Good and Evil, Part I: The Garden of Eden

Adam and Eve. Our progenitors. The Garden of Eden. The birthplace of shame and forbidden fruit, satanic snakes and temptressy women. Possibly one of the most famous Biblical accounts of all time. Certainly the most popular. But, what does it actually mean? What are the inherent values we are supposed to glean and learn from this anecdote?

A literal interpretation of this account proves troublesome as the numbers just don’t add up. From a scientific perspective, it is well-documented and proven that human beings have existed on this planet in some evolutionary form or another long before Sir Adam or Madame Eve ever made an appearance. From a biological point of view, the populating of the planet would seem miraculous if actually initiated by the two—who did their sons marry? And why didn’t all the children end up with severe disabilities (as modern medicine has proven time and again that the odds are way against us as a race when we marry within the bloodline)? From a spiritual stance, couldn’t a God who punishes perpetual generations of His creation for the sins of the first two be considered somewhat childish, if not outright cruel? Clearly, this story is not intended literally.

An early Baha'i believer from a Christian background once asked Abdu’l-Baha, the son of the Founder of the Baha'i Faith, what the true significance of this allegory was. He tells her that the story of Adam and Eve has many different meanings, one of which he will expound for her.

He goes on to explain that Adam and Eve are one reality, Adam representing the physical self and Eve his soul. The tree of good and evil is this very world we exist in, a world full of dualities, as opposed to the spiritual worlds of God -- the heavenly realms, as some theological language would term them -- which are only good. The serpent represents attachment to this material world (maybe things like our looks, our cars, our status, our things) -- the true source of evil. The tree of life represents the Manifestation of God (such as Christ and Baha’u’llah). They are the tree of life because They are the source of all spiritual good, and the true nature of man is spiritual. Though he is both a body and a soul, the body is the vehicle for the soul to progress through life acquiring the spiritual attributes he will need in the spiritual worlds of God. So when we forget our true reality, when we become so caught up in the affairs of the flesh that we neglect our souls, we not only succumb to evil, we bind ourselves to it. (For the original text, as opposed to my summary, please refer to this earlier post.)

Evil is not a seperate entity that exists on its own, stalking us through dark hallways and creepy dreams, waiting to plant itself in our bodies so that only an exorcism can restore us to humanity. Evil is a turning away from good; a daily struggle. A part of our very selves. A lower, animalistic nature which drives us to focus only on our worldly needs and turn away from the tree of life. From the laws of the Manifestation of God which are, in fact, the source of all good, and the only true sustenance of the spiritual reality of man.

Paradise and hell exist within our own selves -- rest in the decisions we make every day. To be godly or to be satanic. To be obedient or to rebel. To be watchful or to neglect. To strive or to settle. To be worldly or to be heavenly.

**Original, unedited post available on Bahai Perspectives.**