Please pick one of the following interpretations ("A" or "B") as most important. If you want to contribute to the discussion (& aim for the 10 points), also say why.
A. The Genesis story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden is literally true. The story tells how the earth was formed, how life began, and how evil entered into creation. The narrative is only helpful to human beings if we interpret the biblical creation story as the history of interactions between God and humans in the past.
B. The Genesis story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden is a metaphor. It teaches that each of us has been given a paradise that we spoiled when we gave into temptation. The narrative is only helpful if we can identify with Adam and Eve in our present lives, and their historic existence is ultimately immaterial.
2006-09-09 07:13:51 · 13 answers · asked by NHBaritone 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
B. The story as metaphor is more relevant because:
(1) It's the more sensible explanation given our modern, non-superstitious understanding of the universe, and
(2) a metaphor cannot be disproven (as a claim of fact can), and thus the metaphorical interpretation retains its strength and meaning forever.
2006-09-09 07:23:02 · answer #1 · answered by hquin_tset 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's some what both. It's Literally true as in answer (A) but God used metaphor or parables throughout the Bible to explain various things. Adam and Eve was a precursor to Jesus' birth. All these things had to happen to give man the opportunity to fulfill God's plan for humanity. When Jesus was born he was the "New Adam" to counter act the sins of Adam and Eve's past and Humanities flaws.
As with the statement that it isn't possible because people didn't write back then is just preposterous. Maybe they didn't have the alphabet but i am pretty sure people drew pictures and knew how to communicate. If a child draws a picture now they can explain it to you even if you don't understand what it is but after they tell you what it is you learn it and if some one asks you about it you then in return explain it to them. Thus you have learned and memorized something. I am pretty sure that's how it went back then. We learn each others language the same way, some one tells us what it means and we remember it. Don't undermine the intelligence of Humanity.
2006-09-09 07:41:51 · answer #2 · answered by Nun Ya 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Both might be valid. The account was "written" for the understanding of the people at the time. But look at what is said in that "account".
Look at the beginning of sin according to Genesis. I don’t think that animals or any of the creatures before Adam can sin.
God created this planet and its species, including homo sapiens, over 5 time periods. All “creatures” were created “AFTER ITS KIND” and able to “multiply” (procreate).
Then in the sixth time period Adam was created “AFTER OUR IMAGE”! Adam was created BY HIMSELF! He was given “God’s spirit”. Gen. 2:7-9, 16&17. HE was created to live indefinitely within his special environment, the Garden of Eden. That’s why it was fatal for him to eat from the “tree of knowledge of good and evil”. Gen. 2:17.
Eve was an afterthought so Adam would not be all by himself. Gen. 2:21,22
Meant to live indefinitely Adam and Eve did NOT NEED to procreate! They had no sense or ambition of sexuality. Gen. 2:25. They were not ashamed – innocent.
God gave them the power of choice, to obey his instructions or not.
After eating the forbidden fruit (to become like God) – also known as the “original sin” - they were sexually “activated” (Gen. 3:7-11 & 16) (they were ashamed!) and God had to change His plans for them. So Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden in order to KEEP THEM AWAY from the “tree of live” which could have sustained their life (and that of now possible offsprings) indefinitely - Gen. 3:22-24.
They were now condemned to live their life in the outside world and procreate like the “creatures” (Neanderthals & Co.) created before them. (Gen. 3:16) They now also were destined to die like them.
I’m not sure from the text if the “original sin” was engaging in sex, or disobeying God’s command which resulted in mortality and the need of procreation. But either way we, the descendents have to live with it.
2006-09-09 07:59:10 · answer #3 · answered by fresch2 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
B.
It more closely matches my understanding of original sin and its consequences for humankind, though I would describe the Genesis creation more precisely as myth than metaphor. I think that the ancient observed that evil and the capacity for evil was present in every human being, and the tale of Adam and Eve and the serpent was their best attempt to explain the unexplainable - to describe how original sin came to exist in all human beings. Like other myths, the story has meaning in that the core truth around which the tale focuses - the undeniable, empirical truth that we are all sinners - is plain to see in the world around us.
2006-09-09 07:30:39 · answer #4 · answered by jimbob 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
A.
It gives me a definite understanding of what sin is, how & why it grieves God. It explains how & why I was created. It also explains why being a woman is such a troublesome prospect (Thanks Eve! 'Preciate it!)
When they are redeemed through their continuing faith (they could have just stayed mad & told God to kiss off), it gives me hope in that I can never do anything so terrible that God won't forgive me.
Some may say they'd avoid the situation by simply not talking to the talking snake, but again, no matter what trap I walk into, I know that God's forgiveness is there.
2006-09-09 07:34:05 · answer #5 · answered by azar_and_bath 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You forgot C. It is a metaphor that seeks to show us that we have never left the garden. The only thing that has happened is we learned how to judge. Eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil is a metaphor for judgment. Knowledge of good and evil is a definition of judgment. The moment that we realize what happened and decide to stop judging we instantly realize that we never left the garden. Its true and it works if you can actually completely stop judging.
Love and blessings
don
2006-09-09 07:20:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
B - It is physically impossible for he world to have started from just two people, think of the birth defects. Yes, I believe most stories in the bible are metaphors and when people interpret it fundamentaly they destroy its beauty and don't get what it is really trying to say.
2006-09-09 07:34:22 · answer #7 · answered by Shinkirou Hasukage 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
B - without a doubt.
I feel that the characters of Adam and Eve were representative of the first people to populate the earth, who likely evolved.
2006-09-09 07:20:09 · answer #8 · answered by LindaLou 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Answer "B" makes more sense as the Adam and Eve story cannot possibly be true as language and writing had not been invented yet.
2006-09-09 07:17:19 · answer #9 · answered by tomleah_06 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Hi, I go for the A, however if you have asked me the same question a couple of weeks ago I would have said B... To tell you about my personal experiences which made me get to this conclusion would be too complicated and out of place, I think. Good luck in your search and / or God Bless ! whichever you prefer...:)
2006-09-09 07:18:09 · answer #10 · answered by mirela t 2 · 3⤊ 2⤋