The Fall and the Ascent of Man

In this groundbreaking work, Joseph Fitzpatrick challenges the traditional interpretation of chapter three of Genesis: the story of Adam and Eve in Eden. This narrative was imposed on the Christian West, but not the East, through the genius of Augustine of Hippo and came to dominate Catholic and Protestant theology. Fitzpatrick points to weaknesses in Augustine’s interpretation of the Genesis story before providing a revolutionary interpretation of his own. Fitzpatrick claims that this story is