It does not take more than a glance at the headlines to remind us that we live outside of the Garden of Eden, outside of that biblical, mythical, mystical garden where at one time life knew no strife, all human needs were met, and sorrow and death did not exist. I suspect many want to return to Eden where life was once bliss. However, whether Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, or atheist, if we accept the insight of that ancient story, we all live outside of Eden. So how do we address the brokenness of our world?

• Do we strive to reclaim Eden by transforming our broken world into the Eden of old and bringing the promise of the kingdom of God to the here and now?
• Or do we resolve to live where we are, as we are, outside of Eden, finding hope and courage in solidarity with one another amid our despair without necessarily leaving that despair or returning to Eden?
• Or is our hope found in a new Eden in the promise of life after death?
• Or is the mythical, blissful Eden a harmful delusion?

These are the questions I ask and the answers I seek—maybe you as well. Today’s topic will review what it means to live outside of Eden. I hope that this analysis of our existential experience will enable us to reassess and reclaim what we value, what we believe, and how we should conduct ourselves in the sacred interactions we call life.