All the monotheistic religions tell the story of a tempter inducing the 
first humans to be disobedient. The Torah and Bible show a serpent in this role and the Qur’an presents a jinn named Iblis as the one who first approached Eve and made her aware that there was something she didn’t have. The serpent suggested that Eve wasn’t as good as the gods. Immediately after she took that idea in (bit the apple) her contentment disappeared, her peace of mind fled. The serpent planted the idea with Eve that she was somehow inadequate. “But I’ve got something for you that will fix it,” the serpent promised.
This is always the serpent’s message: “You are inadequate, compared to others. But I will give you something to fix it.” The “something,” though, comes at a price. Immediately the serpent’s suggestion is accepted, Adam and Eve feel separated from God, fearful and ashamed. And the price escalates. They get kicked out of paradise. By the the next generation, shame has become blame. Adam and Eve’s son, Caine, comparing himself to another son, Abel, finds himself inadequate. This makes him angry. Tragically, he imagines that getting Abel out of the way will kill that awful feeling of inadequacy. As you can guess, it didn’t work. Now Caine has even more problems.
How does this relate to our everyday life? Tragic events in Paris recently, indicate this pattern playing out. While there are many things to consider regarding these events, one compelling aspect has to do with the fundamental flaw of comparing. Comparisons plant the idea that someone is not as good as me, isn’t as pious, worthy, or deserving as I am—or vice versa— is better than I am, has more privilege, money, fun, respect, opportunity, resources than I do. Therefore, they have to die in order for me to kill this feeling of inadequacy.
The philosophy of the serpent only makes sense in the illogical world of comparisons. The comparisons are utterly subjective, but when introduced into an educational system, they seem to become normal. Generations of children raised to compare themselves to others and feel either shame or blame as a result, leads to dissatisfaction and violence.
What can we can do to protect ourselves from such consequences? Something I am trying to do is both simple and at times difficult—to stop comparisons in my own thinking. I don’t allow myself to see anyone as better than I am or worse than I am. I strive to see each one as completely worthy and loved by God, his or her Maker. I see that we are all brothers and sisters with one Father/Mother God.
Second, I realize that there is one God only. No one can ever be “as gods,” as the serpent suggests. Only God gives life. Man cannot take away what man never gave. When Jesus was resurrected after a violent death, he was proving this fact. The life God gives goes on. As I get to know this God as infinite divine Love, and as Life, itself, I see that there is enough love and blessing for everyone. The God of Love has no favorites. Another way to say this is that every one of us is His/ Her favorite. When we are one with divine Love and know that everyone else is our equal in this, it works as a kind of armor to shield us from mistaken comparisons and their aftermath.
Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “Know thyself, and God will supply the wisdom and the occasion for a victory over evil. Clad in the panoply of Love, human hatred cannot reach you. The cement of a higher humanity will unite all interests in the one divinity.” *
This higher sense of humanity keeps us in tune with an intuitive sense that leads us out of harm’s way. It helps us to pay attention to angels that are always in charge of our safety.
The serpent’s philosophy is comparison. Knowing yourself and others in relation to God only, rather than comparing yourself favorably or unfavorably to others is a key to both safety and contentment.
*Science and Health pg 571:16
Tola Olayefun
Thanks Cindy for constantly updating your posts. I fancy your style and your message. I am sure this new post provides a very good basis for those praying to know that seeming evil is always powerless before omnipotent Truth. Infinite Intelligence is always supplying “the wisdom and the occasion for a victory over” every appearance of hatred, evil, or inadequacy.
Blessings!
laverne ewer
thank you so much for these posts. They are so very helpful. so happy I found out about them.
laverne
Robin Kadz
I agree with what you say; but didn’t John in his Gospel use comparison to teach grand lessons? Like the difference in receptivity between Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman and the Nobleman, their receptivity being in reverse relation to how connected they were to Judaism; the difference between how receptive the different disciples were to the proposal that he feed the 5,000, the difference between Mary and Martha when Lazarus died, between Judas and Mary in chapter 12 and between Peter and Judas in chapter 13…it seems John used comparison alot to show differences in spiritual progress on the human level. So isn’t it somewhat useful in Bible study?
Cindy Clague
Thanks for your message. I love it when readers add a new dimension to a blog. You make a good point about Jesus’ use of comparisons. This he did often, as you cite. Yes, it is valuable, and even a necessity in teaching. Ideas and actions do have their degrees of comparison and it is wise to note them. Similes and metaphors and symbols are all useful forms of comparison in teaching. I think it is when we compare people, rather than ideas, that we get into trouble. Labeling people as good or bad, smart or stupid, right or wrong, worthy or unworthy, rather than focusing in on the ideas or actions, sets us up for division and seems to give a justification to violence. I like to practice separating people from the harmful ideas and actions they espouse and see the people as equal in God’s sight but definitely accept only the ideas and actions that promote heaven on earth for everyone.