Re: [asa] Adam and the Fall

Re: Denis's claim that "Adam never existed", and his fairly blunt way of
asserting this, I'm wondering if I (and others) have misunderstood him.
When I first heard this my reaction was "How on earth can you make this
claim with 100% certainty?".

A little illustration from my pastor (maybe not original to him) between a
man and his friend.

Friend #1: "I don't believe in God"

Friend #2: "Oh, what God is that?"

Friend #1: "You know, that God you Christians always talk about, the one who
is watching over your shoulder waiting for you to do something wrong so he
can condemn you."

Friend #2: "Oh that God. I don't believe in that one either. But let me
tell you about the God who I trust with my life".

I think the "Adam" Denis may be claiming "that never existed" is the Adam
who, according to tradition, lived around 6000 years ago and is, along with
Eve, the sole progenitor of all humanity. And for that, I'd agree both with
the assertion and the necessity of asserting it rather firmly.

Now, if "Adam" is defined as the first man with whom God had a covenantal
relationship, I would not say with certainty that "this Adam never
existed". On the other hand, I would not say with certainty that he did
either. To be honest, I'm leaning rather heavily towards the former, but I
completely understand & respect those who, as pointed out by David, assert
the latter for theological reasons.

-- 
Steve Martin (CSCA)
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