Genesis as history?

[happyrain]

Is Genesis history? Did Adam and Eve really exist?

I know that there is symbolism etc. in the snake, but did Adam and Eve exist as real, historical people? And can this in any way be proven?

 

[Verbum]

Hi Happym

It is of faith that all humans presently living on earth are descended from two parents. Silnce we believe it because God told us, we don’t neen “proof”. Nevertheless, science now believes that we are all descended from one woman and probably also from one man.

Verbum

 

[diggerdomer]

It is salvation history. The Church does not require you to believe Adam and Eve really existed.

Cheers

 

[thistle]

It is salvation history. The Church does not require you to believe Adam and Eve really existed.

Cheers

That is not correct. Read Humani Generis by Pope Pius XII.

 

[diggerdomer]

That is not correct. Read Humani Generis by Pope Pius XII.

I have read it. Adam is mentioned there to refute polygenism, affirm original sin, and in general affirm God as creator (vs. those who would take evolution too far, deny the human soul, and so on). Adam is only mentioned in para 37, right? Read on. Para 38 and following discusses what is more germane to this issue than para 37, i.e. Scripture study. We are free to believe Adam was an historic individual (like George Washington) or not.

Cheers

 

[w_stewart]

Is Genesis history? Did Adam and Eve really exist?

I know that there is symbolism etc. in the snake, but did Adam and Eve exist as real, historical people? And can this in any way be proven?

CCC states:

390 The account of the fall in Genesis 3 uses figurative language, but affirms a primeval event, a deed that took place at the beginning of the history of man. Revelation gives us the certainty of faith that the whole of human history is marked by the original fault freely committed by our first parents.

 

[catholic1seeks]

Is Genesis history? Did Adam and Eve really exist?

I know that there is symbolism etc. in the snake, but did Adam and Eve exist as real, historical people? And can this in any way be proven?

Yes. If we didn’t, then original sin would fall apart and there would be no need for a Savior, Jesus Christ.

However, I struggle with the idea of Adam and Eve existing hundreds of thousands of years ago but many people say the biblical deluge would be only a few thousand years ago. How do we fit in those biblical family trees that are between Adam and Noah?