven and earth shall pass away.