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Definition:
The story of Cain and Abel, which appears in Genesis 4:1-16 recounts how the two
sons of Adam and Eve were treated by the Israelite god Yahweh.
According to the story, both offered up sacrifices to God - Cain, the farmer, offered grain and Abel, a shepherd, offered up the firstborn of his flocks. God rejected Cain's sacrifice for no apparent reason and, in anger, Cain killed Abel. Cain tried to cover it up, but God discovered this and banished Cain forever. Cain was shown some mercy, however, because God put a mark on him to ensure that no one would kill him.
This story presents a number of different themes which would become common in biblical literature: rivalries, sin, sacrifice, martyrdom, atonement, the power of God, etc. It also presents a number of problems which theologians and scholars have labored, without success, to explain. Why, for example, was Cain's sacrifice rejected? And who was this wife which Cain eventually found - where did those people come from, if Adam and Eve were supposed to be the only ones?
Members of Christian Identity, a racist form of Christianity which believes that the superiority of whites is biblically ordained, make use of this story, arguing that the "mark of Cain" means that Cain was black. This tends to be combined with the argument that the name of Adam indicates that he was white.
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
Related Resources:
What is Theism?
What is the difference between monotheism and monolatry? Between pantheism and panentheism? How about between animism and shamanism? Or theism and deism? What the heck is henotheism? For that matter, what is and is not a religion?What is Religion?
A system of human beliefs, ideals and practices which is harder to define than it may at first appear.
