Adam & Eve

I read on the evolution thread that some folks who claimed to be christians believed Adam and Eve to be mythical. I was wondering what basis you have for believing this?

 

I know that Genesis was written by Moses, so the idea that the world was populated by one male and one female just doesn't jive when you extrapolate.

I also believe that dinosaur fossils are exactly what scientists claim them to be.

I also believe in the theory of evolution.

I'm sure most non-Christians will point to this as an example of selective religion, but as a pragmatic person, I believe the lessons from the stories more than I do the events of the stories. And as a Christian, I also struggle with the divinity/humanity of Jesus. It's part of my walk, I think. I don't doubt his teachings at all, however.

 

I think Genesis contains truth, just not fact. In other words I don't believe there was an actual Adam and an actual Eve. I think they were representative of the first humans as a whole.

I have no solid basis for this. There are hints. The fact that there were other humans that Cain was able to interact with, etc. It also dovetails nicely with what science has told us about the birth of humans and Earth.

 

How do you explain the lineage that is written in the Bible of Adam and Eve? Also Jesus mentions Adam by name or do you think He is just referring to early humans as a whole?

I think we run into problems when we try to mix what we learn in science and what we have in the Bible. In the Bible how are we able to pick and choose what we decide is fact as opposed to accepting it as only a good story? Is that man's judgment?

Also how do you explain sin entering into the world?

 

The Hebrew word Adam means man. Jesus was quoted, he didn't record his own words so it is hard to know if he meant that to be capitolized or not. Anyway, in what passage did Jesus mention Adam?

Accepting Genesis as truth but not fact is not picking and choosing anything.

I personally think sin has always been in the world in a way. In other words, animals have always killed and stole etc. Those acts became sin in humans because humans are smart enough to know better. I don't blame a dog for biting, I do a human. A child is sinless to me because they do not understand the repurcussions of their actions. When man became self aware, sin was born.

 

The Hebrew word for Adam may mean man but I believe that's how they named people just like Peter in Greek means "rock."

Jesus refers to Adam in Matthew 19:4. Other times Adam is referred to in the New Testament is in 1 Timothy 2:13-14, 1 Corinthians 15:45. In 1 Corinthians 15:45 Jesus is referred to as the last Adam.

You said animals always killed and stole, I think the stealing part is only what we "think" they may have done. I don't know if I would call killing for an animal a sin nor do I believe it was necessary for animals to kill in the beginning. The Bible says the world was perfect until man sinned, not that it was already present.

 

Dude, in that first verse they were talking about mankind, not Adam. Jesus was the Son of Man that was prophesized, not the Son of Adam.

The same actions were present but without the knowledge that they are wrong, it is not a sin.

 

Jesus was refering to the first marriage between Adam and Eve (if that is what your first statement relates to).

But how do you explain the linage?

 

I don't explain it at all. I've seen at least one book that names all the men from Adam to Jesus, but Moses wrote the history. It's not necessarily accurate.