For those interested in debates around the historicity of Adam and Eve, the BioLogos Forum has an interesting blog piece reflecting on a recent National Public Radio (NPR) broadcast entitled “Evangelicals Question The Existence of Adam and Eve”. The radio piece looked at the growing number of conservative evangelical scholars who question whether a real, historical, Adam and Eve ever existed. Such scholars point to recent mapping of the human genome which suggests the smallest human population we can get back to is 10,000, which is slightly more than Adam and Eve. Such scholars seek to maintain their biblical faith while questioning the existence of Adam and Eve. The BioLogos piece offers a good nuancing of the NPR broadcast.
The NPR story, as much as we appreciate it, implies that, according to science, there are only two options for Christians—dismiss the conclusions of science, or dismiss the notion of a historical couple named Adam and Eve.
BioLogos goes on to offer other options for Christians who take seriously the authority of Scripture as well as the gift of science. No matter where you land on this debate, both the NPR broadcast and the BioLogos piece are worth checking out.
