Adam and Eve

Were Adam and Eve just a simbolic couple or were they real people?

It is rather like the chicken and the egg dilema.

According to the bible they were both created, first the man and then the woman. Woman was the last thing created. (It does not mean she is inferior!)
They were told to go forth and multiply. To create more perfect beings as themselves. Unfortunately the woman was missled by the serpent. God had instructed both of them not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. He said that they could eat all the other fruits but not from the Tree of Knowledge.

This is interesting, many people say that it was an apple tree, and more oftern than not Eve is seen eating an apple in most paintings. Weird.

They were completely innocent. They didn't even know they were naked...until they ate from the tree of knowledge. Then they became 'as a god, knowing good and evil'

God punished them for this grave error. Man was to work hard to produce food and woman to suffer pains in childbirth.

In actual fact man continues to suffer, because he sought knowledge were he was told not to seek it. God would have instructed Adam and Eve, but they decided to go and 'find out for themselves'. This way is often the hard way. Learning by our mistakes.

No wonder the world is in the state it is.

Immediately after they ate from the tree of knowledge God decided to protect the Tree of Life. A tree that actually produced life, or rather, eternal life.

That was very astute of him, imagine this world with immortal men. I shudder to think.