Adam and Eve and Theistic Evolution?

Question

I am a Christian, and a believer in theistic evolution. It has been proposed that Adam and Eve were not alone when they were in the Garden of Eden. If you look at this from an evolutionary point of view, then this is quite possible by my interpretation of Genesis coinciding with evolution. Here are my thoughts. So, life somehow was created on Earth. Fast forward to our "common ancestor." From this point the common ancestor evolved and branched off to form many different species, including humans. I feel that it is possible that the story of Adam and Eve began when humans were intellectually capable of understanding God's plan. Thus, He chose these two in order to start His plan for us. At this point in time, "humans" would have been more "animalistic" compared to what we are now. I am not saying Adam and Eve were animalistic, but maybe they were the "first" humans to evolve intellectually enough to understand God's plan. Maybe God was just "setting the stage" for us by using

evolution as a means to create us. This would explain how we got here through evolution (to a small degree) and the belief Adam and Eve were not alone. The others would not be "human" as Adam and Eve. Thus, they would lack a soul. What do you think of my thoughts? Please no crazy or rude remarks. We all have our own opinions on the matter. Thank you.

Answer 1

I appreciate the effort to interject some science into your creation theory, but if man's beginnings are based on a lump of dirt transfigured into flesh, manufactured by a deity.... it is still religious conjecture.

Adam and Eve is a great story, but it doesn't reconcile with science and the painstakingly slow process of evolution. We lose the depth and insight of the story when we attempt to read it literally. If you allow it, science will tell you how the Creator does what IT does.

Pantheist

You're very kind Handful-01, thank you.

Answer 2

It is conceivable, but in your scenario, there is no reason to assume that the other "near humans" weren't humans or couldn't understand god or were more "animalistic" - god could have just chosen two individuals or they were representative those present.

The good thing is that you're actually looking at the facts and not letting your faith say that the facts are wrong. Kudos on thinking objectively.

Edit:
Dr Dino has not clue about science or real facts, if he does then he is intentionally deceiving people by spreading false information as if it was the truth.

Edit:
There are many good points made about other inconsistencies and things you haven't accounted for, don't let that discourage you. You proposed a reasonable hypothesis and part of the process is that your hypothesis is critiqued and examined for errors and problem. The important thing is to keep thinking and to remain objective.

Answer 3

It is possible young Skywalker, but does it really matter? I also believe in micro-evolution and history supports that in the fact that we as a species are taller and less hairy (for most people) on average to people say 200 or 300 years ago. However, evolution from one species to another seems far fetched.

BTW, in Genesis it refers to other beings here on earth and notes the children of those beings and humans were the "heros of old"

Genesis 6
1 When men began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. 3 Then the LORD said, "My Spirit will not contend with [a] man forever, for he is mortal [b] ; his days will be a hundred and twenty years."
4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.

Take that as you will, but it could also be a hint towards our rough drafts.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sons_of_God

Answer 4

I think you can speculate all you want.

It will not make any word in any part of the bible more true though.

If you are looking for truth, a 4000 year old book written down from the oral history and mythology of a stone age/bronze age tribe of nomads, is probably not the best place to start.

I can speculate that Lucifer was the creator, and that God usurped the throne and thew Lucifer into the pit.

I can speculate that god created the entire universe 10 minutes ago, complete with people and memories, 'old' light travel ling from other stars and just the right mix of radioactive materials and fossils in the ground. And that once he has finished laughing at us trying to work it all out he is going to poof it all back into non-existence an replace it with his next 'joke'.

Answer 5

I am sorry, but Adam and Eve did not exist, nor were they first members of the species known as homo sapiens. There were other hominids before us, and some with possible spiritual beliefs (such as Neanderthals, who buried their dead). In evolution, species gradually change over time, and there is no direct cut off between humans and the remainder of the mammalian species in the world. We just used our forward planning to develop technological sophistication, in part with our skills in language. For up to 250,000 years that "modern humans" existed (debatable by some scientists who claim 100,000 years), the majority of humanity lived much in the way of animals: Dying around the age of twenty due to microbes or malnutrition, scavenging for food stuff, or fighting with other humans.

If anything, take Genesis as a moral parable. It isn't a description of the natural history of our species.

Answer 6

you want a debate well christians believe in evolution and science too. don't you understand that our way of life is based on a man's teaching. it works for us. adam and eve explain the human condition and how god wants us to behave according to a set of moral laws in an immoral world. is that okay? can we have our own free will way to see the world and we believe hope and faith are very comforting. some of even believe god evolved enough to see that we needed a savior because punishing us like children he loves doesn't work I'm just sayin i mean who really has the narrow mind here

Answer 7

That's the problem with theism you can "interpret" anyway you like. I agree god could have done this but why would he say different? The bible doesn't mention evolution so although this could be a valid theory it also kind of ignores the original story. Thus not being a part of Christianity.

Answer 8

Other than the bible there is no evidence of the people "Adam and Eve". The Adam and Eve story is a metaphorical account of how humans came to emerge from simply following their animal instincts and to start using a thinking process to determine what actions to take. So in part your thoughts are on the right track.

Answer 9

It still doesn't make sense. Genesis one metions animals being created before man and Genesis 2 mentions man being created before animals. Which is correct?

Also, Genesis 1 had night and day being created (day 1) before the mechanism for night and day (the sun on day 4). I have heard this being explained by God creating first light and the earth but this light must then have a source. Where is that source now?

Answer 10

Although I agree with the evolutionary process as a whole, it seems odd to me that an omniscient God would create humans in the form of a sub-species instead of as we are now. If HE is omniscient than why did He have to make so many "rough drafts" first?