I’ve read and heard from many Christians that the Bible
is full of stories and myths. Adam and Eve are only one example. And so I
thought of that accusation in light of what the apostles clearly believed.
Only An Allegory?
See to it that no one captivate you with an empty,
seductive philosophy according to human tradition, according to the elemental
powers of the world and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells the whole
fullness of the deity bodily
(Colossians 2:8-9).
If Adam
and Eve were not real people
rooted in
history,
If they
are simply a story to illustrate
humanity’s
turn from God,
Then for
whom did God kill the animal
to cover
their sin with blood,
and their
bodies with clothing*
which
foreshadowed the Lamb of God,
whose
blood on a cross
would
cover our sins?
If Adam and Eve are only a fable,
Then from
whom do we inherit original sin?
And what
could St. Paul have meant when he wrote:
“For just
as in Adam all die,
so too in
Christ shall all be brought to life?**
If our
first parents were simply an allegory,
Then what
could the Apostle have meant when he wrote:
“Through
one person sin entered the world,
and
through sin death,”*** ?
If Adam
and Eve are not historic individuals,
can we be
certain Jesus’ resurrection is not also an allegory,
a fable
to illustrate life’s triumph over death?
Can we be
sure the changing of bread and wine during Mass
into the Body,
Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ
is not
also an allegory to illustrate God's presence with us?
Yet perhaps
more germane than all these questions
is the
question:
If Adam
and Eve did not exist as
special
and unique creations of God,
then
perhaps He who is called “God”
is also
not really historical –
but only an allegory.
*Genesis 3:21
** 1 Corinthians 15:22
*** Romans 5:12
2 comments:
I see your point, Rich, and the Bible is filled with myth, allegory, poetry, etc., especially the Hebrew Scriptures. However, even if humanity's fall did not occur exactly as it is written in Genesis, is did occur. We can be sure God is not a myth because there is something inside all of us that yearns for God, whether we recognize it or not. There is no way we could yearn for transcendence - of any kind - unless God does exist.
A thought provoking post.
Thanks, Gabrielle. That's what I hoped for . . . . to provoke thoughts.
rich
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