Symbolism of Adam and Eve In Christianity

Faith Mysticism

oi-Priya Devi

By Priya Devi

Tuesday, July 26, 2011, 14:46

Parables from different religions are pointers to truth. A deeper look into these stories will reveal the underlying essence of them. The symbolism of Adam and Eve exposes one to the core of the parable.

Symbolism of Adam and Eve

Adam-Means red earth, the Christian belief that God made Adam out of Red earth. He is the principle of dust. Male gender represents the physical body and is the personification of extroversion. Out of the male, Adam, Eve was created.

Eve-The term 'Eve' means the 'Heart'. Eve represents the female principle, the personification of a subtle and finer aspect when compared to Adam. Eve represents the 'mind' or the 'psyche'.
Christianity claims that Eve was created out of a rib, being a finer principle which, cannot be created directly from a gross form, the earth, as in Adam. According to the Christian belief, God asked Adam to name everything and when it came to 'Eve' he called her his heart. Hence the woman represents the inner aspect, however not the inner most.

Osho cites a beautiful example to make understand the concept of Adam and Eve. He says that one cannot eat mud directly, but can consume an apple which, has emerged out of mud. He simplifies that apple is a transformed form of the earth. The fruit is digestible but not the earth. Hence he points out that Eve is made of a finer synthesis.

Serpent-The serpent in the Adam and Eve story represents the thoughts. Thoughts are obstacles to the ultimate end, the peace within, the 'Kingdom of Heaven'. The serpentine thoughts was responsible for the big fall of Adam and Eve in the story. The serpent can gain access through the mind. It cannot influence the body directly. Any command is carried out first in the mind, and the body then follows suit. Hence through Eve, the serpent influenced Adam to eat the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge. If one can reflect, thoughts are like serpents, if not attentive, can drive one to the dumps. They wriggle like snakes and hide in holes when one is unconscious. On the other hand, when one is alert, they disappear.

The Common Misconception

There is a common misconception relating to the creation of Adam and Eve which prevails from time immemorial. It is erroneously believed that man is superior to woman, owing to the fact that God made Adam first. It is but the simple truth that Man was created first as he was closer to the grosser form of earth, which is why Adam was created first. Eve was created next because she ought to be more finer. Hence a deeper understanding of the symbolism of Adam and Eve dispels the question of superiority between genders.

Osho says that through Eve came the great adventure we call the world.

The symbolism of Adam and Eve is a powerful pointer on the path way to truth.