Failure Is the Only Option/Oral Tradition

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Examples of Failure Is the Only Option in Oral Tradition include:

  • In The Bible, Ephesians 1:4[1] says that some people were eternally chosen to be given salvation because Romans 3:23 says that all people are eternally damned to hell as they inherited the genetic material of cosmic treason from their federal head Adam, [2] leaving their wills totally corrupted if left to themselves. This has proved to be a controversial aspect of The Bible. However, that is just one interpretation of those texts, based primarily on the work of St. Augustine, Luther and Calvin. Various other traditions - Orthodox, Catholic, and Methodist for example - state that divine foreknowledge and human free will are compatible, and that no one is "predestined" to go to Hell.
  • The Mythology and Folklore of nearly every culture on Earth are brimming with examples of such situations. Greek mythology in particular stands out, because the gods are dicks and You Can't Fight Fate. Celtic mythology takes this to an incredible extreme, placing an elaborate system of taboos upon their mythic heroes that all but guarantee they'll incur the wrath of some deity or other sooner or later. The fate of Cu Chulainn, hero of the Tain Bo Cuailnge, is a prime example: he was invincible as long as he abstained from consuming dog meat. But before a major battle he found himself visiting an old woman who offered him dog stew. It was either eat it, and become mortal; or refuse it, and violate Sacred Hospitality. Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.