The argument has been made on many occasions that death and suffering are a result of Adam's sin.In fact, the BIble is so clear on this "fact" that it is one of the few things on which nearly every christian denomination will agree.
"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— Romans 5:12
However, I would like to present the case that God had, in fact, not told Adam this very thing, and consequently, Adam was unaware of what really would take place upon eating the fruit.Notice this verse:
"But from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die." Gen.2:17
I highlighted the word "YOU" because this is absolutely critical.Why ? Because it can be argued that Adam had only himself in mind when partaking of the fruit as NO MENTION is made of FUTURE GENERATIONS being affected by this mandate.Adam could rightly reason: "It is my life and will take the risk."
Adam had NO reason to believe that anyone else besides those currently living, that is, he and his wife, would be affected by something called "sin". He was told he would "die" in the day he ate of it.He would once again become dust.End of story.God did NOT say:
"In the day you eat of it you will become imperfect and this "imperfection" will be passed to all of your children and you will condemn ALL of mankind to death ! "
No, God did NOT say that at all.Would you not agree that God had left out VERY critical information ? Information which very well could have changed the course of Adam's actions had he known that he would condemn an entire species to suffering and death.In fact, SUFFERING was NOT mentioned at all, only death was mentioned.
Another point which I think is important is that God issued no warning to Adam and Eve regarding the fact that someone might try to deceive them ! Would a loving parent not make every effort to prepare their children for any dangers which might be present or could potentially occur ? Though Adam and Eve are said to be perfect, this does not mean that they weren't INEXPERIENCED.Eve was said to have been thoroughly deceived.Thus indicating that their inexperience was obvious.After all, why would one believe a talking snake !?!
In the Bible God is said to have presented many warnings, this was one purpose of Prophets.It was hoped that by the proclamation of these warnings that "some could be saved".This forms the basis for the preaching of JW's today, as well as many other "evangelical' groups.Even early on in creation when Cain was angry God said to him:
"Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." Gen.4:6-7
So apparently it is not out of God's nature to issue a warning.However, when the stakes were much higher, God gave absolutely no warning to Adam or Eve regarding the TRUE effects of their actions upon the ENTIRE human race and the animal kingdom.If Adam and Eve were "tricked", the evidence is clear that the one who really tricked them and acted deceptively was, in fact, God.
I am not trying to be pointlessly controversial by bringing this up but just wanted to express something that I have been thinking about for quite some time by using the Bible's own account of how these events occurred.