This theological construction of the narrative in Genesis assumes the historical authenticity of the account and finds corroborative evidence in the many stories current among various races positing at the beginning of human history a similar state of blissful perfection which, through the misdeeds of man, came irretrievably to an end, giving way to conditions the reverse of those hitherto prevailing.
And in their fall were involved all of their descendants, none of whom in consequence was exempt from the corruption of death and from sin. Happiness, innocence, and deathlessness were forever forfeited. ( See Adam Eden Eve.) Expelled from the garden under the curse which their disobedience brought upon them, Adam and Eve were doomed to a life of labor and pain which was the prelude to death. Man could have continued in this blissful condition and would never have tasted either the bitterness of guilt or that of death had he not disobeyed the divine command, according to which he was not to partake of the fruit of the tree of life, under penalty of immediate death. In a state of innocence, he was not aware of his nudity, since, not having sinned, he was without the consciousness of sin and the sense of shame had not yet been aroused in him. Placed by God in the Garden of Eden, he found his wantsprovided for. According to this doctrine, man (and woman) was first created perfect and without sin. leading up to the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Eden are held to support the doctrine of the fall of man and to be the historical warrant for its assumption. A change from the beatific condition, due to the alleged original depravity of the human race.
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