The Church does not require a strictly literal interpretation of the Adam and Eve narrative in Genesis. While affirming the fundamental truth that God is the Creator of all things, the Church allows for a range of interpretations of the Creation accounts, including those that are compatible with scientific evidence about human origins (Abẹgg, 2021; Boles, 2017).
We must recognize that the Genesis narratives emerged from an ancient Near Eastern cultural context, using symbolic and mythological language to convey powerful theological truths about the nature of God, humanity, and our relationship to the divine (Bannikov, 2023). These stories were not intended as scientific or historical accounts in the modern sense.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that the account of the fall in Genesis 3 uses figurative language, but affirms a primeval event at the beginning of human history. This allows for the possibility that the story of Adam and Eve represents, in a symbolic way, the emergence of human consciousness and moral responsibility over the course of human evolution (Mahmood & Mahmood, 2020).
I find it fascinating to consider how these ancient narratives continue to resonate with the human psyche, addressing fundamental questions of identity, purpose, and the human condition. The story of Adam and Eve can be seen as a powerful exploration of human free will, the nature of temptation, and our capacity for both good and evil.
Many theologians and scientists have worked to reconcile faith and science, seeing no fundamental conflict between evolutionary biology and the core tenets of Christian faith. The Church encourages continued dialogue between theology and science, recognizing that both can contribute to our understanding of human origins and nature (Wendland, 2023).
We need not insist on a literal interpretation that conflicts with scientific evidence. Instead, we can appreciate the deeper spiritual and psychological truths conveyed by the Creation narratives, while remaining open to scientific insights about the physical processes through which God's creative work unfolded over time.
Abẹgg, M. G. (2021). Read Online The Dead Sea Scrolls Bible The Oldest Known Bible Translated For The First Time Into English.
Boles, B. J. (2017). A Strategy To Increase Devotional Reading Of Ellen G. White’s Books On The Bible Story At the Augusta First Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
Wendland, E. (2023). From the Perspective of Bible Translation: An Invitation to Biblical Poetry by Elaine T. James. Journal for Semitics.