Were the two trees in the garden of Eden literal? Could they have been Proto-sacraments?

[One_point]

I have always thought it was a bit foolish to think that there was a tree where the fruit gives life or knowledge to those who eat it. but I have been thinking that given that our faith is so incarnational and sacramental in focus could the two trees not possibly have been some type of sacrament that really truly had the effect described? I think so especially because after sinning, Adam and Eve could no longer partake from the tree of life. Perhaps it is possible that in that state before sin entered the world, this is how God fed their spirits, with the special tree with literal sacramental fruit.

I am not sure how the tree of knowledge enters into this thinking yet, but I am starting to think honestly that it is not really absurd to think of the story of the fall in literal terms. the thing that has me hesitating is the snake. that cannot be literal because God punished the snake animal literally yet we know the snake had no sin. it was Satan God was punishing. Satan could have disguised himself to Adam and Eve as a snake but surely he could not fool God too. So that part might be symbolic.

 

[grannymh]

I have always thought it was a bit foolish to think that there was a tree where the fruit gives life or knowledge to those who eat it. but I have been thinking that given that our faith is so incarnational and sacramental in focus could the two trees not possibly have been some type of sacrament that really truly had the effect described? I think so especially because after sinning, Adam and Eve could no longer partake from the tree of life. Perhaps it is possible that in that state before sin entered the world, this is how God fed their spirits, with the special tree with literal sacramental fruit.

I am not sure how the tree of knowledge enters into this thinking yet, but I am starting to think honestly that it is not really absurd to think of the story of the fall in literal terms. the thing that has me hesitating is the snake. that cannot be literal because God punished the snake animal literally yet we know the snake had no sin. it was Satan God was punishing. Satan could have disguised himself to Adam and Eve as a snake but surely he could not fool God too. So that part might be symbolic.

I would like to reply to you. However, this older than dirt brain can only deal with one tree at a time and the tree I prefer is the easier Tree of The Knowledge of Good and Evil. How about a* both - and* approach? This Tree appears to be both literal *and *figurative at the same time.

 

[edwest2]

Eve saw the fruit that she and Adam ate as good for food. Of course it was literal and it led to spiritual and physical consequences.

Peace,
Ed