Adam and Eve can't be real...?

Question

Because if they were, then that would mean the human race came from incest... and incest is a sin.

Answer 1

You are taking an absolute literalist interpretation of the text in question. Genetically, the human race wouldn't have made it starting from such a small gene-pool. Perhaps if you take it that A&E were the first MONOTHEISTIC man and woman, then you get past the "incest" twitch you've got. Allow that monotheistic offspring of A&E intermarried with polytheists, and you get a much larger breeding-pool. Then there's just taking the whole thing as allegory, allowing for the scientific ignorance of those who were writing this text, and going from there.

Answer 2

Well... this is a very sticky question. 1. They weren't actually conceived from the same Mother and Father, They were divinely created by God (though Eve was created from Adam and Adam from the ground.) 2. Even if it was incest children could still be conceived from it. Also, for example, many ancient dynasties practiced incest in order to keep the blood line pure and power and wealth within the family. 3. Even if you are correct, we all came from someone, (or something) from somewhere. This topic is speculative at best.

Answer 3

Excellent point, and one that is probably most likely true. (See Genesis 4:16.) Adam and his wife Eve had many sons and daughters; therefore, Cain must have married one of his sisters. In the beginning of civilization, this type of incestuous relationship was necessary to propagate the human race, and therefore was blessed by God. As time went on, the results of Adam and Eve's fall from grace increased, and interfamilial marriages multiplied biological weakneses so God eventually forbade incestuous marriages.

So, to answer your question, yes, Adam and Eve did exist even though the rest of us came from incest. In a perfect world, it would not have been necessary.

Answer 4

Incest was not declared a sin until the giving of the law, which occurred some time after Adam and Eve. The main reason it is considered wrong is because of genetics. Adam and Eve had perfect genes, no corruption yet. So, sex within their family wouldn't have caused the genetic problems that would occur further along.

Answer 5

I'm an atheist but I must say your argument is kind of stupid. The bible says humans are "sinful" creatures. So what if they commit sin? According to bible we are "born" sinful, meaning our nature itself is sinful.

Also, in many religions and myths, humankind started from incest. It's a common theme. It is considered a crime but it's not promoting crime. It's just saying that when humans first start, or have to re-start humanity all over again, it has to be, or at least involve, incest. Even if there were 8 males and females each, none related, they'll have to involve incest later on to reproduce further on.

Answer 6

The story of Noah ensures a double incest whammy.

I love the answers that claim there were other people in existence with Adam and Eve, Ok I'll give you that, but when god drowned all the sinful babies during the great flood, incest was necessary for sure. The bible claims all but Noah and his 3 sons and their wives were left.

Then we are to believe that he procreated all the different races in 5000 years without the help of evolution?

Crazy.

Answer 7

It wasn't back then.
Adam and Eve were created perfect, and their children...Cain, Abel, Seth and their sisters, were close to perfect. Incest magnifies imperfections. So the further people were from being perfect, the more that incest caused problems. God in his wisdom knew this and had us avoid marrying close family members to avoid the problem.
Even today, cousins can marry and reproduce without problems.

Answer 8

Incest was forgiven to them, the blood was pure and mixing we will go.

You obviously are oblivious to the rules of the Lord. The ribs in your own chest prove Adam and Eve surely you are blind and lost the way long ago.
Get out of the bucket and begin to live on the edge of life. You know there is walls in that bucket or box you bury yourself into.

Answer 9

I agree and never understood that either.

Christians say incest wasn't a sin until later when there were enough people to make it a sin...... huh? Small DNA pool!

I also question Solomon's 700 wives and 300 concubines - when did he find the time? And when did plural marriage become a sin or wrong? (Not that I want more than one mate - no thanks!)

Answer 10

So that means I'm related to.... Ew. Don't make me think about that ever again.


Edit: For those asking how's it incest, think about it. Adam and Eve were the first people. So when they had kids, Eve still was the only chick, until she gave birth to other girls who then could.... you know....