Why do people think that Adam and Eve were white?

Question

I'm genuinely curious.

I don't believe most of what the Bible says anyway, but I don't remember it saying anywhere that Adam and Eve were white.

So why do people think that?

I'm asking this question because, on the Folklore board, someone posted a question wondering how white men evolved from a black Adam & Eve.

That person got a lot of answers from "Christians" who said, "No, everyone knows that Adam and Eve were white!"

I don't agree with that. So I'm wondering WHY people think that Adam & Eve were white. And the person who said that it says so in the Bible - WHERE exactly does it say that?

Answer 1

I don't think they were. I don't think there was a singular Adam and an Eve, as much of the writing of the times was symbolic, and written to convey an idea, not necessarily fact. That is not to say that it was not a divinely inspired story to show that early mankind willfully disobeyed God.
Technically speaking, if they were from the same geographic region as Jesus, they would have physical attributes representing the origins of all races.
Too many European artist renderings muddy the waters.

Answer 2

the color they were is irrelevant.
just because renaissance painters depicted them as white has no bearing on reality.
As is possible with all the Bible personalities, the spectrum of what is considered "human", contains from the most Albino white
to the darkest black. From the towering Ethiopians, to the smallest persons.
Within the realm of what is human, Noah may have been oriental looking.Ezekiel, may have been very dark skinned.
The fact that people try to use skin color as a form of pride, or a way to look down on others, only serves Satans purpose:TO FOMENT HATRED.
We all bleed.
We all feel hunger.
We all get sick.
We all die.
When are the people on this earth going to realize that racism is a tool used by Satan to cause grief and suffering?
Were Adam and Eve white? Probably not.
Seeing as they did not wear clothes, they might have been at least a little tan.

Answer 3

Not European White. Just look where the Garden of Eden is thought to been.

The reasoning behind the "White" ideal was because the Bible was mainly translated & used in anglo countires. When a country has control of the written let alone read word they can interupt it as they see it. How can Jesus be anglo-saxon white when he is a Jew.
As a Christian since 1962, I have seen a wonderful enlightened reclaimation of the true Bible. Which acknowleges the Old Testament(Jewish Bible) & the New Testamnet & lots of other writtings that include things not used in old Europe or even Early America.

Answer 4

I don't believe most people honestly give the race of Adam and Eve much thought. I mean, in European and American (which, let's face it, is derived from the European) cultures, they are portrayed in depictions as such probably simply as a reflection of who the artist is. I mean, it's the same reason why EVERY cultural group will portray religious figures with their own ethnic features. It's so they can more easily identify.

So, why do people think that Adam and Eve are white? Well, they don't...people who believe in Creation simply acknowledge that these two were the first.

Answer 5

Once again I will explain this. There are only 3 races of people. White (Caucasian same difference), Black, and Yellow. We know Adam and Eve were White because of what the bible says God says about his people being white and fair.

Answer 6

Each race believes that Adam and Eve were of their kind.

Intelligent people can infer that Adam and Eve may have been what ever color comes out of the area is which the two originated.

The Bible doesn't really ever talk about anyones skin color in reference to race.

Answer 7

Christianity was the most prominent in Europe, and the Crusades they sent were responsible in spreading this religion all around the world. So it's natural that Europeans thought they were white, they imagined Adam and Eve in their likeness.

Answer 8

I don't know other than most paintings of them, which were done in the middle ages, were white. However the word Adam actually might mean "red" in ancient Hebrew, which would make sense since God formed Adam out of clay according to the creation story.

Answer 9

No one ever said that it's just that in the old day that's just how it was i'm not saying it's right i'm just saying that''s how it is! there's a painting of Mary mother of Jesus done by an African artist and it's a portrait of her as a black woman and it used Natural colours and such. i personally think it's beautiful but some people think that since her skin colour in the picture was made with elephant dung (it's actually a compliment) that it's an insult to her purity.

Answer 10

Most educated people don't believe Adam and Eve were white. They were caucasian, which roughly includes everyone from North Africa (Egypt) up, including Hebrews. But certainly not white, which was European.