Why would the knowledge of good and evil lead Adam and Eve to cover themselves?

Question

Unfortunately, I have to preface this by saying I'm agnostic to avoid the pointless comments from atheists that I'm dumb for believing in God. Can we please get over that and answer the question?

If they were the only ones alive at the time and were "perfect partners," why would they be ashamed of seeing each other? Is the Bible saying that it is evil to not wear clothes and that we all naturally know this? What about peoples who don't wear anything or don't cover up everything?

What?

You can't compare this to a kid growing up in a society with norms. There WERE no such norms. And why would they be ashamed of God seeing them? God sees everything for what it really is anyway, and he saw them naked before they covered themselves.

Genesis 3:7

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

This COULD mean that they made something of a fort or blanket to hide from God as he walked in the garden, I guess. But the latter part about making themselves coverings suggests more...

To you people who keep saying that it's because they wanted to stop the sin of lust, why did they hide themselves from God? Is that not a sin as well? It doesn't make sense for them to do right for one but not the other.

Don't say it's fear, either. They also knew the extent of God's knowledge and power, and so they knew he would find them eventually. This also makes me ask why they bothered hiding... just illogical thinking?

If the knowledge of good and evil is inherent to all of us, then why is it that some tribes do not wear clothing? If this is some basic principle within us, why are they different?

Another response to those who say they were avoiding sin. Do you think it's any better to AVOID the problem of sin by covering up? What about facing the issue and forming resolve? If you say this doesn't work, then that just means it's a problem for Christianity to say this is a sin. But running away from the issue isn't what God intended, right?

Answer 1

That is a puzzle to me. As I read it, it can certainly mean that being naked is shameful and by extension, sexual desire is sinful.

That is a powerful idea to coerce people. You have to convince everyone they are sinners before you can sell them salvation. And what better sin to convince them they have than the most basic state of being (nudity) and the most powerful drive we possess (sexual attraction).

At least that is the version that Christianity sells. It is no wonder that Christianity caught on so well. They took a basic tale of growing up and losing one's innocence and turned it into a dirty story.

Answer 2

http://www.everythingchristian.org/Message/cain.ihtml

Because they knew that what they had done was wrong & they were ashamed; just like kids & their own parents today. I don't know how many times I've had to look for my kids because they were hiding after they had done something that they KNEW was wrong. And it's not like I even spank them for it! ;)

Why can't you meet someone's eyes when you know that you have done something against them? Why do you wish that the earth would open up & swallow you when you're having to face up to something that you did that you knew inside of yourself was wrong?

The Bible doesn't say but I can't image that the Garden was very big, so Adam & Eve couldn't run away; since it was a garden it was probably pretty open with not too many places to hide. Also, I remember when I was little & I had hurt myself after doing something that my Mom had told me not to. I tried to cover the owie & get to my room without my Mom noticing.

Also, how much work could you get done if there was a gorgeous naked woman, that God had given to you but you had never noticed that she was naked before? Wouldn't you mind be on sex instead of what God had told you to do that day? There is a time & a season for everything, including sex. But keeping your clothes on does make it easier for others to keep their thoughts off of sex.

Also, this was setting a precedent for future generations; some of who would not be husband & wives to each other. Do you want other men oggling your wife? Your sister? Your mother or grandmother?

Answer 3

Read Genesis 3:7 in light of Revelation 16:15 -- Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.

I can't go to Macy's, Kohl's, JCPenney, Stage, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Citi-Trends, etc. for these threads. What clothes then? Spiritual garments of salvation, praise, and the righteousness of Christ (Colossians 3:12 - 17; Isaiah 61:10; Ephesians 6:10 - 18; Revelation 22:14)...... Battle gear as defined in Ephesians 6 - the whole armor of God.

The attempt to cover themselves comes from Adam and Eve's knowledge (after eating of the tree) that they are no longer "covered" (privy to intimate relationship with God) because they have disobeyed God's commandment.

Answer 4

Consider that what you read in the Bible was not meant to be taken literally; Adam and Eve were personality Characters and not real people as you would perceive them.

The idea of the bible was to write a text not-succeptable to distortion IF the text was read figuratively as this would allow future generations of many countries to understand the nature of reality, in some ways, the authors had perfect guidence on the matter in many ways, and in some ways, none; this idea was dismissed and turned into a Christian Religion as personalities began to simply "read the bible" word for word and this is how you come up with your answer regarding ADAM-EVE and fig leaves.

Consider a figurative version of Adam and Eve: their being naked was about "no ability to hide themselves from God" as "God" was about Truth; the Fig leaf was about mans attempt to hide themselves from "God" yet, "God" was still seeking...one must step way back from their ego and self focus to see all those huge messages within the Bible; Aamd and Eve was about self deception; as few actually seek Truth and lean towards comfort.

Consider both stories, one you have told and one I have told; which one brings truth and which one confuses?

Your literal version and interpretation is about two people taking off clothing and the idea of "good and evil" and for that, what have your learned?

Do you find yourself thinking hard about it, so hard in fact, you ask 80,000 people on a website to answer this?

Spiritually, many are there also as they see with there eyes and seek nothing with the heart.

The plain Truth can be found in Jesus," THE WAY, I AM" is about seeking that truth and Jesus represents Truth, not a man, not a religion and certainly not Catholic or Christian skewed views.

"God" is plain truth, no deceptions, no puzzles and yet, when spelled out many read whayt they wish and see no lessons or views other than nakedness and leaves; this is not about blind ignorance, but beliefs.And for that nobody can be held at fault as we all have them.

Regarding your beliefs in "God"; in the event your beliefs are grounded in the bible as a literal translation, my guess is that you remain ignorant by default as many do.

To this author I salute you. For your question raises more and inthat, truth always peeks around a corner and some see and some do not; thanks for the oppourtunity to as we all have some truth to what we say.

Answer 5

Your looking at it the wrong way my friend.
The reason that Adam and Eve were ashamed after eating the fruit of good and evil was because their eyes were open to both: Good and evil.
In already knowing good they had no malice, but in knowing evil, they began to formulate evil thoughts about being naked and were ashamed. They now had the ability to formulate ideas in a perverse way, viewing what was supposed to be innocent and making it something shameful.
Well I hope that that answer your question, why don't you read Genesis?
I am fully confident that the Bible can answer this question better then I; better yet, why don't you pray about it?(I am not being sarcastic or anything: I am after all Christian. All I am saying is give Jesus a shot) He will show you His everlasting love.
God bless.

Answer 6

According to the Bible, when Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, they were no longer ignorant to... good and evil. When they looked upon themselves and each other, they felt passion and longing for one another, and they knew, by eating the fruit, that they were having sinful thoughts by longing for each other physically. They felt ashamed for feeling this way, and they knew feeling this way was sinful.
Or something.
That's the impression I received from reading the story.
It doesn't make sense to me either.

Point is, if Adam and Eve had not eaten from the tree, they would have remained ignorant. God would not punish them for their "sins" because they did not know any better. They only had that childlike innocence before they acquired knowledge.

I personally think that this story in the Bible is metaphorical, and it should not be taken literally.

Answer 7

My friend, you have ask an excellent and very intelligent question, you make me very proud.

I am a man of very little "Wisdom', yet I will do my best to answer your question in "Truth".

Before the fall, Adam (PBUH) and Eve did not have physical bodies they were clothed in light bodies. Neither contained any of earths elements. They ate from the tree, is it not so?
When they ate from the tree (An apple for instance), of the knowledge of good and evil they took on the earths elements.
From that time forward they had physical forms. Upon recognizing they had physical forms they became engrossed in them, yet tried to hide their physical forms from each other.
They had witnessed the reproductive cycles in the animals of this planet and sought each others comfort. It is understandable that they would do this, being alone in newly formed bodies, from what we call mother earth and the elements that she bears.

Prior to taking on physical bodies they had several siblings and they also had light bodies.
After taking on physical bodies they had siblings and the rest is history. Thus starts the story of mankind, and this can be researched through many books and scriptures that are available on this planet, that we call earth!

Read, Study, and learn well, concerning the evolution of man.
May you grow in "Wisdom", for "Wisdom" is that intangible
quality within man that allows man to discern truth from falsehood.

Good Hunting, and may the "Grace Of God" be with you throughout all of your years.

Answer 8

So that means that if you and a girl were alone didnt understand the purpose yet of why you were there and you were naked not knowing for what purpose, you wouldnt be embarrased. You really cant compare the whole story of adam and eve, with us. For the only reason that it would take an essay to explain what I mean about comparing the story, I'll leave it at that.

Answer 9

They were ashamed that their naughty parts were apparently evil.

That part always makes me wonder too, I also wonder if Eve finally realized that God allowed her to be tempted, without a knowledge of Good or Evil. She didn't have the ability to know right from wrong without the knowledge, so it must have been the easiest temptation of all time. I wonder if, after eating the fruit, she realized that she had been set up and that allowing a serpent into the Garden of Eden was an excessively evil think for God to do. Especially considering that the result would be millions and millions of Humans in Hell.

Answer 10

You don't know your naked until you have a knowledge of nakedness. Adam and Eve, did not recognize the point that nakedness was evil until the ate of the fruit. The knowledge of Good and Evil was what they learned from the tree--now they knew they were naked and hid their bodies. This is not an indictment against knowledge--the Bible is quite specific to indicate only on type of knowledge--ever fell self-conscience about your body parts--the knowledge of Good and Evil

Answer 11

your point? Adam rebel God after ate the forbid fruit from a tree then everything change. We are sinners. Your paragraph say all the paradise on earth from garden eden was perfect place for adam and eve to live forever in paradise but they rebel and disobey God so they must leave the garden of Eden, they suffer forever and died.