From the book
Centuries of Meditations
Thomas Traherne · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordThe Fall is humanity’s departure from its original relation to God through sin.
- In TraherneThe greatness of the Fall cannot be understood without first knowing the worth of what was given.
- In this editionDistinguish the theological Fall from ordinary uses of “fall” and “fallen.”
- A place to beginKnowledge of the world as gift makes the greatness of sin and the Fall intelligible.
Meaning
The Fall is humanity’s departure from its original relation to God through sin. The verb also describes particular lapses and the loss of a good that was previously enjoyed.
Use in the book
The greatness of the Fall cannot be understood without first knowing the worth of what was given. Traherne therefore treats creation’s goodness as necessary to the recognition of sin, rather than as a diversion from it. His childhood narrative then gives social transmission a conspicuous role: he falls through others’ examples and acquired valuations. This does not remove Adam from the account, for the same passage traces those examples back to his sin. Restoration recovers the exercise of good principles while adding the revelation of redeeming love.
Places to read
- II.3Knowledge of the world as gift makes the greatness of sin and the Fall intelligible.
- II.4The loss of blessedness is measured by the love and purpose from which humanity falls.
- III.8The child’s corruption through others is linked to Adam without being reduced to bodily descent.
- IV.53Redemption restores principles of innocent life under added obligations.
In this edition
Distinguish the theological Fall from ordinary uses of “fall” and “fallen.” The emphasis on custom in III.8 is a stated qualification within the doctrine, not a warrant to omit its explicit reference to Adam.