Adam and Eve

Do I believe Adam and Eve are literal or mythical?

Whatever I say, I'll alienate someone. The truth is, I don't know.

What's more, I'm not sure that it matters in some ways. I'm aware, on the one hand, of the danger of beginning to pick and choose which parts of the Bible are "literal" and which are "only" stories. But as long as I affirm that the account of Adam and Eve, whether literal in every detail or not, is true - it communicates truth and is not counterfactual - I don't see a problem.

What I'm saying is that it doesn't really make a difference in practice whether the details which are a stumbling block for some people - a talking snake, for example, and knowledge gained through a piece of fruit - are meant to be taken literally or are just illustrations of truths which are too large for a historical, factual account. In either case, the point is the same. And the historical existence of Adam and Eve is not the point. The point is the theological point: Humanity, given every opportunity and every support by God, disobeyed him, and as a result lost much of their ease in existence. We now have to struggle to live, because we are at odds with God - because we didn't trust his way to be best, but listened to the lie that said, "Did he really say that? Surely not. Go on, do it. It won't hurt. You won't come to any harm."

My $0.02 worth, anyway.

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