Chrysti the Wordsmith > Radio Scripts

The Bible's Old Testament opens with the story of God creating Adam from the dust of the earth, and Eve from the rib of Adam. The world's first couple lived in Paradise until they disobeyed God by eating of the fruit of the tree of knowledge. After they were expelled from the Garden, Eve gave birth to two sons, Cain and Abel.

Cain grew to be a farmer. His younger brother Abel tended the flocks. When it came time to offer sacrifices to God, Cain the farmer brought some of his produce to the Lord, while Abel offered God the fat portions of the firstborn of his flock. Because God favored Abel's animal sacrifice over Cain's, the jealous older brother slew the younger. Thus Cain became the world's first murderer, and all the more wicked because of his fratricide.

There was a joke circulating in the mid 20th century that went like this:

How do we know that Adam and Eve were troublemakers?
Because they both raised Cain!

This joke was inspired by the cliche that was predicated on the biblical story of the perfidious brother. To raise Cain is to cause a disturbance, be rowdy, unruly. When you cause trouble by raising Cain, you etymologically summon the spirit of discord, especially that of the jealous, murdering Cain.

Radio Script > Raising Cain