Abby Dorman

SCI 311
May 1, 2015

Integration Question 2

Scientific issues:

-physical state of Adam and Eve

-fossil and genetic evidence for evolution/common
ancestry (population bottleneck), genetic diversity
in human population

Theological issues:
-bearing Gods image
-original sin
-the soul
-human mortality

5 Scenarios about Adam and Eve

1. Recent ancestors: A and E first humans existing approx. 10,000

yrs ago
-historical church view
-traditional views of soul, mortality, and original sin
-Problems: (p. 257)
--other people had to exist (cains wife, etc)
--fossil evidence=humans before 10 KYA
--the human genome would have to change drastically over
short amount of time to create our amount of genetic
diversity
2. Recent Representatives: A and E chosen as a representative pair of
humans among many (256)
-consistent w/ fossil record, science
-Gods image conferred to them, then passed to all of us b/c He
chose them as representatives
-mortality:
--EITHER the fall only resulted in spiritual death
--OR A and E lost their immortality (hard b/c God would
have had to severely alter them)
-original sin: transmitted spiritually b/c they are our
representatives (just as Christ is)
-people who lived before/during A and Edid they
sin/responsible for their morality?
3. Ancient Ancestors: God made A and E genetically modified hominids
(260)
 -all humans descended from this pair
-consistent w/fossil record
-appearance of age struggle-current genetic diversity doesnt
match up

(Ancient Ancestors-Group, 261)

-A and E=symbolic; a large group fell into sin
-God could only reveal Himself to a small group (approx. 75)
--population bottleneck=10,000
-accounts for genetic diversity
(Ancient Representatives- Group, 263)
-one group was chosen out of many hominids as Gods
representatives
--responsible for the fall, original sin
-consistent w/fossil record and genetic diversity
-Gen 2-3=allegorical
-God used to natural selection/evolution to facilitate it
-key=special revelation

4. Symbolic (p. 264)

-no one fall situation
-evolutionary creation
-gradual development of soul, bearing Gods image
-humans naturally mortal before the fall
-social and biological transmission of original sin

I would be lying if I said that I have wondered about the origins of

Adam and Eve my whole life. In fact, Im somewhat ashamed to admit
that for a long time I accepted the portrayal of Adam and Eve as two
white humans several thousand years ago who started the rest of the
human race. However, the last several lectures, along with readings
from Haarsma and Haarsma, have helped me realize that much further
study is needed to attempt to find an accurate representation of the
biblical Adam and Eve.
Haarsma and Haarsma outlined several theological and scientific
issues that come along with the investigation of Adam and Eve.
Theologically, there are some characteristics of the first humans that
we cannot ignore. We must look at how they portrayed the image of
God, the way original sin was transferred, the presence of a soul, and
their degree of mortality. Scientifically, we have to reconcile theories
about Adam and Eve with the discovered fossil evidence, the genetic
proof for common ancestry, and the present diversity in the human
genome. All of these factors can help us examine the different theories
about Adam and Eve.
 The first theory Haarsma and Haarsma present is the recent
ancestors view. This view is most consistent with traditional church
teachings, and says that God created Adam and Eve 10,000 years ago
as the very first human beings. (Haarsma, 254) Although it is widely
accepted because of its literal interpretation of the Bible, this view is
controversial both theologically and scientifically. It does not account
for the fossil evidence showing humans from over 150,000 years ago,
and it provides no explanation for the other people mentioned in
Genesis 2-3.
Dr. Walton delivered the first lecture on human origins, and his
position on the role of Adam and Eve seems to align with the recent
representatives view from Haarsma and Haarsma. This view states
that God used evolution to bring humans into existence about 150,000
years ago, and then chose Adam and Eve to represent the human race
10,000 years ago. (Haarsma, 256) This is consistent with the fossil
record and also gives proper time for the genetic diversity that has
occurred in the human genome. Scientifically, this view seems to be
the most logical. However, some questions arise when examining it
from a theological standpoint. One of the main ones is concerning the
moral state of humans who lived before Adam and Eve. Since they did
not have any moral code or special revelation from God, is there any
way they could be culpable for their wrongdoing? Haarsma and
Haarsma reference Romans 5: 13-14 to say that sin that occurred
before the law did not affect the soul of humans before Adam and Eve.
(Haarsma, 259) In Dr. Waltons lecture, he explained how the story of
Adam and Eve, along with the rest of the information on human origins
in Genesis, is archetypal. This means that God chose Adam and Eve as
representatives of humanity, rather than creating them to be the sole
humans on the planet. The original readers of the Bible would have
interpreted it this way also. Dr. Walton wrote in his manuscript, We
should not be surprised to find that in the ancient Near Eastern
creation accounts, whenever ingredients are mentioned they offer
archetypal insight into the identity of humanity. (Walton, p. 7)
Because Adam and Eve are our representatives, the duties
(stewardship, vocation, etc.) that God conferred on them are passed on
to us by nature of our humanity. Their sin is also passed on to us, as
Haarsma and Haarsma write on page 258, The spiritual state of sin
could have been applied to the rest of humanity because Adam and
Eve acted as their representatives.
The third view on Adam and Eve refers to them as ancient
ancestors. Those who hold to this view believe that God genetically
modified two ancient hominids into Adam and Eve, and these two
became the parents of the entire human race. While this view allows
for the evidence we see in the fossil record, it does not give enough
time for genetic diversity to develop. (Haarsma, 260) That is why some
people hold to the group of ancient ancestors view, which says that
Adam and Eve were symbolic of a larger group that fell into sin. This
would not only explain the genetic diversity, but also allow for the
population bottleneck occurred several thousand years ago. This view
reminds of Dr. Folchs lecture on the anthropology of human origins.
Based on her description, it would make sense for Adam and Eve to be
two members of the group of Homo sapiens sapiens that emerged out
of South Africa to replace the Neanderthals.
The group of ancient representatives view says that one group
was chosen out of many hominids to be Gods representatives. Again,
Adam and Eve were just two members of many. This view satisfies
many scientific and theological questions, but is problematic for people
who think that Adam and Eve were the first and only representatives
chosen by God. The final view is known as the symbolic view
because it states that the illustration of Adam and Eve was merely
symbolic of a slow, evolutionary process where humans fell into
relationship with God. In this view, there is no one sinful fall or
representative choosing, but it all occurs at the speed of normal
evolution with no intervention from God.
Personally, I find the view of recent representatives most
satisfying both theologically and scientifically. This view allows us to
accept the historical presence of two individuals named Adam and Eve
while also understanding that the other hominids existing before them
were responsible for the fossils and genetic diversity we see today. We
can also see how God conferred His own image (the imago dei) onto
Adam and Eve. Unlike any other hominds or creatures, they had a
capacity for relationship with God, social capabilities, and commission
to be Gods representatives. (Haarsma, 238) Just as all humans after
Jesus death were forgiven by His perfect sacrifice, all humans after
Adam and Eve were given Gods image. Wheaton Colleges Statement
of Faith is firm on theological information that we can be certain of,
while leaving room for the scientific exploration of exact human
origins. It recognizes all the different aspects of original sin as well as
Gods image that stem from Adam and Eves representation of the
human race. I believe that the Bible is clear that Adam and Eve did
exist, and the statement of faith leaves room for us to decide which
one of Haarsma and Haarsmas views are most satisfying to our view
of human origins-both physical and spiritual.