Do you think the story of Adam and Eve is literally true or is allegorical? Does it matter?

I think it's allegorical, and hard to swallow theory, and I am not sure that the lessons it teaches are relevant now-days. Personally I don't think that they (adam and Eve) were exactly real and if they were, their story got passed down over time to a time when people actually knew how to write and by then, I am sure the story had been groselly distorted and embellished. To me the Divine creation of earth and their expulsion from eden does nothing more than to make God a pretty arrogant entity that demans being worshiped and feared. It just seems so unike Him.

The worst part is that, truthfully, I think that story is nothing more than fabrication on part of humans and one of the reasons why God no longer manifest himself on earth.

As for Adam and Even being the first humans, well, can someone explain to me why aren't we all plagued with genetic defects like say when siblings or cousins have kids. It just doesn't make sense that 6 billion people come from just 2 people, whom I would presume would have been jewish and somewheat middle eastern looking.

Someone is overlooking the fact that there are white, black, yellow, red, and brown people in the world and that took thousands of years of natural selection and genetic mutation for that to happen. We also know that people roamed the earth over 10000 years ago, so 28 generations before Jesus, with a life expectancy of 40 would not account to that far back.

I am not saying that there is no God, I am saying however that we are being fooled into thinking that he will punish us if we don't act a certain way. Why would he create imagination, self determination and gives us the will to thrive if he didn't like the outcome? Wouldn't he have been able to know this in advance and create something he could control at will instead of by meaking us fearful of him? I think HE deserves more credit thant what churches and the bible itself are giving him.

You have to ask yourself, where in the lineage of Jesus does it start becoming a lie? After Abraham? After Noah perhaps? Both Paul and Jude speak of Adam as a real person and a real event. It may seem like so many fairy tales, but really, stranger things have happened. I'm sure if I went back in time and explained to them what I saw in a movie, they would think I was looney tunes.

We have no idea what the Garden was like, only hints. It did not seem odd to Eve that the serpent was talking to her. And we also know that cloning is possible, how much more from the marow from Adam's rib to create Eve?

It's almost as if God WANTED to make it unbelievable, just to see who would believe. Almost as if God wiped out the dinosaur, just to provide a door for scientific doubt. I do not know, but when you start venturing into the "allegorical" when it is clearly NOT allegorical, you will find yourself on a slippery slope.

Good point, lets follow the logic still further, shall we? If Jesus DIDN'T kill himself for Original Sin, (which as you've pointed out would be ridiculous since Adam/Eve was allegorical), this leads us to one of the following conclusions: 1. Jesus believed that Adam & Eve were real, not allegorical, and that therefore there was an Original Sin, even though there wasn't. or 2. Jesus didn't kill himself at all, and was instead executed for encouraging rebellion against the Roman State. His followers then SAID he had died for Original Sin because they were trying to make a religion and they needed a compelling argument for martyrdom in order to gain followers more quickly.

I've been thinking about this story too. Yes, the story is very true, and it's important because they are our first parents. However, you're also right that we can learn a lot from them.

I've learned many things from Adam and Eve, but here are a few that stand out:

When you make mistakes, God can make it turn out for good.

It's important to know the difference between good and evil.

The devil doesn't lie all the time; much of what he says is truth. The secret is to determine the lies.

It is real on the fact that Jesus was real and he traced back His genealogy from the seed of Adam in 28 generations. 14 generations before King David and 14 generations after King David. And God never lies. If Jesus is real so are they. It is important to consider that Adam and Eve were the first from mankind because the Bible actually states that they bore sons and multiplied... until the Saviour of Mankind was born. (who is Jesus)

It's not a tale:)

Their expulsion from Eden was because of disobedience or sin. A series of offenses to God brings curses in return.

God cursed the ground and then the woman in giving birth, and also the serpent for tempting the woman.

But God also promised a Saviour to save mankind from the curse of death.

Who is Christ the Lord. The first who overcame death. And is now still alive residing in heaven.

As told in the Bible, it's allegory but based upon fact.

Before the creation of man, angels were brought to the earth under the direction of God. At that time, they were able to take physical forms. They were warned not to cohabit (eat the forbidden fruit) with the pre-human inhabitants (Adam people), or they would not be able to return to their homes (Garden of Eden) in the higher heavens.

Of course, God knew that some would disobey, and mankind was the result. The angels gave up their physical forms but had to remain upon the earth for six generations to raise up their mortal kin through inspiration as guardian angels.

I believe that it actually happened, even though they're story has had to endure thousands of years of telling. That being said it wouldn't wreck my faith to find out that it was just a fable.

I definitely believe that it is true.