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Question… What about the Adam and Eve story?
Answer… The whole story is a parable.

Let us explain.

The story goes somewhat like this– God created a garden and He put a man named Adam in it. He put Adam to sleep and borrowed one of his ribs, which He used to make Eve. Adam and Eve are in Heaven on Earth and then, one day, they meet a talking serpent, who tells them to eat an apple that God told them not to eat. Adam and Eve partake of the apple. Out of shame, Adam and Eve have to hide from God. But God finds them in the bushes and he severely chastises them.

Taken literally, this is the story of a babbling idiot, not that of an intelligent God! First of all, why wouldn’t God know where Adam and Eve were hiding in the garden? Second, since when do snakes talk? Third, how is it that Eve could see that the fruit was good, as the Bible tells us, if her eyes weren’t opened until after she ate of it? Taken literally, there are many questions raised about the logicality of this story.

But keep in mind who wrote the story of Adam and Eve. If you said Moses you’re correct. Well guess what? According to the Bible, Moses and Jesus were alike (see Deuteronomy 18:15-18 and Acts 3:22-23 and Acts 7:37). They were both Prophets/Manifestations of God. Everyone knows that Jesus taught in parables (see Mark 4:34). So the point is that if Jesus was like Moses then couldn’t Moses have used parables too? Of course Moses could and he did. The Adam and Eve story is a fine example of the parables of Moses.

This parable is not the story of the physical creation of the planet. It is the story of evolution of man and of mankind. Yes Moses was also very scientific. Watch now, as we take a closer look than ever before, at the Adam and Eve parable. The story is found in the first chapters of the book of Genesis:

And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the cattle according to their kinds, and everything that creeps upon the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. (Gen. 1:24-25)

This is a good place to start because the above verses show that God created each species having their own distinct developmental traits. Next we hear about man:

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image…” (Gen. 1:26)

Who are the “us” and the “our” in that verse? They are the Divine Manifestations of God! There have been 9 of them in this dispensation: Adam, Moses, Krishna, Zoroaster, Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed, The Bab, and Baha’u'llah (see the “Children of God”).

More than anything, God wants to be known and to be loved. When a person is truly in love with God they become knowledgeable of Gods attributes like love, justice, mercy, wisdom, fidelity, truth, etc…. When man adorns himself with these attributes he becomes “made in the image of God” that is he becomes spiritualized. But How do we know of God? It is only through the revelations of Gods Manifestations that man has become aware of God. The Manifestations reflect God to man just like a pure and polished mirror reflects the sun. Lets go on.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Gen. 1:27)

And God Created man (humanity) both male and female. Let’s go to Genesis 5:1-2 (King James Version):

“This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made He him: male and female created He them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in that day when they were created.”

If “Their” name was Adam, well then, who was Eve?

“Adam” means “Red Earth” meaning the minerals which compose the human body, whether it be male or female. In the original Hebrew the word for “man” is “Adhamah” which means “ground,” from the root word “Adam” which means “Red” (Dictionary of the Bible, page 9). Both male and female are Adam (made of minerals). Lets go on:

The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep
(Gen. 2:15).

So the physical body is put in the Garden of Eden, which represents the womb, where everyone, both male and female begin life. “Eden” means “paradise.” Paradise is anywhere that everything is provided for you, there are no worries, there are no choices to make. Like in the womb, and the next life. Opposites do not exist in paradise.

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.” (Gen. 2:16-17)

This parable is a scientific explanation of the conception, evolution and birth of a human being. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil represents being born into this world, the world of opposites. You die when you eat of this tree because when you are born into this realm, you die of the, or leave the womb.

Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” So out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper fit for him. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh… (Gen. 2:18-21)

God wanted a helper for man. The helper for man is Eve. Eve represents the soul or the spirit of man, whether that man be male or female. The word “Eve” means “living” and in at least one Dictionary (Websters New Universal) “life” is defined as “the existence of the soul.”

The animals were “not fit for the man” because God wanted man (humanity) to be different (unique beyond the animal kingdom). Without a soul, man is a mere animal. The soul must be developed in this realm, the physical plane, the world of opposites: as there is nothing in the womb to stimulate abstract thought.

“…and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh; and the rib which the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.” (Gen. 2:21-22)

The “rib” that God took from Adam represents one of the 23 chromosomes which determine the sex of an individual. These chromosomes are described as “rib like structures” in medical books (Health, Medicine, and the Human Body)

Adam, or the man, represents the physical body. The sperm determines the sex of a child. Every cell has 23 pairs of chromosomes. Sex cells, however, have 23 chromosomes apiece. The 23rd chromosome of the ovum will pair up with the 23rd chromosome of the sperm. If the chromosome retains its “X” shape then it is a female. If one of the chromosomes little “ribs” is missing and makes a “Y” then it will be a boy. First comes Adam, which is the physical joining of the sperm and the ovum, conception; then Eve, the soul, is joined to that body. First Adam, then Eve. The soul is a breath of life from God which differentiates man from the animal kingdom.

“Now the serpent was more subtle than any other wild creature that the LORD God had made.” (Gen. 3:1)

The serpent is and always has been a symbol for the “intellect.” For instance, on the caduceus, which is the staff of medicine, there are two serpents winding up the staff. They represent the intellectuality of the field of medicine. The tribe of Dan was the “judges” of Israel; the emblem on their flag was the serpent. They used their intellect to deduce facts in cases and thus they were able to judge with righteousness.

“In ancient mythology the serpent is sometimes used as an emblem of the intelligence of God and at other times the subtlety of the evil one” (Dictionary of All Scriptures and Myths).

Also, ‘Abdu’l-Baha explains that the serpent is attachment to this world and its qualities. The serpent guides us in our choices and helps determine if the soul will acquire spiritual qualities.

He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree of the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, and he ate. (Gen. 3:1-6)

The serpent tempted Eve to eat of the tree. Eating of the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” symbolizes the death of the womb and being born into the physical plane, the world of opposites. The intellect can only develop outside of the womb.

In fact, once the fetus has developed enough physically, and it is ready to be born in the world to begin developing its intellect, the fetus secretes a chemical through the umbilical cord to the womb. This secretion, when mixed with the amniotic fluid will actually start the birthing contractions.

Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons. (Gen. 3:7)

When we are born our soul is like a clean, white sheet of paper; nothing is written on it. This state does not last very long. Soon enough we all take on qualities which make up our individual personalities. In this way a person “covers” themselves and sews on “fig leaves.” For Adam and Eve (the newborn and also humanity) realizing their nakedness is the acknowledgment of their lack of knowledge and wisdom.

And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of thee in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” (Gen. 3:8-11)

Man is accountable for his deeds. So man fesses up to God. This is a continuation of the birthing process, particularly of the spirit, as man is afraid, and naked, without the knowledge of what man is all about. Adam’s explanation of the event shows the intricate relationship between the mind, body and the soul. ‘Abdu’l-Baha said: “It is through the power of the soul that the mind comprehendeth, imagineth, and exerteth its influence, whilst the soul is a power that is free” ( The Baha’i Peace Program, p. 32)

The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all cattle, and above all wild animals; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. (Gen. 3:14)

The cursing of the serpent is that the intellect can influence the soul, even though they are not attached. If the intellect is bound to materialism, it crawls on its belly.

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Gen. 3:15)

There is a struggle between the intellect and the soul. For instance, in this world of opposites we have the freedom of choice; so we can choose to turn toward or away from God. The “seed” of the serpent (intellect), can bring forth bad fruit, while the “seed” of Eve (the soul) is pure and free. They struggle one with the other.

The “he” is the seed of the soul which is the perfection of humanity and the potential to be in the image of God. This ability will always bruise the serpents head, or overcome the evil (poor choices) the intellect is capable of. The temptations of the intellect is part of the way that God tests us.

To the woman he said, “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” (Gen. 3:16)

Childbearing represents the process of being born spiritually and acquiring the spiritual qualities. This is often painful as it requires us to give up material things; and what do they say, “no pain, no gain,” and it goes for the soul as well as for the body. Materialism is the opposite of spirituality. Eves desire for her husband is the test of turning to the physical instead of the spiritual.

And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Gen. 3:17-19)

God speaks to Adam and we can see what this verse means, that the physical must toil throughout its life for food, clothing and shelter. The physical is composed of minerals (dust) and back to the dust it returns. Eve is not included in the above verses because they do not pertain to the soul and it does not come to an end like the physical does.

The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. (Gen. 3:20)

Eve is the “mother of all living” and without our souls we would be just another animal. However, because we have the soul, man is the highest of creation, in this contingent world.

Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever”– therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken. He drove out the man; and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life. (Gen. 3:22-24)

When a baby is born into the world it enters the realm of opposites and becomes aware of “good and evil.” The human is born into this world with a physical body, a soul and an intellect. The “man” is humanity. The “us” is the Manifestations, whom we have the freedom of choice to turn towards or to turn away from. The Tree of Life is the Manifestations and the Covenant they bring from God. The “fruit” of the Tree of Life is the teachings of the Manifestations.

In the womb we develop what we need for this life; our eyes, mouth, nose, arms, legs, organs, etc. If we are born into this life without those things properly developed then we are handicapped, deaf, dumb, blind or afflicted. This life is another womb. In this life we are developing our spiritual eyes, ears, legs, etc. so as not to be handicapped in the next realm! All the time you spend in this world, developing spiritually, studying the plan of God, especially the Revelation of Baha’u'llah, is time invested on your behalf in the next world. If we eat of the Tree of Life, we will gain what we need for the next. This will aid in our ever-advancement towards the Creator.

So the Adam and Eve parable is actually a scientific explanation for the conception, evolvement and birth of a human as well as a guideline for the evolution of mankind into the image of God and the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.

Peace