Expert: Edward Bode - 10/20/2007

Question
QUESTION: Dear sir,
do you believe that Adam is a symbolic character or a factual character ?Many christian churches belive HE is a symbolic character and the existence of Adam is also challenged by scientific evidence of MAN getting evolved from monkeys .throw some light

ANSWER: The real existence of the/a first man [Adam] is based on the revelation of God in scripture.  See paragraphs 402-404, 415-419 of The Catechism of the Catholic Church. Available on line at: usccb.org/catechism/text/index.htm
Since original sin is a fact, the first man is a fact.
Also, philosophy supports the idea that the first man [with a rational soul]needs a special act of God to infuse a rational [spiritual]soul.  While there is some evidence of the evolution of the human body, there is no evidence of the evolution of the human soul.
I know of no scientific evidence that claims that man evolved from monkeys.  However, there is some incomplete evolutionary evidence that the human body did evolve from primates.  The scientific picture is far from clear and definitive.
I hope these thoughts help.  If you would like further from me, please feel free to write again.
Best wishes, Danish.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: dear sir ,
i am not satisfied with your answer , i am aware of those verses which talks about the creation of 1st MAN i.e,ADAM but it is so contradictory to the scientific evolution of MAN ,what is the scientific evidence of ADAM ?n

Answer
Science has not proven a contradiction to the existence of a first man and a first woman. Possibly, "Lucy" is an argument for such a pair.
I am a theologian not a biological scientist.  If you would like to read about scientific aspects of evolution, I would recommend: Raymond Nogar, The Wisdom of Evolution [Garden City: Doubleday, 1963].  Although some paleontogical information has been found since the publication [e.g., the contemporariety of some species previously thought to be sequential], the book gives a good general perspective on the theory of evolution.
I am sorry to have been less than succesful with my first repsonse.  Hopefully, Nogar may help with his insigts.  The book should be available on loan through a local library.
As always, I am available for further comment or direction.
Best wishes, Danish.