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On a daily basis, info@biologos.org receives a plethora of questions from people all over the world. We try our best to answer as many emails as possible. Check out this example of a question we recently received. You may have had a similar question yourself.

Question:
What does BioLogos believe about human origins and Adam and Eve?

Answer:
Dear BioLogos Inquirer,

Thanks for writing! The subject of human origins is very important indeed. BioLogos holds that God created humans through a gradual process. God created humans in biological continuity with all life on earth, but also as spiritual beings. God established a unique relationship with humanity by endowing us with his image and calling us to an elevated position within the created order. (You can read our statement of beliefs here.)

BioLogos does not, however, take a firm stance on whether or not Adam and Eve were historical figures. Many people mistakenly believe that if one accepts an evolutionary creation perspective, then one has to throw out the historicity of Adam and Eve. Not so! Some who hold the evolutionary creation view feel strongly that they were historical, while others do not.

Here are a few helpful articles and blogs on the subject:

• This blog by BioLogos President Darrel Falk and BioLogos Program Director Kathryn Applegate responds to an August 2011 NPR story on Adam and Eve. It’s a good summary of our view with many links to other pieces on the topic.
• This blog by Pastor Daniel Harrell gently argues for a historical Adam within an evolutionary context. Other related stories are linked in the intro.
• This paper by Faraday Institute Director Denis Alexander outlines two models for thinking about how a historical first couple might fit in with the evolutionary history of humankind.
• This FAQ on our website covers a couple of allegorical and historical (but nonliteral) ways of thinking about Adam and Eve.
• This blog by Darrel Falk and BioLogos Senior Fellow Dennis Venema explains why geneticists conclude that the human population could never have been as small as two individuals.
• This paper by Dennis Venema, which first appeared in the American Scientific Association’s journal Perspectives in Science and Christian Faith, goes into more detail on the last point and describes the genetic evidence for human-ape common ancestry.

We hope this is helpful. Thanks for being a part of the conversation at BioLogos!

Blessings,
The BioLogos Team