Is it possible that the myth of Adam and Eve was created to further subjugate women?

Question

Used to be that the world honored a goddess as the main deity and she was worshipped in many forms. The Jews pushed that there was one god, their god, and this god was male.
Could it also be that, since Eve was the one who accepted the temptation to eat from the tree of knowledge, there is a lesson that women should learn to stay in their place not do what Eve did? The results, according to the myth, were catastrophic.

Answer 1

You know, you could be right?
What might happen if we could turn this whole thing around? What changes might we expect to see, any benefits for the world? Then, what if you were wrong? Would there be any damage to society?

Answer 2

Interesting idea, but there is kind of big hole in the whole theory, When you read the rest of the Bible - especially the writings of the apostle Paul, you will find that Eve is never once blamed for the fall. Every single other scripture puts the blame 100% on Adam. (Read Romans chapter 5 some time and list the number of referrences to Adam against the references to Eve).

Paul in 1 Timothy 2:14 tells us that Eve was deceived (or tricked) and so ended up in sin, but Adam was not. He walked into it with his eyes open, and nobody tempting or deceiving him. So he bears the blame.

The Bible also teachs that the stain of sin is past to the child by the father, not the mother. That is why Jesus was virgin born. A woman can not pass sin on to a child.

Genesis emphasis that the fall was man's fault by stressing the detail that Eve was tricked into eating. But somehow people can read the story and totally miss what it is saying.

Perhaps if they were to read all of the book, they would understand all the things it teaches...

Answer 3

That's certainly my first impression when I first thought about it. And through the years, I've heard of several apologists trying to rationalize it so as to be read in a more politically correct way. One explanation goes like this, that the story shows that woman is man's only equal because she can talk to him and keep him company, unlike the animals and other creations.

But the point remains, the only reason why God created woman is to keep man company. The only reason they exist! Other answers ask you to look at other passages in the bible. Why don't they look at this one!

To this day why does the Catholic church not allow a woman to become a priest? And what of the other sexist passages in the bible? Twelve apostles, all male. What was the role of Mary Magdalene?

And in the same Jewish tradition, have you heard of the story of Lilith? Not part of the story of the Bible, that's true, but it says something of the people who wrote it. Lilith was Adam's first wife but she was domineering. She proved to be Adam's equal. She might be even Adam's superior! Made, not from his rib. Adam complained and she was cast out. And the story goes on to say that the Children of Lilith became the demons and monsters of the world. And so, God made eve, to be more subservient, kinder and gentler.

What other interpretation can you get from this story?

Answer 4

The story you heard about Lilith is not in the Bible. Eve was the first woman. As for the rest of your question, women, like men, have free will. If a woman is lucky enough to have a husband who can support the family, she can tend to the house and kids. She can have a career or a part time job. Free will is pretty cool. As for men, I have found that most men are not usually the same, but can be quite complex. I've heard that some men prefer to be home with the kids, and they're completely happy letting their wives do the wage earning.

Answer 5

The Jews did not favor women you are right but in the new testament it talks about how women were woven into the lineage of Jesus Christ, how it was a group of WOMEN who came to the tomb only to discover that Jesus had risen, and it was the women who were at the cross when he was crucified the only apostle there was John, everyone else split. So Jesus put them back on solid ground.

People counter with the whole submission thing, how wives need to be submitted to there husbands, Yeah, and the husband is to LOVE her as Christ loves the CHURCH!?!
It also says that when you are in Christ there is no difference between male and female.
Now are there different roles that we are to play? ummm yeah?! It's just like a monkey no matter how hard it tries can't fly like a bird. If you are honest and it sounds like you are searching and seeking and that's AWESOME... Looking at the surface of the text yeah, Eve messed up but so would I, so would you, and probably faster than they did!

Eve was to be a helpmate to Adam, my question is where was ADAM when she was talking to the serpent? Adam wasn;t fulfilling his end of the bargain as being the protector of the family. And if he is the head of the household, he should have said NO to Eve and told her to put it down, but he chose Eve over God, and ate the fruit, and he knew it was wrong.

Staying in your place is not necessarily a bad thing. If I don;t stay in my place and I walk when the sign clearly says DON'T WALK is it the Car's fault when it runs me over? No. On the same token, while men and women are DEFINATELY equals in the realm of intelligence, and I know some women that could beat the SNOT out of guys, you have to admit that there are some real differences between men and women. Like for example, I have asked a lot of women this... When God told Abraham to take Issac up on the mountain and sacrifice him Abraham went up there and almost did until God sent an angel to stop him. Now would Sara (the mother) have done it? We'll never know but most moms say HECK NO. But men are able to see things differently than a woman, Just like women see things much more deeply, and clearer than men. Equals but with differnt strengths.
Now men have used this passage and have said that women are inferior. They obviously didn't read the whole text of the new testament and took what they wanted. It's up to Christians who actually STUDY the Bible to dispel and educate the public of what Jesus' ministry and God's word is all about

Answer 6

Pure speculation and a very empty argument. Interesting that you call it the "myth of Adam and Eve". Of course you are going to feel negatively towards it and make all attempts, whether feeble or not, to break it down and say its the cause of some catastrophic event in our history. Further research is needed on your part. Keep in mind the original languages of the scripture, Hebrew ( a very deep and beautiful language), Aramaic (an ancient language that is pretty much dead), and Greek (another language of beauty), and you will discover some interesting things in translation. However, I suppose you wouldn't be interested in that considering you are sure of the bibles mythical nature and its "abuse" of women. It is interesting though that the percentage of women in Christian churches all over the WORLD outweighs their male counterpart...hmm. Catastrophic.

Answer 7

The myth of Adam and Eve was plagirized from the tale of the Annanaki, who were in that region mining gold. In the original story, "eve" was male and the "snake" was one of the Anannaki trying to help humans escape the enslavement. The bible writers changed the myth to meet their needs, which was to seek power over females.

Answer 8

I've heard it said that Eve was created from Adams rib to stand beside him, not from his foot to be crushed by him, and not from his head to lord over him. True, the Earth goddess was worshipped long before God, but so were several male gods. And I've heard an alternate story of the tree of knowledge from one of the Apochrypha, the Book of Adam and Eve, in which Eve was not tempted by a snake, but by a demon posing as an angel, who told her God had said she was permitted to eat.

Answer 9

One, Adam and Eve were not a myth. Two, people didn't worship Eve. And if so, is way later in life when people forgot The One God! The Jews might of pushed it. But Eve walked with that One God so the jews did not make that one God up! All though. I think women should not do what Eve did. God told her not to and she did it any way. So yes, I do see there is a lesson for women. But you are forgetting Adam. There is a lesson there too! Adam took the apple from Eve, and ate it! God told him not to too!

Answer 10

At this age of human maturity, nobody can use any scientific, philosophic or religious theories to suppress human beings. All can learn to think, to behave, to act equally free, dignified and progressive.
Women have been oppressed in previous societies under the physical force of patriarchy, now the UN has established various agencies to give them more opportunites for equal advancement in the civilized world. Nations and families will learn to do so too.

Answer 11

Yes, I agree. I've always found the story sexist. God made woman for man so that man could have something pretty to look at and boss around. Then she was easily deceived by the snake, like the poor little dumb girl she was, and convinced Adam to eat the fruit, like the wicked Jezebel she was.
It's a horrible story. Even creationists should notice that part.