Monogenism Revisited: New Perspectives on a Classical Controversy
Recent attempts to reconcile the doctrine of original sin with evolutionary theory have sought scientific validation for the historicity of Adam and Eve, particularly through arguments for a single ancestral pair. This paper critically examines such efforts, arguing that they constitute a disguised...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Religions |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/6/694 |
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| Summary: | Recent attempts to reconcile the doctrine of original sin with evolutionary theory have sought scientific validation for the historicity of Adam and Eve, particularly through arguments for a single ancestral pair. This paper critically examines such efforts, arguing that they constitute a disguised form of creation science, selectively engaging with evolution to preserve classical Christian anthropology. Through biblical exegesis, theological hermeneutics, and biological research, this study demonstrates that these approaches rest on uncertain scientific and theological premises. Genesis 1–11 is sapiential rather than historical, and genetic evidence biological evidence points to population-oriented emergence of our species. Theological attempts to preserve a literal Adam and Eve rest on an outdated view of revelation as mere information transfer, leading to conceptual confusion and misinterpretation. The pursuit of a historical Adam and Eve as a scientific reality ultimately distorts both theology and science, reducing theology to ideology and fundamentalism while undermining its engagement with mystery and transcendence. |
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| ISSN: | 2077-1444 |