s from the demands of nature, and these demands, which arise
from the physical qualities, are not sins with respect to the animals,
while for man they are sin. The animal is the source of imperfections,
such as anger, sensuality, jealousy, avarice, cruelty, pride: all these
defects are found in animals but do not constitute sins. But in man they
are sins.

Adam is the cause of man's physical life; but the Reality of Christ--that
is to say, the Word of God--is the cause of spiritual life. It is "a
quickening spirit," meaning that all the imperfections which come from the
requirements of the physical life of man are transformed into human
perfections by the teachings and education of that spirit. Therefore,
Christ was a quickening spirit, and the cause of life in all mankind.

Adam was the cause of physical life, and as the physical world of man is
the world of imperfections, and imperfections are the equivalent of death,
Paul compared the physical imperfections to death.

But the mass of the Christians believe that, as Adam ate of the forbidden
tree, He sinned in that He disobeyed, and that the disastrous consequences
of this disobedience have been transmitted as a heritage and have remained
among His descendants. Hence Adam became the cause of the death of
humanity. This explanation is unreasonable and evidently wrong, for it
means that all men, even the Prophets and the Messengers of God, without
committing any sin or fault, but simply because they are the posterity of
Adam, have become without reason guilty sinners, and until the day of the
sacrifice of Christ were held captive in hell in painful torment. This is
far from the justice of God. If Adam was a sinner, what is the sin of
Abraham? What is the fault of Isaac, or of Joseph? Of what is Moses
guilty?

But Christ, Who is the Word of God, sacrificed Himself. This has two
meanings, an apparent and an esoteric meaning. The outward meaning is
this: Christ's intention was to represent and promote a Cause which was to
educate the human world, to quicken the children of Adam, and to enlighten
all mankind; and since to represent such a great Cause--a Cause which was
antagonistic to all the people of the world and all the nations and
kingdoms--meant that He would be killed and crucified, so Christ in
proclaiming His mission sacrificed His life. He regarded the cross as a
throne, the wound as a balm, the poison as honey and sugar. He arose to
teach and educate men, and