God sure does think awfully backwards...but the reason why is so obvious, I'll save it for the click through so as not to bump everyone else's posts down.
The initial act that damn's man from God is, in its object, eating a piece of fruit that he was told not to eat.
Now, I realize that intent has a lot to do with the severity of the Fall, but I want you to keep the image of eating the fruit in mind.
The act that redeems man to God is, in its object, murder.
Now, I realize that what was really redeeming was the fact that Christ submitted himself to death for our sins.
But think about the two acts side by side for a moment. Which of the two acts is more offensive to God: eating a forbidden fruit (because you think it will give you magic powers to overthrow God) or killing God incarnate (because you think his plan for your redemption is a bunch of hooey).
Between the two sins, you would think the murder would be the one that would spark the rift between God and man...but murder becomes the occasion for the reconciliation.
Not only does God forgive us, he forgives us at the very moment when we perform the most depraved act we as a species have ever performed. And, to make it even more of a guilt trip, before the crucifixion, our sins were largely our own. In the Old Testament, the community's sins could add up...but, after the crucifixion, we know that all of our sins contribute to the suffering on the cross. So, in a way, our sins now should be even more unforgivable...and yet, post-crucifixion, we have the Sacrament of Confession to make forgiveness even more accessible.
On one hand, this seems like a completely absurd God who defies human logic, but, on the other hand, isn't this merciful and grace-giving God precisely the kind of God you'd want ruling the universe?
Again, just stating the obvious.
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