If Orthodox Catholics believe that Adam and Eve had two sons, Cane and Abel,....

[Vagabond]

And they believe in Creation, how do they explain the human race?

I've always been too embarrassed to ask anyone else.

Mumsnetters..... please explain.

Adam's rib......? Seems a poor excuse, frankly.

[manicbmc]

Didn't god create wives for them or something? Long time since I read the bible.

[RueDeWakening]

I asked a vicar once, he said something along the lines of Adam and Eve being part of one tribe, but that there were other tribes around at the same time, only they didn't believe in god.

It was all a bit woolly though, to be honest :o

[TiggyD]

Don't ask religious people for facts or reasons or evidence. They can't cope with it.

[Moominsarescary]

I thought after eve was made out of Adams rib, they lived in paradise until being kicked out and having to slum it down here with the rest of us.

[Moominsarescary]

Or did I make that up?

[CrispyCod]

Facts/theories get diluted and misunderstood/misinterpreted over time. I don't think anyone could answer your question honestly.

[NarkedPuffin]

I've never met a Catholic creationist. Catholics don't go in for a literal interpretation of the bible.

[manicbmc]

There's always google?

[wigglesrock]

I'm a Catholic (am not sure what an Orthodox one is) and we believe in Evolution. Adam and Eve etc were used almost like a metaphor. I'm not explaining it very well, sorry. A bit like the parting of the red sea, it wasn't actually the parting of the red sea, it was a geological event that was used to explain a story.

[wigglesrock]

I meant what NarkedPuffin said , much clearer

[fridakahlo]

I thought it was something to do with Adams first wife Lillith, who was deemed unsuitable as she refused to lie under him. She also (from memory) was not very human in appereance.
So anyway, she was chucked out of paradise and spent a lot of time shagging demons and producing babies in their hundreds, how they came out human is beyond me.

[QueenEdith]

Part of Eve's punishment was to bring forth more children via great travail, that showed she did go on to have more. None were named, so I'd always assumed that could include both sexes. And as early Biblical figures were reported to live fir hundreds of years, there was time to have plenty.

[TheFallenMadonna]

I think Adam and Eve had a lot of children, not only Cain and Abel, and they, well, procreated.

At least I don't think that. I think those who believe that sort of thing believe that, if that makes sense.

And I think it's probably more Bible-based Christians rather then Catholics that you need to answer questions of this type.

[CrispyCod]

Agree with wigglesrock. - the bible is full of parables.

[Moominsarescary]

Ah wiggle that makes sense. Will have to tell ds2 that.

He was asking about evolution and god the other day. How can it be both, he kept saying.

[Vagabond]

I think about religion a lot. It confuses me. I was really good friends with a Muslim lady (so I thought) until my daughter went for a sleepover and came back with wet knickers. Apparently it is 'haram' (forbidden) according to her, that girls take a bath without their knickers on. Alarming.

Religion is strange. I wish I understood it better.

[PomBearWithAnOFRS]

One of them went to the "Land of Nod" to find a wife iirc. It might have been both of them, or Enoch (Adam anbd Eve's third son, sent by the Lord to comfort Even after the death of Abel, again iirc).
It's basically, even though God created the world and Adam and Eve and everything else, the Land of Nod was there for them/him to go to to find wives/a wife.

[WorraLiberty]

Oh do me a favour

So she sent her home wearing a pair of wet knickers?

[misslinnet]

I'm a Catholic and was brought up to believe in Evolution. Also that a lot of the early Bible stuff is not meant to be interpreted literally.

I think you may be getting Catholic mixed up with Creationists. They tend to be evangelical Christians.

And if you look at the beginning of Genesis after the Cain & Abel bit, there's a whole lot of x begat y begat z for several pages. They must have ignored a lot of women being born, or none of that begatting would have been going on.

[CrispyCod]

I know an Evangelical Christian and there is no discussing Evolution with him. He believes what he believes and will not allow you to question, debate or say anything against it. To me it's the other end of the spectrum as far as extremism in religion goes.

[Abra1d]

Another Catholic who does not take Genesis literally.

[TheUnMember]

There are two different accounts of creation in the bible. I'm a Catholic and believe the one given first, the evolution one.

[Vagabond]

Worra, it's not about the wet knickers. It's about teaching young girls that their body is somehow something to be ashamed of. Specifically, their vaginas. Why would any girl have to wear her knickers in the bath in her own home?

[TheUnMember]

Actually, I take that back. I was brought up a Catholic, I now go to a pentecostal church. Still believe in evolution though, it's what it says in the bible.

[WorraLiberty]

Well firstly I have never heard of a Muslim child or woman wearing knickers in the bath and secondly, I've never known a Muslim or any other religious person for that matter to force something like that upon a child who does not share their religion.

At the very least I'm sure they wouldn't make her have a bath at all or they'd at least dry the knickers overnight!