Tree of Knowledge

In the Book of Genesis, known to some as literal & to others as mythological symbolism the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was a tree in the middle of the Garden of Eden from which God directly forbade Adam (Eve having not yet been created) to eat. A serpent later tempted Eve, who was aware of the prohibition, to eat the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. Adam also ate, and they became aware of their nakedness.

The serpent said to the woman, “You will not die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons.

Nakedness and embarrassment were the first consequences of the decision to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Adam and Eve become aware of themselves in a way that was novel to them. But they did not immediately die; they became conscious of their mortality, and they became conscious of their creatureliness.

The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil is connected to the doctrine of original sin. Augustine of Hippo believed that humanity inherited sin itself and the guilt for Adam and Eve's sin.

The sin of Adam and Eve was disobeying God and doing what they wanted...instead of listening to God. They listened to Satan and their own reasoning, thinking God was keeping something wonderful from them.

"Is original sin related to Adam and Eve having sex? Did God throw them out because they had sex?"



Many say yes, citing that in the Genesis account, the forbidden fruit (often referred to and pictured as an apple) in the Garden of Eden was a symbol of sexual relations, so when Adam and Eve sinned by eating the fruit, then the "sin" must have been a sexual one. Whether or not you are religious, many wonder if the concept of sex was the original sin has support from the Bible. To make an informed decision for yourself, this is a brief overview from the Genesis account of Adam and Eve, as well as secular and quotes from various religious sources.