2007-12-16 17:43:28 · 4 answers · asked by The Asker 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Both.
The account of the fall in Genesis chapter 3 uses figurative language, but affirms a primeval event, a deed that took place at the beginning of the history of man. Revelation gives us the certainty of faith that the whole of human history is marked by the original fault freely committed by our first parents.
If we assume that the theory evolution is true, the scenario might happen like this. A manlike being is slowly evolving. At some point God gives these beings a soul. You can call them Adam and Eve if you like.
These human beings live in complete “original” holiness. They love God with all their heart, with all their soul, and with all their mind. They love their neighbors as much as they love themselves.
Then the first human beings disobeyed God, choosing to follow their own will rather than God's will. This was the Original Sin.
Consequently, they lost the grace of original holiness and sin became universally present in the world.
Besides the personal sin of the first human beings, original sin describes the fallen state of human nature, which affects every person born into the world, and from which Christ, the "new Adam," came to redeem us.
For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 390 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt1art1p7.htm#390
With love in Christ.
2007-12-16 17:49:32 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Both actually.
They really did exist, but the story has a deeper meaning than just what happens on the surface.
It's a story about how mankind was seduced into thinking that it could be like God. We got our wish, a god-like knowledge of good and evil, and with that ill-gotten knowledge, gained through disobedience to God, mankind was tainted by original sin, and we became a fallen race, in an imperfect world filled with death and suffering. The story, while it is true, is more than just what you are reading on it's surface - it is filled with symbolism and deeper meaning, including the allusions to the coming of a future Redeemer of mankind (Jesus Christ).
2007-12-17 01:49:15 · answer #2 · answered by the phantom 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Us Catholics beleive everything that all other Christians beleive in, except that we beleive God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit are one.
So Yes we beleive Adam and Eve did exist and were symbolic in a way as being the perfection of God's image on Earth, but not as perfect as God.
2007-12-17 01:54:20 · answer #3 · answered by lordofdragons4_4 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Damn, imacatholic2 always gives these long and really thought out answers. I respect that.
2007-12-17 01:58:06 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋