Adam, Eve, and a female serpent at the entrance to Notre Dame de Paris

In Christian doctrine, the fall of man, or simply the fall, refers to the transition of the first humans from a state of innocent obedience to God to a state of guilty disobedience to God. In Genesis chapter 3, Adam and Eve live at first with God in a paradise, but the serpent tempts them into eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which God forbade. After doing so they become ashamed of their nakedness and God consequently expelled them from paradise. The Fall is not so-named in the Bible, but the story of disobedience and expulsion is recounted in both Testaments in different ways. The fall can refer to the wider theological inferences for all humankind as a consequence of Eve and Adam's original sin. Examples include the teachings of Paul in Romans 5:12–19 and 1 Cor. 15:21–22.

Most Christian denominations believe that the fall corrupted the entire natural world, including human nature, causing people to be born into original sin, a state from which they cannot attain eternal life without the gracious intervention of God. Protestants hold that Jesus's death was a "ransom" by which humanity was offered freedom from the sin acquired at the fall. In other religions, such as Judaism, Islam, and Gnosticism, the term "the fall" is not recognised and varying interpretations of the Eden narrative are presented. The term "prelapsarian" refers to the sin-free state of humanity prior to the fall. It is sometimes used in reference to sentimental recollections of a past time when conditions stood in sharp contrast to the present; this situation is called nostalgia.

Accounts[link]

The fall depicted in the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo

Genesis[link]

In Genesis, the first book of the Jewish and Christian Bibles, God creates Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, in His own image. God places them in the Garden of Eden and forbids them to eat fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil (often symbolised in European art and literature as an apple tree). The serpent persuades Eve to eat fruit from the forbidden tree. Eve shares the fruit with Adam and they immediately become ashamed of their nakedness.

To the Serpent, God said:

Because you have done this,
cursed are you among all animals and among all wild creatures;
upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat
all the days of your life.
I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers;
he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.^[1]

Although God does not use the word "curse" when He addresses the couple, He does, at a minimum, prophetically warn them of the consequences awaiting them as a result of the sin they have committed.

To the woman God said:

I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing;
in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband,
and he shall rule over you.^[Gen. 3:16]

To the man God said:

Because you have listened to the voice of your wife,
and have eaten of the tree about which I commanded you, You shall not eat of it",
cursed is the ground because of you;
in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
and you shall eat the plants of the field.
By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground,
for out of it you were taken; you are dust,
and to dust you shall return.^[2]

The question thus remains as to whether God's statements to the woman and man are prescriptive, and therefore a curse, or are instead descriptive; that is, prophecies of the natural consequences of their actions. Calvinist theologian Roger Nicole understands the passage this way:^[3]

This passage is not a commandment, but a prophecy that has been fulfilled extensively over the centuries in all the earth. Whatever we may do to alleviate God’s curse is legitimate in the matter of subordination, no less than in providing some relief from the pains of the delivery of children^[Gen. 3:16] and the sweat in cultivating the ground and earning a living^{[Gen. 3:17–19]}.

— Roger Nicole

Subsequently, God banishes Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, and places cherubim to guard the entrance, so that Adam and Eve will not eat from the Tree of Life.^[4]

Quran[link]

God announced to the angels that He would create a vicegerent (man) on the earth. The angels questioned this, wondering why God would create something with the capacity to disobey Him:

002.030 Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent (man) on earth." They said: "Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood?- whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy (name)?" He said: "I know what ye know not." 002.031 And He taught Adam the names of all things; then He placed them before the angels, and said: "Tell me the names of these if ye are right." 002.032 They said: "Glory to Thee, of knowledge We have none, save what Thou Hast taught us: In truth it is Thou Who art perfect in knowledge and wisdom." 002.033 He said: "O Adam! Tell them their names." When he had told them, Allah said: "Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of heaven and earth, and I know what ye reveal and what ye conceal?"^{[Quran 2:30]} (Al-Baqara [The Cow])

God then commanded the angels to prostrate (bow down) to Adam. The angels prostrated but Iblis (Satan), out of haughtiness, refused to bow. God cursed him because of his disobedience. Iblis sought respite and vowed to mislead Adam and his progeny. He misled Adam and his wife Eve to eat from a tree that was forbidden for them by God. Due to their disobedience, God ordered the removal of Adam and Eve out of paradise and down to earth. God promised that the earth will be a dwelling place for them and their children a limited time (Until the Day of Judgment). The Qur'an Al-A'raf (The Elevated Places) verses 7:11–27 detail the story of the fall.^[5]

Other traditions[link]

• In Gnosticism, the snake is thanked for bringing knowledge to Adam and Eve, and thereby freeing them from the Demiurge's control. The Demiurge banished Adam and Eve, because man was now a threat.

• Ancient Greek mythology held that humanity was immortal during the Golden Age, until Prometheus brought them fire to help them live through cold. The gods punished humans allowing Pandora to release the evil (death, sorrow, plague) into the world due to her curiosity. See Ages of Man for more.

• In classic Zoroastrianism, humanity is created to withstand the forces of decay and destruction through good thoughts, words and deeds. Failure to do so actively leads to misery for the individual and for his family. This is also the moral of many of the stories of the Shahnameh, the key text of Persian mythology.

Interpretations[link]

Judaism and Islam[link]

Judaism and Islam interpret the account of the fall as being simply historical, Adam and Eve's disobedience would have already been known to God even before he created them, thus draw no particular theological implications for human nature.^{[citation needed]} That is, man's setting, condition, and environment have in essence changed – but not man himself. Quite simply, because of Adam's actions, he and his wife were removed from the garden, forced to work, suffer pain in childbirth (not in Islam), and die. However, even after expelling them from the garden, God provided that people who honour God and follow God's laws would be rewarded, while those who acted wrongly would be punished.

Christianity[link]

Adam and Eve by Peter Paul Rubens

Christianity interprets the fall in a number of ways. Traditional Christian theology accepts the teaching of St Paul in his letter to the Romans^{[6][better source needed]} "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" and of St John's Gospel that "God so loved the world that he sent his only son (Jesus Christ) that whoever believes on him should not perish, but have everlasting life".^{[John 3:16][better source needed]}

The doctrine of original sin, as articulated by Augustine of Hippo's interpretation of Paul of Tarsus, provides that the fall caused a fundamental change in human nature, so that all descendants of Adam are born in sin, and can only be redeemed by divine grace. Sacrifice was the only means by which humanity could be redeemed after the fall. Jesus, who was without sin, died on the cross as the ultimate redemption for the sin of humankind; "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."^[7]

The dominant view within Christianity is that the serpent of Genesis was a figure of Satan, based on the reference in the Book of Revelation: "He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years."^{[Rev. 20:2][better source needed]}

Catholicism[link]

Catholicism teaches that "the account of the fall in Genesis 3 uses figurative language, but affirms a primeval event, a deed that took place at the beginning of the history of man."^[8]

"Man, tempted by the devil, let his trust in his Creator die in his heart and, abusing his freedom, disobeyed God's command. This is what man's first sin consisted of."^[9]

This first sin was "transmitted" by Adam and Eve to all of their descendants as original sin, causing humans to be "subject to ignorance, suffering and the dominion of death, and inclined to sin." Baptism is considered to erase original sin, though the effects on human nature remain, and for this reason the Catholic Church baptizes even infants who have not committed any personal sin.^[10]

Although the state of corruption, inherited by humans after the primeval event of Original Sin, is clearly called guilt or sin, it must be understood as a sin acquired by the unity of all humans in Adam rather than a personal responsibility by mankind; in other words, even children partake in the guilt or sin of Adam, but not in the responsibility of Original Sin, as sin is always a personal act. This is clearly affirmed in Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 404 and 405:

"How did the sin of Adam become the sin of all his descendants? the whole human race is in Adam "as one body of one man". By this "unity of the human race" all men are implicated in Adam's sin, as all are implicated in Christ's justice. [...] It is a sin which will be transmitted by propagation to all mankind, that is, by the transmission of a human nature deprived of original holiness and justice. and that is why original sin is called "sin" only in an analogical sense: it is a sin "contracted" and not "committed" - a state and not an act. [...] Although it is proper to each individual, original sin does not have the character of a personal fault in any of Adam's descendants. It is a deprivation of original holiness and justice, but human nature has not been totally corrupted: it is wounded in the natural powers proper to it, subject to ignorance, suffering and the dominion of death, and inclined to sin - an inclination to evil that is called concupiscence"

Protestantism[link]

• Among the teachings of Protestants John Calvin and Martin Luther were, in a variation and adaptation of the Pauline-Augustinian teaching, that God foresaw and predestined those who were to be redeemed by grace and those who were to be eternally condemned, thus giving humanity, in its sinful state, no real choice in spiritual matters, except to act at God's direction. (See Calvinism.) Calvinists (and others) holding this view are named Infralapsarians. Those who hold predestination to be superior to the fall, and the creation, fall, and redemption to be part of God's eternal purpose are named Supralapsarians. (See supralapsarianism and infralapsarianism.)
• Some Protestants (including some of the above mentioned Lutheran and Calvinist groups) understand the account of "the fall" in Genesis 2 and 3 not as a historical-factual account of the origins of human sin, but rather as the narrative myth that the Israelite people used to express their recognition that man's relationship with God was broken, (a "myth" in the sense that the truth contained in the narrative does not depend upon its historical factuality). This view has the advantage of not conflicting with the evolutionary description of human origins, while preserving the traditional biblical idea of man's moral failure and need for redemption.^{[citation needed]}
• Some more liberal Protestants ^[11] see the person and work of Jesus Christ as God's act to restore relationship, but tend not to view this restoration in terms of a sacrifice necessary for an unpaid debt.

Eastern Orthodoxy[link]

Eastern Orthodoxy rejects the idea that the guilt of original sin is passed down through generations. It bases its teaching in part on a passage in Exodus saying a son is not guilty of the sins of his father. The Church teaches that in addition to their conscience and tendency to do good, men and women are born with a tendency to sin due to the fallen condition of the world. It follows Maximus the Confessor and others in characterising the change in human nature as the introduction of a "deliberative will" (θέλημα γνωμικόν) in opposition to the "natural will" (θέλημα φυσικόν) created by God which tends toward the good. Thus according to St Paul in his epistle to the Romans, non-Christians can still act according to their conscience. Nonetheless, as a consequence of Adam's sin, seen merely as the prototype (since human nature has been degraded) of all future sinners, each of whom, in repeating Adam’s sin, bears responsibility only for his own sins, humans became mortal. Adam's sin isn't comprehended only as disobedience to God's commandment, but as a change in man's hierarchy of values from theocentricism to anthropocentrism, driven by the object of his lust, outside of God, in this case the tree which was seen to be "good for food", and something "to be desired" (see also theosis, seeking union with God).^[12][13]

Pelagianism[link]

Pelagianism rejects the doctrine of original sin entirely, holding that the fall did not permanently taint human nature, and that humans are therefore capable of choosing good even without divine aid.

Mormonism[link]

Mormons believe that the fall was necessary as part of God's plan to redeem and exalt his children. When God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, he gave them two seemingly contradictory commandments: First, to "multiply and replenish the earth"; and second, not to partake of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Mormon views emphasise that Adam and Eve's subsequent partaking of the fruit was a "transgression," not a sin. For Mormons a sin is the act of doing something contrary to the known will of God and to do so willing with full knowledge. Transgression, on the other hand, is the violation of a law or rule. So for Mormons, all sins (willfully disobedience) are transgressions but not all transgressions (violations) are sins. Since Adam and Eve didn’t have knowledge of good and evil before partaking of the forbidden fruit, his act was a transgression of the law, not a sin against the law. Eve, after partaking, understood that without partaking of the fruit they could have no posterity, and hence could not fulfill the command to multiply and replenish the earth, partook of the fruit; Adam, seeing that his wife would be driven out of the Garden and he would be alone and unable to fulfill God’s command, partook as well.

The Book of Mormon, states

22 And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end. 23 And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin. 24 But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things. 25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy. 26 And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given (2 Nephi 2:22–26).^[14][15]

According to Mormonism, through partaking of the fruit, Adam and Eve brought death into the world in two forms, namely physical and spiritual death. Physical death is a separation of the body and spirit; spiritual death is a separation between God and man. Through their own power, humanity is not able to overcome either. Yet, through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all of humanity will be resurrected and overcome physical death; and by individual obedience to the Gospel, the grace of Christ provides forgiveness for individual sins, thus overcoming spiritual death and returning the faithful disciple to God’s presence.

This Plan of Salvation rejects the concept of Original sin. Three of their thirteen Articles of Faith state:^[16]

2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

According to Graded Absolutism (a hierarchy of moral absolutes), the Scripture teach humans that there are higher and lower moral laws, and that humans will meet unavoidable moral conflicts in life. If they keep the higher law, they are not responsible for breaking the lower law, and they have not sinned.

However, Mormonism teaches that Adam and Eve were responsible, and willingly so, for the fall of man. They relied on the promise of Atonement from the Saviour to correct the consequences of that choice, which Atonement had been God's Plan from the beginning. The fall was not "good" or "bad" so much as it was both "necessary" and "unpleasant." A step down but progressing in a forward direction. Furthermore, as Adam and Eve were in a state of innocence, they could not have sinned—sin being impossible without Knowledge of Good and Evil—but they were still responsible for the consequences of their choices, namely death of both kinds. The Atonement is explicitly given to them (see the Books of Moses or Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price) because they were incapable of doing anything about either kind of death.

Unification Church[link]

The Unification Church agrees with those who believe the forbidden fruit was sex, but teaches that Adam and Eve were meant to be blessed in marriage by God after they had grown to spiritual maturity. They fell when they engaged in a sexual act prematurely after Eve was tempted sexually by the serpent in the world of spirit. Thus they learned about the sexual relationship from Satan, not from God.

Contrary to many Christians' belief, Unificationists do not believe that The fall was predestined by God, but was a choice made by Adam and Eve. According to Divine Principle (the Unification holy book),

"God created human beings in His image, with the character and powers of the Creator, intending that they govern over all things as He governs over humankind. However, for human beings to inherit the creative nature of God, they must grow to perfection by fulfilling their portion of responsibility. . . the period of their growth is the realm of God's indirect dominion or the realm of dominion based on accomplishments through the Principle. While people are still in this realm, God does not directly govern them because He wishes to allow them to fulfill their own portion of responsibility. God will govern them directly only after they have reached full maturity. If God were to interfere with human actions during their growing period, it would be tantamount to ignoring the human portion of responsibility. In that case, God would be disregarding His own Principle of Creation, according to which He intends to give human beings His creative nature and raise them to become the lords of creation. In summary, in order to preserve the absoluteness and perfection of the Principle of Creation, God did not intervene in the acts that led the human beings to fall." ^[17]

As a result of "the fall", humans lost God's lineage, and have been dominated by their ties to Satan. Unificationists believe that the fall is reversed through the Blessing Ceremony, which is understood to change a couple's lineage back to that of God, cutting off the bloodline to Satan. The entire purpose of history is restoration of man back to the originally intended divine lineage of God.

[edit] Felix culpa

Felix culpa (the happy fault) is an interpretation of the doctrine of the fall is that it is necessary so that humans might benefit from God's grace. It includes the notion that, had humankind not been given the capacity for evil, our choice through free will to either serve God or not would not have been as meaningful. For example:

A fall it might seem, just as a vicious man sometimes seems degraded below the beasts, but in promise and potency, a rise it really was.

— Sir Oliver Lodge, "Life and Matter", p. 79

Other interpretations[link]

Climatic Change[link]

Steve Taylor, in his book The Fall: The Insanity of the Ego in Human History and the Dawning of A New Era,^[18] proposes an "Edenic" period associated with the transition from hunter gathering, followed by a "fall" through the establishment of a selfish, rational calculating ego, as a result of the desiccation of the arid zone during the 5.9 kiloyear event. The "pre-fall" cultures he speaks of had no organised warfare, were partnership not patriarchal cultures and were non hierarchical.

Entheogen theory[link]

Writer/philosopher Terence McKenna in the entheogen theory proposed that the fruit of knowledge was a reference to psychotropic plants and fungus, which played a central role, he theorized, in human intellectual evolution.

William I Thompson[link]

In his theory of kundalini yoga, author William Irwin Thompson attributes the story of the fall to the time when human beings first understood that sex led to pregnancy, and understood what menstruation was. In "The time falling bodies take to light", Thompson theorises that Eve's kundalini awakened, leading her to understand sexuality and human power and intelligence. In Sanskrit, "kundalini" means "curled up like a serpent".^[19]

Literature[link]

• In William Shakespeare's Henry V (1599), the King describes the betrayal of Lord Scroop – a friend since childhood – as being "like another fall of man", referring to the loss of his own faith and innocence the treason has caused.

• In the novel Perelandra (1943) by C. S. Lewis, the theme of the fall is explored in the context of a new Garden of Eden with a new, green-skinned Adam and Eve on the planet Venus, and with the protagonist - the Cambridge scholar Dr. Ransom - transported there and given the mission of thwarting Satan and preventing a new fall.

• In the novel The Fall (1956) by Albert Camus, the theme of the fall is enunciated through the first-person account given in post-war Amsterdam, in a bar called "Mexico City." Confessing to an acquaintance, the protagonist, Jean-Baptiste Clamence, describes the haunting consequence of his refusal to rescue a woman who had jumped from a bridge to her death. The dilemmas of modern Western conscience and the sacramental themes of baptism and grace are explored.

• J. R. R. Tolkien included as a note to his comments about the Dialogue of Finrod and Andreth (published posthumously in 1993), the Tale of Adanel that is a reimagining of the fall of man inside his Middle-earth's mythos. The story presented Melkor seducing the first Men by making them worship him instead of Eru Ilúvatar, leading to the loss of the "Edenic" condition of the human race. The story is part of Morgoth's Ring.

• In both Daniel Quinn's Ishmael (1992) and The Story of B (1996) novels, it is proposed that the story of the fall of man was first thought up by another culture watching the development of the now-dominant totalitarian agriculturalist culture.

• In Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series (1995, 1997, 2000), the fall is presented in a positive light, as it is the moment at which human beings achieve self-awareness, knowledge, and freedom. Pullman believes that it is not worth being innocent if the price is ignorance.

• The novel Lord of the Flies explores the fall of man. The storyline depicts young innocent children which turn into savages when they are stranded on a desert island. Lord of the Flies was originally named 'Strangers Within', also showing his views of human nature.

See also[link]

Religion portal

• Paradise Lost by John Milton
• Deal with the Devil
• Original sin
• Tree of Life (Judeo-Christian)
• Ishmael (novel)

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: The Fall

• Fall of Adam and Eve as explained in Mormonism

Threat Signal is a Canadian Melodic death metal band hailing from the city of Hamilton. However, different members of the band hail from other parts of the Ontario province. Since the band's formation in 2003, Threat Signal has released three studio albums and have toured with bands such as Mnemic, Soilwork, Epica, and Darkest Hour.

Biography[link]

Early years[link]

Threat Signal was formed in the late summer of 2003 by cousins Jon and Rich Howard, who then added composer/guitarist Kyle McKnight. The trio then found drummer Adam Matthews in early 2004. Threat Signal posted their song "Rational Eyes" on an international metal chart on GarageBand.com. After a few weeks, the song reached #1, and it has received many awards including best guitars, best drums, best male vocals, best production, song of the week, and song of the day.^[1] In August 2004, Eric Papky, Kyle's former guitar teacher, joined the band on bass. Success on GarageBand.com sparked some early record label interest and helped create a following even before the band had ever played live. In August 2005 Marco Bresette replaced Eric Papky on bass guitar.

[edit] Nuclear Blast and Under Reprisal

After spending the better part of 2004 and 2005 writing and recording demos, the band traveled to Los Angeles, to record with Christian Olde Wolbers of Fear Factory in September, 2005. In November 2005, the band announced they had signed a recording deal with Nuclear Blast records.^[2] In late 2005 Adam Matthews left the band, and he was replaced by Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native George Parfitt.^[3] In July the band took part in Germany's Earthshaker Fest, alongside notable acts as Scar Symmetry, Communic, and Arch Enemy.^[4] On August 1, 2006, the band announced that guitarist Rich Howard had left the band to pursue other personal goals, and he was replaced by the band's bassist, Marco Bressette. This left the bass guitar duties vacant,^[5] and in late September Pat Kavanagh was announced as the new bassist.^[6] In October, the band began a North American trek with Soilwork, Mnemic, and Darkest Hour.^[7] The tour ended in November, but the band announced a headlining tour of North America in early 2007 as well.^[8]

New material, touring and line-up changes[link]

In March 2007, Threat Signal began demoing new material,^[9] but was hampered by second departure, this time Marco Bressette's.^[10] The band announced a search for a new guitarist the same day, while guitarist Adam Weber would join the band temporarily to fill in for the remaining tour dates.^[11] Threat Signal was tapped as the opener for the Tour and Loathing trek alongside Protest the Hero, All That Remains, Blessthefall, and The Holly Springs Disaster.^[12] Shortly after this tour, guitarist Kyle McKnight parted ways with Threat Signal in June 2007 due to personal differences with the remaining members of the band. The band's drummer, George Parfitt, also departed later in 2007 to focus on his family life. The remaining members of band, Jon Howard and Pat Kavanagh reformed the band’s line-up with the new additions of drummer Norm Killeen and guitarists Travis Montgomery and Adam Weber.

In 2008 Jon Howard and Pat Kavanagh joined Arkaea alongside ex-Fear Factory members Raymond Herrera on drums and Christian Olde Wolbers (who produced Threat Signal's debut Under Reprisal) on guitar.

[edit] Vigilance

Threat Signal's second album Vigilance, which was produced by Howard (who is now the only founding member left in the band) and mixed by Greg Reely, was released on September 8, 2009 in North America and September 11, 2009 in Europe. The album spawned a music video for the track "Severed".^[13] On July 15 the band released a 32 minute "making of" video for the new record, containing footage of the recordings, song writing process and interviews with band members. The album sold around 1,100 copies in its first week of sale in the United States, with the band touring alongside Epica and later Dark Tranquillity to support the album.

Second lineup change[link]

In July 2010 it was confirmed that Adam Weber had quit the band.^[14] Pat Kavanagh (bass, vocals) has issued the following statement:

“Adam has decided to leave us. He has some personal things he needs to work out and we wish him all the best. We’re still good friends and there’s plenty more beers that we’ll have together so no worries. I know this sucks to hear for a lot of you and I can list off a boat load of bands that have been through the same s*** we’ve been through. Just know it sucks hard on our side too. On a positive note we have a huge head start on the next record. Even have a few demos already! You’ll be hearing new s*** soon. So we hope to see you on the road with Soilwork, Mutiny Within and Kris Norris soon! Good times will be had by all!”

Ex-Darkest Hour guitarist Kris Norris filled in for Adam's absence

On September 13, 2010, The band posted an online statement that they also parted ways with drummer Norman Killeen. Both Adam and Norman were eventually replaced by drummer Alex Rüdinger and guitarist Chris Feener.

[edit] Threat Signal

The band announced on their Facebook page that the third album will be produced and mixed by "musical mastermind" Zeuss (Chimaira, Hatebreed, All That Remains, The Acacia Strain, Born Of Osiris, Shadows Fall, etc.). They also stated that they have been experimenting with 7 string guitars on this album. The band is quoted saying: "We are headed back to the Under Reprisal days but with bigger balls." The band also stated that it will be a self-titled album.

Threat Signal's self-titled new album "Threat Signal" was released on October 7, 2011 in Europe and on October 11, 2011 in North America. They are currently touring with Children Of Bodom, Eluvieite, and Revocation for 2012

Members[link]

Current line up[link]

• Jon Howard – vocals (since 2003)
• Pat Kavanagh – bass guitar, backing vocals (since 2006)
• Travis Montgomery – lead guitar (since 2007)
• Chris Feener - lead guitar (since 2010)

Former members[link]

• Rich Howard – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2003–2006, 2007)
• Kyle McKnight – lead guitar (2003–2007)
• Eric Papky – bass guitar (2004–2005)
• Adam Matthews – drums (2004–2005)
• Marco Bressette – bass guitar (2005–2006), rhythm guitar (2006–2007)
• George Parfitt – drums (2006–2007)
• Norman Killeen – drums (2007–2010)
• Adam Weber – rhythm guitar (2007–2010)
• Alex Rüdinger - drums (2010-2012)

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

• Under Reprisal (Nuclear Blast, 2006)
• Vigilance (Nuclear Blast, 2009)
• Threat Signal (Nuclear Blast, 2011)

Singles[link]

• "Rational Eyes" (Nuclear Blast, 2006)
• "A New Beginning" (Nuclear Blast, 2008)
• "Through My Eyes" (Nuclear Blast, 2009)
• "Fallen Disciples" (Nuclear Blast, 2011)
• "Face The Day" (Nuclear Blast, 2011)
• "Uncensored" (Nuclear Blast, 2012)

References[link]

This article relies largely or entirely upon a single source. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources. Discussion about the problems with the sole source used may be found on the talk page. (July 2008)

External links[link]

• Official Site
• Allmusic.com: Biography
• Threat Signal at Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives

Jason Hall
Born	(1971-05-20) May 20, 1971 (age 41) Buffalo, New York
Nationality	American
Other names	Jace
Occupation	artist, producer, writer, gamer

Jason "Jace" Hall (born May 20, 1971 in Buffalo, New York) is an American film, television and video game producer, best known for being founder and Chief Executive Officer of Monolith Productions Inc^[1] and President of HDFILMS, INC^[2].

He is also the star, producer, and writer of the reality online series, The Jace Hall Show as well as the current Executive Producer of The Morning After (web series) and previously on ABC's new "V" Television series^[3].

Career[link]

After becoming the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (WBIE) in 2004, Hall produced and released video games including The Matrix Online, F.E.A.R., Condemned: Criminal Origins, 300: March to Glory, Justice League Heroes, Happy Feet, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Batman Begins and Friends: The One with All the Trivia video game. One of his most notable roles inside a video game is as the voice of Tchernobog in Blood and Blood II: The Chosen as well as The Voice, the BloodBath commentator.And the up and coming adventures of where's Waldo^[4].

In 2007, Hall founded HDFILMS INC., a production company that produces film, television, videogame and online content. The company is best known for its original reality show, The Jace Hall Show, which debuted on Crackle.com and reached over 4 million viewers. In 2010, the show switched to IGN and is currently in production on its 5th season.

HDFILMS also produces The Morning After^[5], a daily, pop culture online series appearing on Hulu's front page.

Hall is adding singer-songwriter to his resume with recent release of the new Mortal Kombat music video (over 18 million views)^[6] and his EP VIDEO GAMES AREN’T BAD FOR YOU^[7]

Hall is also the main author of the Jace Hall Show website^[8], one of Alexa.com's Top 100,000 sites^[9].

[edit] Video games credited (partial list of over 40 titles)^[10]

==Television credited==^[11]

• V The Series (2009–2010) (Warner Bros. Television) Executive Producer

Television series based on V (1983 miniseries) which premiered on NBC. Pilot in development with ABC and written by Scott Peters of The 4400.

• The Unforgettable (2011) – (Warner Bros.) Co-producer and Original Concept by

Original concept entitled Species X or Iniquity, created by Hall and Nathan Hendrickson, is the basis for the movie as well as the video game Condemned: Criminal Origins and Condemned 2: Bloodshot.

• Brothers in Arms (2009) – Executive Producer

Supposedly based on a true story, action is set at the end of WWII, when Gen. George S. Patton ordered up a top-secret mission to rescue his son-in-law from a POW camp 60 miles behind German lines. The brass said 3,000 men were needed for the job; Patton allotted 294 and a leader who wouldn’t quit, a 24-year-old captain named Abe Baum.

• PVC-1 (2008) – Producer

Film was an award-nominated entry in the Cannes International Film Festival in 2007. IFC Films announced the acquisition of the film in 2008 for its Festival Direct arm.

Online content credited[link]

• "The Morning After" (2011–Present) (HDFILMS, INC.) Executive Producer

Pop Culture, Daily Online-Series appearing on Hulu.com

• Chadam – Executive Producer^[12]

Animated series created by Alex Pardee and produced by HDFilms and Warner Bros. Television with Todd Roy to air online in 2009. The entire series was built using the Unreal Engine 3 - known as the engine behind the games Gears of War and Bioshock. Hall pushed the boundaries of traditional filmmaking by using a computer game engine in order to meet the challenge of animating Pardee's surreal work.^[13]

• The Jace Hall Show – Executive Producer

The Jace Hall Show is an online reality show co-created with Todd Roy, which airs on Microsoft's XBOX Live Marketplace, Sony's Crackle.com and Ign.^[14] The show covers video game news and personalities as well as interviews with film/TV/sports celebrities.

Sources[link]

• Jace Hall at the Internet Movie Database
• Moby Games Database
• GameSpy
• HD Films

External links[link]

• Jace Hall at the Internet Movie Database
• The Jace Hall Show
• HDFILMS, Inc.

References[link]

This article uses bare URLs for citations. Please consider adding full citations so that the article remains verifiable. Several templates and the Reflinks tool are available to assist in formatting. (Reflinks documentation) (March 2012)

Lou Ferrigno
Ferrigno at the New York Comic Con in Manhattan, October 10, 2010
Personal Info
Born	(1951-11-09) November 9, 1951 (age 60) Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)[1]
Weight	285 lb (130 kg)[1]
Professional Career
Pro-debut	NABBA Mr. Universe, 1972
Best win	IFBB Mr. Universe, 1973–1974, two years consecutively
Active	Retired 1995

Louis Jude "Lou" Ferrigno (born November 9, 1951)^[2]) is an American actor, fitness trainer/consultant, and retired professional bodybuilder. As a bodybuilder, Ferrigno won an IFBB Mr. America title and two consecutive IFBB Mr. Universe titles, and appeared in the bodybuilding documentary Pumping Iron. As an actor, he is best known for portraying the titular role in the CBS television series The Incredible Hulk and for voicing the character in subsequent animated and computer-generated incarnations. He has also appeared in European-produced fantasy-adventures such as Sinbad of the Seven Seas and Hercules, and as himself in the sitcom The King of Queens and the 2009 comedy I Love You, Man.

Early life[link]

Lou Ferrigno was born in Brooklyn, New York to Victoria and Matt Ferrigno, a police lieutenant.^[3] He is of Italian descent. Soon after he was born, Ferrigno says he believes he suffered a series of ear infections and lost 75 to 80% of his hearing, though his condition was not diagnosed until he was three years old.^[4][5] Ferrigno started weight training at age 13, citing body builder and Hercules star Steve Reeves as one of his role models.^[6] He was also a fan of the Hercules films that starred Reeves—and would later play Hercules as well. Ferrigno's other personal heroes as a child were Spider-Man and the Hulk.^[7] Ferrigno attended St. Athanasius Grammar School^[8] and Brooklyn Technical High School, where he learned metal working.^[8]

Bodybuilding career[link]

After graduating from high school in 1969, Ferrigno won his first major titles, IFBB Mr. America and IFBB Mr. Universe, four years later. Early in his career he lived in Columbus and trained with Arnold Schwarzenegger. In 1974, he came in second on his first attempt at the Mr. Olympia competition. He then came third the following year, and his attempt to beat Arnold Schwarzenegger was the subject of the 1975 documentary Pumping Iron.

These victories, however, did not provide enough for him to earn a living. His first paying job was as a $10-an-hour sheet metal worker in a Brooklyn factory, where he worked for three years. He did not enjoy the dangerous work, and left after a friend and co-worker accidentally cut off his own hand one day.^[9]

Following this, Ferrigno left the competition circuit for many years, a period that included a brief stint as a defensive lineman for the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League. He had never played football, and was cut after two games.^[10]

During competition, Ferrigno at 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) weighed 285 lb (130 kg) in 1975,^[1] and 316 lb (143 kg) in 1992.

Ferrigno competed in the first World's Strongest Man competition in 1977, where he finished fourth in a field of eight competitors.^[11]

In the early 1990s, Ferrigno returned to bodybuilding, competing for the 1992 and 1993 Mr. Olympia titles. Finishing 12th and 10th, respectively, he then turned to the 1994 Masters Olympia,^{[citation needed]} where his attempt to beat Robbie Robinson and Boyer Coe was the subject of the 1996 documentary Stand Tall. After this, he retired from competition.^{[citation needed]}

Acting career[link]

1977–2008[link]

In 1977, Ferrigno was cast in the title role opposite Bill Bixby as the Hulk in The Incredible Hulk. Although Ferrigno and Bixby did not share lines on camera (except for one episode, "King of the Beach"), the two were friends, with Ferrigno describing Bixby as a "mentor" and "father figure" who took Ferrigno under his wing. Ferrigno also singles out the instances in which Bixby directed Ferrigno in some episodes as particularly memorable.^[12] Ferrigno continued playing the Hulk role until 1981—although the last two episodes were not broadcast until May 1982. Later, he and Bixby co-starred in three The Incredible Hulk TV movies.

In November 1978 and again in May 1979 Ferrigno appeared in Battle of the Network Stars.

In 1983, Ferrigno appeared as John Six on the short lived medical drama Trauma Center.^[13]

Ferrigno played himself during intermittent guest appearances on the CBS sitcom, The King of Queens, beginning in 2000 and continuing until the program's conclusion in 2007. He and his wife Carla were depicted as the main characters' next-door neighbors. Because of his role as the title character on The Incredible Hulk, he is often the target of Hulk jokes by Doug and his friends.

He made cameo appearances as a security guard in both the 2003 film Hulk and the 2008 film The Incredible Hulk, in which he also voiced the Hulk.^[14]

2009–present[link]

Ferrigno at the 2007 Scream Awards.

Ferrigno appeared as himself in the 2009 feature film comedy I Love You, Man.

Ferrigno trained Michael Jackson on and off since the early 1990s, and in 2009, he helped Jackson get into shape for a planned series of concerts in London.^[15]

Ferrigno took part in a Smosh video, titled "I love Lou Ferrigno", in which he is tracked down by one of Smosh's members, Anthony, in Hollywood. The skit ends with Ferrigno knocking Anthony unconscious, in response to Ian's claim that Anthony stole Ferrigno's Butterfinger.

In February 2006, Ferrigno was sworn in as a Los Angeles County, California reserve sheriff's deputy.^[16]

Ferrigno sells his own line of fitness equipment through his company, Ferrigno Fitness. In a January 2009 taping, Ferrigno Fitness provided equipment to The Price Is Right, hosted by Drew Carey for use as a One Bid prize, and demonstrated the equipment himself.^{[episode needed]}

In 2010, Ferrigno appeared in "My Two Chads", an episode of Sonny with a Chance, appearing as himself in an episode of the fictional series MacKenzie Falls.

In November 2010, Ferrigno was sworn in as a member of a Maricopa County, Arizona volunteer sheriff posse, which also includes actors Steven Seagal and Peter Lupus, in order to help control illegal immigration in the Phoenix Valley area.^[17]

Ferrigno was a contestant on season five of the NBC reality television series The Celebrity Apprentice, which premiered in February 2012. He appeared on the program in order to raise money for his charity, the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Ferrigno was Team Unanimous' project manager for the task depicted in the fifth episode, "I'm Going to Mop the Floor With You", which was to create a viral video to promote O-Cedar's ProMist Spray Mop, placing him in competition with actress Tia Carrere, the project manager of the women's team, Forte. In addition to the usual $20,000USD awarded to the charity of the project manager of the winning team, O-Cedar pledged an additional $30,000 for that task. Team Unanimous' video—in which Ferrigno appeared dancing while mopping—won the task, winning the $50,000 for Muscular Dystrophy Association.^[18] He was fired in the ninth episode, "Ad Hawk", which involved creating a 60-second commercial for Entertainment.com.^[19]

Ferrigno's voice was once again utilized for the Hulk in the 2012 film The Avengers.^{[20][20][21][20][21]}

Personal life[link]

Due to ear infections suffered soon after birth, Ferrigno lost 75 to 80% of his hearing and has been using hearing aids since the age of 5. ^[22] Ferrigno says his hearing loss helped shape his sense of determination in his youth, saying, "I think that if I wasn't hard of hearing I wouldn't be where I am now. Early on, as a youngster it was difficult, but I’m not ashamed to talk about it because many people have misconceptions about hearing loss; like who has hearing loss and what it’s like not to hear, so I do talk about it. I think my hearing loss helped create a determination within me to be all that I can be, and gave me a certain strength of character too. Anytime I do a movie or a TV show, I make them aware of my hearing loss at the beginning, and that makes it much easier for all of us to communicate and get the job done."^[4]

Ferrigno married Susan Groff in 1978, divorcing a year later. On May 3, 1980, he married psychotherapist Carla Green, who then also began serving as his manager; she later became a personal trainer. They have three children, Shanna, born 1981; Louis, Jr., born 1984; and Brent, born 1990. Shanna has a recurring role as Nurse Janice in Days of our Lives, and appeared in the NBC series Windfall, as well as the television movie Within, and in 2005 she appeared in the E! reality television series, Filthy Rich: Cattle Drive. Louis, Jr. was a linebacker for the University of Southern California Trojans football team.^[23]

Competitions[link]

• 1971: Pro Mr. America – WBBG, Teen 1st^[24]
• 1971: Teen Mr. America – AAU, 4th, Most Muscular 5th
• 1972: Pro Mr. America – WBBG, 2nd
• 1972: NABBA Mr. Universe, Tall 2nd
• 1973: IFBB Mr. America, Overall Winner^[24]
• 1973: IFBB Mr. Universe, Tall 1st, Overall Winner^[24][25]
• 1974: IFBB Mr. International^[24]
• 1974: IFBB Mr. Universe, Tall 1st, Overall Winner^[24][25]
• 1974: Mr. Olympia, Heavyweight 2nd
• 1975: Mr. Olympia, Tall class, 3rd place^[24]
• 1992: Mr. Olympia, 12th^[24]
• 1993: Mr. Olympia, 10th^[24]
• 1994: Olympia Masters, 2nd^[24]

Magazine covers[link]

• Muscle & Fitness (March, 1982; September, 1982; March, 1983; January, 1986; June, 1987; July, 1988; April, 1989; March, 1993; March, 1994; April, 1996)
• Flex (November, 1983; August, 1985; August, 1989; August, 1992; October, 1992; June, 1993; March, 1994; November, 1994)
• Muscle Builder (May, 1974; July, 1974; April, 1977; September, 1977; July, 1979; March, 1980; May, 1980)
• Iron Man (July, 1973; August, 1988; October, 1992; November, 1994; April, 2009)
• Bodybuilding Lifestyle (December, 1991; May, 1992)
• Muscle Mag International (March, 1979; December, 1983; November, 1994)
• Muscular Development (February, 1981; October, 1992; April, 2009; 2012)^{[volume & issue needed]}
• Muscle Training Illustrated (May, 1972)
• Natural Bodybuilding (February, 1983)
• Strength & Health (November, 1983)

Filmography[link]

See also[link]

• List of strongmen

References[link]