<<At first glance, this looks too simple a solution. At second glance, it
raises all sorts of questions, such as
* how did sin enter into the world?
* how did Mankind (?) "morally degenerate?"
* how do we read the story of the eating of the forbidden fruit?
* why were Adam and Eve driven out of the Garden of Eden and what
does it signify?
* how do we interpret the curse of "thorns and thistles" and "pain
in childbirth?"
etc., etc.
>>
I do not claim special expertise to answer your questions. But let me try.
I'll take your first two questions:
* how did sin enter into the world?
* how did Mankind (?) "morally degenerate?"
The Bible doesn't give an answer to your questions. It merely hints that the
society into which Cain was banished from the Garden was a potentially
murderous society. As I wrote in a different post, the sin and immorality of
Pre-Adamic man were sins against each other. This brings me to your next
questions.
* how do we read the story of the eating of the forbidden fruit?
* why were Adam and Eve driven out of the Garden of Eden and what
does it signify?
* how do we interpret the curse of "thorns and thistles" and "pain
in childbirth?"
Since Adam had a covenantal relationhsip with God his sin was against God. He
disobeyed God and disrupted the covenantal relationship. The Bible says Adam
and Eve were driven out of the Garden because they might eat of the Tree of
Life in the Garden and live in their sinful state forever. Being driven out
of the Garden deprived them of all the blessings of living in Garden and
tending it in direct fellowship with God, consigning them and all humanity to
the curse of "thorns and thistles" and "pain in childbirth.
Bob