Bible Discussion Thread

We see here the beginnings of recorded cunning or slyness in the serpent, which carries through later in deception, corruption, etc. Per pervasive corruption in Afghanistan etc., I wonder the influence of its much respected cunning on its common and institutionalized corruption, its ancient and biblical cultural origins. The substitution of second-born sons to inherit from dying dads in Genesis. Ulysses’ cunningness. Chaucer’s Pardoner. Of course, we have similar challenges in the west – just think of President Clinton lying under oath and parsing his comments to dissuade Congressional candidates, Vice President Spiro Agnos, President Richard Nixon and Watergate cover up, President Lyndon Johnson and Robert McNamara Vietnam war lies, Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich selling of Obama’s Senatorial seat, UK PM scandals, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert real estate scandal, the governor of New York Eliot Spitzer and US Secretary of State for Development (USAID Administrator) Randy Tobias scandals, President Ronald Reagan making up stories to prove a morale point, Bernard Madoff scandal, Martha Steward insider trading, sinking of The Main to liberate the Philippines from Spain, etc. We don’t see much of Honest Abe Lincoln anymore. So what happened? Might be useful research area with modern practical applications.