Article June 18, 1979 Issue

Who's telling you?

IRENE SCHANCHE BOWKER

A person who resists being hypnotized is usually impossible to hypnotize. A willing subject, however, tends to become completely dominated by the hypnotist. In the allegory of Adam and Eve the seemingly innocent but leading question, "Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?"^{Gen. 3:1;} found a listener. The serpent—evil—was persuasive because Eve allowed it to absorb her entire attention. Refusal to listen to that dazzling talker could have helped her obey the Lord's clear command, "Thou shalt not eat of it."^2:17; But Eve not only listened to the serpent's bidding but also was taken in by its false promises.

Who told you to go along?

If the dual temptation to listen and to respond with error to error's suggestions had been conquered, there would have been no occasion for shame. But Eve failed to discriminate as to whom she made her confidant, and a dialogue ensued. The result: disobediently tasting tempting fruit!

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