Survival of the Fittest, Adam's Way or Eve's Way?
Which route should we take?
There is one main aim that everyone on earth is trying to achieve, and that aim is to survive. There are two main ways we can approach our survival: we can follow a leader or become our own leader.
In other words, there are two distinct paths toward the same goal. The child follows their leader because it is in their best interest to do so. The highest value they ought to adopt is obedience, because in their ignorance, they are not likely to make it very far. They ought to follow those who have come before them and have already walked the path they are on. The adult, on the other hand, makes all the decisions for that child as well as for themselves. It is in their best interest to have knowledge about which path is best, and it is in their best interest to be able to apply critical analysis to make the best decision that will have the lowest risk of death and the highest chance of success. Their highest value, therefore, is not obedience but information—particularly balanced and symmetrical information—so they can make informed decisions. The question, therefore, is which strategy of survival is best: obedience or decision-making? Let's examine the advantages and risks of both in relation to survival.
1 | Obedience or Decision-Making?
A) Follow the Leader: The priority value and orientation for survival is Obedience
The archetypal example to represent obedience is Adam. Adam represents humanity in its most vulnerable, unadorned state. He represents the child. His highest value was obedience for the sake of survival. He followed orders and lived by a routine of naming the animals in the garden. He could only maintain the garden through prescribed routines, lacking the capacity to replenish or transform it.
B) Be the Leader: The priority value and orientation for survival is Symmetrical Information
The archetypal example to represent one who wants to be a leader and therefore prioritizes symmetrical information is Eve. Eve cares about her children to come and therefore is willing to take the risk of punishment for disobedience in order to prioritize knowledge of truth rather than faith in belief. She would be able to replenish the garden and dress it because she has trained her mind in critical analysis. She is capable of being creative.
2 | Which Path is Better in Our Day and Age?
Obedience is the default state of man. We follow our leaders. We live in groups and follow the rules of our gardens. However, when the garden becomes untidy or death overtakes life, it is an indication that the current status quo is no longer working. This signals the need for new decisions to be made. Hence, it is a requirement for man to move from his default state of obedience toward independence.
In our day and age, many people live by the rules of their community—as they should. I did. I lived by the rules of the Pentecostal Christian community. However, at some point, I noticed that it was producing bad results rather than good results. At that point, I had to disobey and lead my own life. Why? Because it was in the best interest of my survival. I could see that if I continued on that trajectory, I would end up with the same results as those who had come before me. Hence, the proper conclusion is to be a follower of what works and a rebel against what doesn't. The goal is not perpetual rebellion, but intelligent discernment for the sake of renewal. Hence, the cycle goes: Adam’s way, Eve’s way, Adam’s way, Eve’s way… Follow then discern… Follow then discern…