The Sun headlined a story of an orphanage which allegedly tolerated and allowed the continuance of abuse of under-aged girls; all of whom were below 15 years of age. The abuse was reportedly condoned or tolerated by a Malaysian Datuk and Datin, who are obviously a credible Malaysian pair since they hold sultan- and Malay state-ordained system of public honorifics; of recognition and affirmation of good and reputable character.

In my-theology

In my-theology, pun intended, I am now a proud father of two grandchildren and therefore also a credible ‘datuk’ in the natural order of significance and respect too, twice over. But, why then today do we see too many other ‘Tan Sris and Datuks’ who are also natural ‘datuks’ but who cheat, steal, and lie? Recently, the Tunku Mahkota of Johor called out one of them rather clearly.

I have therefore to revisit my theology of the Garden of Eden depiction of Scriptures and give you “my-version” of what really happened there so many thousand years ago.

After that first act of defiance or disobedience to their Creator, Adam and Eve hid from God’s presence because they felt ‘shame’.

Therefore I also conclude that all culture is spiritually tainted consequently with the same sin of disobedience which also infects each and every human DNA and therefore too; our senses of shame or ‘malu’ until this very day. But, if we lose our sense of shame; whither then humankind?

Three-part nature of man?

Do not human beings therefore have a spiritual dimension to our being? Or, as assumed in Greek and Roman assumptions about man; is man merely a two part animal-like being as all others? The Abrahamic Scriptures record that Man was created out of the “breath of God” and was made superior to all animals.

Is not this ‘breath’ what may be considered the spirit of man? Or, is this soul/spirit side of man simply the animalistic urges that define only our greed and wants over baser needs?

The three-part nature of Man becomes a central assumption in much my writings. Spirit (pneumatic), Soul (psychic), and Body; the three dimensions of our humanity each became fully aware of the nature of our disobedience or defiance. The resultant wasting away of human life only affirms that frailty of human existence, which some believe are the direct result of that original disobedience.

Such a positive admission of some form of imperfection is normal and gives credence to this “fall from grace hypothesis”. Each of us understands and accepts this brokenness as part and parcel of life. We know our weaknesses and can therefore seek to correct them; unless we refuse to admit them.

Nonetheless, this feeling of inadequateness will always define our inner natures. The same makes us very ordinary and very human, too. Our entire journey of life is therefore one seeking to find and recover our lost humanness which was originally framed in the image of our Creator.