Adam and Eve

I have learnt throughout my life that there is no conflict between religion and science. In fact, I have been taught that science when properly applied and interpreted is simply another facet of faith, and I sincerely believe this.

But then I hear many "theologists" and "religious individuals" talking about Adam and Eve and how Evolution couldn't have happened. On the other side of the debate stand individuals such as Bill Nye (The Science Guy), and a relatively massive pile of information... so there has to be a conflict right? Only one can prevail!!!

Not quite...

In Islam, our holy book, the Qur'an talks about Hazrat Adam (AS) and Bibi Hawa (Eve - AS), however it also mentions that God speaks to Mankind in parables and allegories, for God is the Knower of all things... So, here is my completely flawed, terribly biased attempt at understanding how, maybe, just maybe there is a way to believe in both a scientific principle as central as Evolution, and believe in the way the Holy books speak of it.

Of course, this requires a disclaimer - there is really no proof of anything I will write, if it offends you, I apologize. My perspective on this may (and likely will) change over the days, months and years, and when I am an older person, this may not hold true to me anymore. Additionally, I realize there are many things written that may contradict this, but it is simply a different way of looking at an issue, I personally believe that you cannot "sandbox" a concept as powerful and vast as Religion within something as limited as Science, so really science can only be one lens through which a person can view religion, but not the only one - however, it is the one that we see most often at odds with belief, so this is my attempt to tackle this.

Science tells us that mankind evolved from a common ancestor with apes and chimpanzees. At one point in time, there was a differentiation that occurred... almost an "AHA" moment, where suddenly a species had changed enough from that common ancestor that it could be called what we know today as "mankind." At one point in time, perhaps there was a single individual, who became cognizant, who became self aware. For the first time in our history there was a part of creation capable of naming itself... Adam.

So far, it could be plausible, God created mankind and the world, and man was created from a clot and formed essentially of base materials (clay of course could also be a metaphor referring to the ability to mould the intellect).

The next part of the narrative where God commands Adam and Eve not to partake of the forbidden fruit and they are tricked into it through the work of the Devil can also be interpreted in many ways. I have always considered that the greatest gift and the greatest curse we have been given has been our intellect. Our sense of awareness allows us to name things, allows us to communicate, pray and love. However, it can also lead to poor decisions, willfulness, anger, hatred, violence, catastrophic power and pride. For this reason, I have often chosen to interpret the devil as a metaphor for the intellect or, more specifically, the nafs al-amarra or the negative aspects of the intellect. Perhaps the garden of paradise that Adam and Eve lived in was a metaphorical garden within the mind. A sheltered place where their innocence as the first cognizant human beings could be expressed. Perhaps when Adam and Eve began to first ponder the nature and existence of God (the forbidden fruit that completely innocent beings cannot partake of), God chose to let them question. God allowed Adam and Eve to be free of the Garden of Paradise, a Garden that was a beautiful place, however, also a prison for their intellects. A place where they would be eternally happy, yet never truly living to their full potential.

Maybe, maybe not... but it's one possible way to think about creation. I personally refuse to believe that Science and Religion disagree completely on things as important as the creation of mankind. Maybe it's a poor compromise, but I feel it's a step in the right direction towards truly understanding religion and it's child, science.