According to author Linda Schearing in Enticing Eden: How Western Culture Uses, Confuses, (and Sometimes Abuses) Adam and Eve, Genesis 1-3 is the most widely distorted passage in the Bible. It is frequently used as a rationale for a wide variety of activities, from male dominance to celibacy to finding the perfect partner. Due to this common usage, Adam and Eve have become central figures in American contemporary life, used as symbols in politics, religion, and family life. They are utilized to exemplify different opinions and values and are subject to wide interpretations.
In the first chapter titled “Someday My Prince Will Come”, Shearing discusses how Adam and Eve have been used to portray a love story and a method for finding a soul mate. Christian evangelists have used the Eden narrative to describe God as the ultimate matchmaker, creating Adam and Eve precisely for one another. This concept has even been used to pitch Christian-centered relationship guides and matchmaking services. By using the Eden story as the ultimate romance, it has become an object of profit (Schearing, 2012).
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The chapter “The One Shall Be Called Soul Mate (Or Will She)” discusses the role Adam and Eve have taken in the world of online dating, as stated in: “The bad thing about using Adam and Eve as role models for romance is that they are an impossible act to follow. Locating one’s soul mate in a world populated by billions, however, is more complicated” (Shearing, 2012,
p. 39). Christians who use Adam and Eve as the paragons of romance, but reject the sinfulness they see in contemporary dating, instead rely on Christian-focused online dating sites and matchmaking services. Unfortunately, many of these sites are run by non-Christians and profiteers looking to take advantage of hopeful Christians (Schearing 2012).
In the third chapter, “Adam as the Alpha Male”, the author explains how Genesis 1-3 is used in some circles as justification for the dominant role of men and for the need to physically discipline their wives. Proponents of Christian domestic discipline (CDD) use this section to say that God put men ahead of women and are in charge of guiding and punishing them for transgressions. This has led to a great deal of conflict in the Christian community, with the more progressive Christians, particularly those focused on women’s issues, feeling this is being taken out of context (Schearing 2012).
Schearling also discusses the use of Adam and Eve in popular culture, particularly advertising, in “And You Thought the Fruit Was Tempting”. Because the concepts of the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve, the forbidden fruit, and the serpent are considered cultural artifacts, they are frequently used to convey different meanings. Advertising is one industry that has embraced the Eden narrative for its own use, using the symbols of the Genesis story to convince buyers to purchase certain products. The story is often twisted or modified for the advertisers’ goals, such as having Eve outsmart the serpent or have Adam tell Eve “no”. By altering a well-known story like the Eden narrative, advertisers can reach consumers on a very personal level (Schearing 2012).
Schearing brings up several key issues, namely how Bible stories and figures are misused for personal gain and profit. This is not limited to the Adam and Eve story, but encompasses many parables and stories. This does make me question when Bible stories are used in other ways, such as commercials, books, or in television shows. The story is often distorted or changed to fit a certain viewpoint and waters down the original message.
The story of Adam and Eve has been used to support a wide range of practices, from female submission to online dating. It has been distorted beyond its original meaning to fit many agendas. Due to its common use, the Adam and Eve story has lost its impact and has been abused for commercial use.
- Schearing, Linda. (2012). Enticed by Eden: How western culture uses, confuses, (and sometimes abuses) Adam and Eve. Waco, TX: Baylor University Press.
