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RE: The evolution of Adam - a conundrum

in #religion7 years ago

That's interesting, if the name Adam refers to all humans (male and female), then that begs the question how and why Eve comes in to play.

Is Adam a metaphor and not just the literal first man? If so, what is it a metaphor for, and then what is Eve a metaphor for?

I'm not well versed (pun intended) in Bible analysis, I'm curious what your follow up post will contain

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Adam comes from the Hebrew word "adam" meaning "red blood" and is also related to "adamah" which means "ground, soil, red earth." Both of these make sense, because according to Genesis, Adam was formed from the dust of the adamah (red earth, clay) and all humans have one thing in common, they bleed the same red blood. It is used in the Old Testament to speak of humankind (male and female) or the singular person, Adam, depending on context.
The writers of the New Testament spoke of Adam as the name of a singular being, the first man (for example, Romans 5:14-15. "Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.")

Adam in Hebrew can be used to refer to the whole human race, among other things. We'll dig deeper next week.

Oh, that's interesting.

Yes, just as the "God" in the creation lore, is not the One infinite Creator, but rather just our progenitors. "Let us" sentient beings just like us. No wonder the entity couldn't tell where the pets (couple) were hiding, or what they had done!

If Adam and Eve are a metaphor, it is a metaphor for the first humans to discover that they could understand the cosmos. The first people to name things and take control - dominion - over the earth. Also, the first animals who could conceptualize such a thing as the future... It's the story of the first people with the ability to negotiate with the future.

Yes. This is what makes the most sense to me. Perhaps these were representative of the first upright walking "mankind" that were intellectually advanced enough to ask the questions - "Why am I here?", and "Is there anything beyond the physical"?