Cain and Able's wives?

[BBWCHATT]

If Adam & Eve were the first 2 people - and they only had 2 sons - Cain & Able (that's 4 people on the planet) - where did the wives come from that Cain & Able married? This is a serious question - one that I have always wanted to know the answer to.

[morbidstorm]

My grandmother, God rest her soul, once told me with much fondness that one of my uncles brought up this argument during a lesson at a catholic school. He used it to demonstrate his opnion that the story was nonsensical, and was kicked out of his lesson for it and my Grandparents had to attend the school!!

When my Grandfather asked why my uncle was wrong, the nun headteacher was unable to answer!!!

I'm afraid I don't know the answer, but I would suggest you don't ask a nun!!

[Llamatron]

The unwritten and most important rule of any religion:

DO NOT QUESTION

[chazza]

Adam and Eve and therefore their sons too, were symbolic and did not actually exist.

How do you think the scientifically proven theory that we are evolved from apes works if Adam and Eve existed?

[Llamatron]

Yes but the point is that the Bible and it's followers say that Adam and Eve did exist and that we are all descendants of them.

[pixie_woo]

Good q, this has got me curious. Where's Clanad? She(?) always seems to be able to answer these q's with eloquence and detail.

[commonsense]

Not all bible followers believe in the stories as literal. If you look at the Bible as a Gnostic, you may start to understand it more. You can only understand what your intelligence will allow you to. Briefly read up on Paganism and Gnosticism and you will understand more, such as 'John' ascending to the third heaven, it is often analagies or spiritually moral messages.

[Llamatron]

'You can only understand what your intelligence will allow you to.'

I feel rather insulted.

[BBWCHATT]

Llamatron - I decided to ignore the crack about my intelligence - those kind of things are USUALLY, but not always, said to make someone feel superior to the audience they are addressing. Aside from the fact that I have lived a long time, my IQ has been tested and is genius level, so it didn't work with me anyway!!! :)

[patc7641]

Considering the state of the world at the current time, because of Religion, I feel its not a serious question. Moreserious woulb one where we all agreed that Religion is the root of all evil and the world would be a better place without it. And dont reply calling me naive or otherwise, that simply confirms ignorance and lack of intelligence.

[BBWCHATT]

Pat - you are certainly entitled to your opinion - but you are wrong about my question - I am very serious about wanting to find the answer. Those of us who are also entitled to disagree with your opinion will say a silent prayer for you - in your lofty position of superiority.

[commonsense]

I apologise for the way I wrote that, I was quoting an idea of the Gnostics and could not remember the exact wording, obviously it wasn't meant to come across like that. Gnostics believed that people were split into three groups, those that read the Bible and understand it on a literal level, those that understand it on a literal/spiritual level and those that 'are intelligent enough' to fully comprehend and ascend to the seven heavens. Each group would be 'initiated' into what was known as the Mysteries, according to their level of understanding.

[BBWCHATT]

Commonsense thank you for your apology - it takes a big man/woman to do that - I am also glad to know that you don't consider those of us who do believe to be unintelligent - I don't consider those who don't believe unintelligent - the great thing about the countries we live in is that we can have different opinions and still voice them without fear of reprisal. There is room for all of us in this big old world!

[BBWCHATT]

Morbidstorm - thank you - I LOVED your story!!! I laugh about it everytime I look at this question again!!!

[dawkins]

BBWCHATT

Given your "genius" level of intelligence you would be aware that Cain would have had to marry one of his sisters. Of course, because life was a bit easier in those days, Adam and Eve were able to live for a very long time and beget a large number of children who could quickly populate the world by begetting further children with each other, and so it was written and we saw that it was good.

[dawkins]

And, if people hadn't been so darn prone to sin you could still marry your sister.

[Octavius]

I think it is wonderful that people of all persuasions question the Bible and hence show an active interest in theological studies.

Mankind = Adam & Eve
Garden of Eden = The lush tropical rainforest that dominated much of the world throughout the Paleocene Epoch
Dinosaurs = yes they are in the Bible but the writers didn't know they were called dinosaurs until the Victorians invented the word in the 19thC. They used words like behemoth and Leviathan.

One suggests that it was not the actual origin of man that was narrated in Genesis, but rather the passage from the Palaeolithic era to the Neolithic era. The Garden of Eden is a symbol of an era in which man was part of nature and lived on the fruits of the earth and animals around him. Then man chose to eat from the tree of knowledge � i.e. evolved into a conscious being. This in turn led to man�s acknowledgment of the possibilities of evil and resulted in the loss of mans primeval innocence.

[dawkins]

So what you are basically saying Octavius is the bible should not be taken literally?

[Octavius]

One could surmise that the interpretation I have given demonstrates the ability of freedom of thought, fanciful perhaps. But another could propose that seeing things one-dimensionally as in the original question, demonstrates a lack of imagination, an inability to read and interpret hitoric texts and perhaps simple mindedness? I am not saying I am right, just offering a potential explanation to the original Q.

In Proverbs, we are told to read and understand the Bible in a plain or straightforward manner. This is usually what people mean when they say �literal interpretation of the Bible� (this phrase is common among those not well-versed in hermeneutics).

Reading the Bible �plainly� means understanding that literal history is literal history, metaphors are metaphors, poetry is poetry, etc. The Bible is written in many different literary styles and should be read accordingly. This is why we understand that Genesis records actual historical events. It was written as historical narrative.

[BBWCHATT]

Pompous: Ostentatious; pretentious; boastful.