> I didn't assume anything about your views on evolution. Mine
> are that it's happened, and I think the question of original sin needs
> to be thought through carefully because of that.
In order to answer your question, one must have a better understanding of
what exactly your views on evolution are! There are many types of views
amongst Christians. I assume you mean the typical idea of evolution as
we see defined in secular society???
Personally, i think that you will never be able to answer the question
you set out to answer because this may be an area God has been
delibrately ambiguous on. If you think of creation and genesis in light
of what Sailhamer speaks, all that is explained in Genesis is a
historically true story, but its purpose was to be the introduction to
the story about the promised land and how God is the one who decides who
can inhabit it. In this scenario, adam and eve leave the Garden after
being expelled because of disobediance of Him. God gives it to the
Cannanites as well, but takes it away and gives it back to His people
(the Jews) when they (the Cannanites) disibey Him. You also see God
promise them the land and peace as long as they follow Him. When they do
not, He removes them from the land (i.e. Babylonian exile) until they
repent of their sins. THis is a common theme seen throughout the OT and
particularly the Pentetauch. Based on this hypothesis I would say that
Genesis is historically true, and its purpose and validity must be
examined through the fact that it was meant to be read in series with the
rest of the Pentetauch.
Sailhamer makes a very strong argument for the historicity of Genesis, in
the Appendix to his book. It will give you a lot to thinkn about and may
answer your questions.
John