Excerpt from my new book: Here is a big question for the reader to ponder: “What separates humans from the monkeys?” Hint: It is not opposable thumbs or the ability to use tools, because both species have that. It is not even our ability to talk, or to build a fire, because monkeys can be taught to do that.
The difference, first of all, is that we have developed the ability to read and write, and to pass down information to our offspring. The earliest writing was discovered in the Garden of Eden, also called the Fertile Crescent and/or Mesopotamia, and dates to approximately 6 thousand years before Christ. It says, when translated into English, “fermented red grapes + hops + barley.” That is the recipe for beer, folks, as it used to be made before the discovery of brewer’s yeast. And beer, archeologists and historians tell us, was discovered by and made by women (i.e, Eve).1
Secondly, the red grapes were plentiful in the Garden of Eden, and possibly the hops, but the barley had to be cultivated. Barley is also a good food source, and it led to the first sustained2 farming. Soon, several additional crops were planted such as wheat and chickpeas, and by 4000 BC many (if not most) of the vegetables and herbs that we eat today were grown in the Fertile Crescent.
The third major development was, around 4000 BC the first large city (or the first civilization, or the first modern man), sprang up around farming and the brewing of beer, and exactly when and where the Bible says it did. The first cities were Eridu, Ur and Urak.
Shortly afterwards, two more important things happened. A common language was developed (at first mostly oral, but also written) and the world’s first king appeared.
It was not long before all of the cities in Mesopotamia, in order to trade with each other, developed a common language – sometimes called the Indo- European language which was only spoken at first, and some decades later developed into a written language. It is basically a mixture of the Sumerian language (one syllable words) and the Semitic language (advanced multi-syllable words), the two languages originally spoken in the Garden of Eden. The newly developed common language also allowed the Mesopotamians to intermarry for the first time, which greatly helped in unifying their culture. About the same time, the world’s first king appeared. He lived in Eridu.3
Also on Day One, the wheel was invented in Eden circa 3500 BC. Scientists (archeologists) think it was first used as a potter’s wheel, and was soon adapted to haul crops to the market, and for chariots.4 The earliest wheeled cart was discovered in Ur (where Abraham was born).
There will be many who will say that because fermented red grapes are most likely the forbidden fruit that typically grows on trees, and especially in Mesopotamia/Eden, they must be very bad for you. Moreover, that is a pretty valid point because drinking too many red beers can certainly kill you like God says. In addition, red beer (say most Bible historians) is the “strong drink” that many verses in the Old Testament warn us about. (Indeed, if it leads you to break any of the ten commandments, then you should consider abstaining, and especially so if it causes you to wreck your car and injure or kill someone).
Consequently, in many religions of today (including Islam and many Christian sects) fermented grapes are still the forbidden fruit.
On the other hand, it can well be argued that not only consuming too many beers, but consuming too much of anything is bad for you. Moreover, it can truly be said that brewing beer from fermented red grapes have given us all kinds of knowledge, including knowledge of good and evil. Moreover, beer that is made the way Eve brewed it, from red grapes which contain natural yeast, is actually very good for you health-wise and leads to longer life5 (when drank in moderation). Brewer’s yeast has some medicinal benefits too, but it also contains a lot of calories which can lead to “beer bellies” which are not good for you, both appearance-wise and health-wise.
IMHO6, because beer is the reason we are here, it is high time to get mad at MADD7 (all puns intended), and legalize stopping for two beers after a long day’s work, which dates from Adam and Eve. Consuming two pints (two 16 oz. “tall boys”) should not be against the law, yet it is now in several US states. And virtually all studies (except for the MADD one) say that consuming two beers do not make you too impaired to drive. In addition, it can just as well be argued that the vast majority of accidents are caused by completely sober drivers. But of course, depending on how much you weigh, drinking more than two beers within an hour can make you too impaired to drive, so everyone should indeed drink “responsibly.”
Barry M
