Are Women A Majority Or Minority In Heaven?

[jello]

Salam alaykum,

I read one Hadeeth from Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (SAW) said that among the inmates of Heaven, the minority of them will be women.

However, in other places it was stated that each man in Jannah will have two human wives (not counting the Houris, only the human women wives). From this some scholars concluded that women are a majority in both Hell and Heaven.

If anyone has further information on how this Ahadeeth are to be interpreted and what are the views of the Ualma in this respect, please do inform us all.

[MazharN]

Would it not be proper to first determine the percentage of gender in the total human popoulation. If it is taken as 100 human beings, how many should be taken as women and how many as men. Reaching to some conclusion will then perhaps become easier.

[darultawhid]

Women will be more than men in both heaven and hell (http://www.darultawhid.com/en/forum/index.php?topic=1201.0)

Ibn Qayyim (ra) in his book Attributes of Heaven allocated a section for this topic and defends his idea in four pages. I will summarize his arguments below:

“Narrated in both Bukhari & Muslim:

RasulAllah (saw) said, "The first batch (of people) who will enter heaven will be (glittering) like a full moon; and those who will enter next will be (glittering) like the brightest star. Their hearts will be as if the heart of a single man, for they will have no enmity amongst themselves, and every one of them shall have two wives, each of whom will be so beautiful, pure and transparent that the marrow of the bones of their legs will be seen through the flesh. They will be glorifying Allah in the morning and evening, and will never fall ill, and they will neither blow their noses, nor spit. Their utensils will be of gold and silver, and their combs will be of gold, and the fuel used in their centers will be the aloes-wood, and their sweat will smell like musk."

Therefore if these women are from this world, as a matter of fact women are more than men in population in this world. Peradventure if they are from the houris with big and lustrous eyes, then it is not the reason that women are more then men in this world.

What is apparent is that these women should be from the houris with big and lustrous eyes. Because Imam Ahmad (ra) narrates that: Narrated from Abu Hurayrah (ra): RasulAllah (saw) said: “For the inhabitants of heaven there will be two wives from houris with big and lustrous eyes…”

There is a hadith which narrated both the sahihayn:

“On 'Id ul Fitr or 'Id ul Adha RasulAllah (saw) went out to the Musalla. After finishing the prayer, he delivered the sermon and ordered the people to give alms. He said, "O people! Give alms." Then he went towards the women and said. "O women! Give alms, for I have seen that the majority of the dwellers of Hell-Fire were you (women)." The women asked, "O RasulAllah (saw)! What is the reason for it?" He replied, "O women! You curse frequently, and are ungrateful to your husbands. I have not seen anyone more deficient in intelligence and religion than you. O women, some of you can lead a cautious wise man astray."

And in another hadith it is narrated that the women of this world will be the least of the inhabitants of the heaven.

Narrated from Mutarrif b Abd-Allah: He told his wives that I’m coming from Imran b Husayn, he told us that RasulAllah (saw) stated: “The least of the inhabitants of heaven is women.” (Muslim)

The above hadith (from Bukhari & Muslim) indicates that, women of this world will be lots if you count together with the houris with big and lustrous eyes. The least of the inhabitants of heaven is the women of this world. The women of this world will be less in heaven and more in hell.

[jello]

^

So the correct interpretation is that the number of women will be a minority in heaven, if I am not mistaken?

[C.G.Jung]

fact women are more than men in population in this world.

Fact: There are more men than women in the world. The natural sex ratio (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_ratio#Natural_ratio) at birth is estimated close to 1.05 males/female. Due to the generally higher life expectancy of females, sex ratio tends to even out in adult population, and result in an excess of females among the elderly (e.g., the male to female ratio falls from 1.05 for the group aged 15 to 65 to 0.70 for the group over 65 in Germany, from 1.00 to 0.72 in the USA, from 1.06 to 0.91 in mainland China and from 1.07 to 1.02 in India).

[xris]

would someones sex be of any importance in heaven i thought it was an earthly problem we could possible leave behind.

[Hisham Abu]

would someones sex be of any importance in heaven i thought it was an earthly problem we could possible leave behind.I don't think we're all going to be A-Sexual. It still would be really nice to have companionship, even if one were to be in heaven.

[xris]

I don't think we're all going to A-Sexual. It still would be really nice to have companionship, even if one were to be in heaven.what sexual encounters? if there are more men than women we have a problem i never thought possible in heaven.

[darultawhid]

sex in the hereafter (http://www.darultawhid.com/en/forum/index.php?topic=1201.0)

When it is known that; men are allowed to have 4 wives plus female slaves in this world; it is not surprising that they may have even more in heaven.

“If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, Marry women of your choice, Two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice.” (4/3)

“Except with those joined to them in the marriage bond, or (the captives) whom their right hands possess,- for (in their case) they are free from blame,” (23/6)

Allah promised hoor ‘iyn in the heaven for the believers:

“and they have therein companions pure (and holy); and they abide therein (for ever)” (2/25)

“And besides them will be chaste women, restraining their glances, with big eyes (of wonder and beauty).” (37/48)

“And beside them will be chaste women restraining their glances, (companions) of equal age.” (38/52)

“So; and We shall join them to fair women with beautiful, big, and lustrous eyes.” (44/54)

“We shall join them to Companions, with beautiful big and lustrous eyes.” (52/20)

“In them will be (Maidens), chaste, restraining their glances, whom no man or Jinn before them has touched;” (55/56)

“Companions restrained (as to their glances), in (goodly) pavilions” (55/72)

“And (there will be) Companions with beautiful, big, and lustrous eyes” (56/22)

“We have created (their Companions) of special creation” (56/35)

“And voluptuous women of equal age” (78/33)

There are so many ahadith regarding this matter but we will quote one as an example:

In the sahihayn narrated from Abu Huraira (ra): RasulAllah (saw) said, "The first batch (of people) who will enter Paradise will be (glittering) like a full moon; and those who will enter next will be (glittering) like the brightest star. Their hearts will be as if the heart of a single man, for they will have no enmity amongst themselves, and every one of them shall have two wives, each of whom will be so beautiful, pure and transparent that the marrow of the bones of their legs will be seen through the flesh. They will be glorifying Allah in the morning and evening, and will never fall ill, and they will neither blow their noses, nor spit. Their utensils will be of gold and silver, and their combs will be of gold, and the fuel used in their centers will be the aloes-wood, and their sweat will smell like musk."

**

There is a wide misunderstanding on the issue of the numbers of the houri, one will get when he goes to heaven.

Regarding this matter, there are so many weak ahadiths which give information about the numbers. These weak ahadith cited the number 70, 100 etc.

Narrated from Anas (ra) that RasulAllah (saw) said: “A believer man will have 73 wives in heaven. We asked him (saw): Will he able to do (i.e. have sex) this? And He (saw) replied: He will be given power of 100 (man).” (Abu Na’eem Sifat al-Jannah)

Narrated from Abu Hurayra (ra): RasulAllah (saw) asked: “O RasulAllah (saw)! Will we touch our wives in heaven? He (saw) replied: A man will touch 100 virgin a day.” (Tabarani, al-Mucam as-Saghir & Awsat)

However there are some sahih hadiths which gives the same numbers for showing the capacity of a man in heaven will have.

Narrated from Zayd ibn Arqam: RasulAllah (saw) stated: “A man of inhabitants of heaven will be given the strength of one hundred men as to eating, drinking, power of sexual intercourse and lust.” (Darimi; Musnad)

Furthermore, the hadith in the sahihayn proves that only 2 houries per average man will be given in heaven.

Narrated from Abu Huraira (ra): RasulAllah (saw) said, "The first batch (of people) who will enter heaven will be (glittering) like a full moon; and those who will enter next will be (glittering) like the brightest star. Their hearts will be as if the heart of a single man, for they will have no enmity amongst themselves, and every one of them shall have two wives, each of whom will be so beautiful, pure and transparent that the marrow of the bones of their legs will be seen through the flesh. They will be glorifying Allah in the morning and evening, and will never fall ill, and they will neither blow their noses, nor spit. Their utensils will be of gold and silver, and their combs will be of gold, and the fuel used in their centers will be the aloes-wood, and their sweat will smell like musk." (Bukhari & Muslim)

And there is another hasan-sahih hadith which proves that 70 houries will be given to the martyr.

Narrated from al-Miqdam ibn Ma’dikarib: RasulAllah (saw) stated: “Allah (awj) bestows six blessings upon the martyr: he will be forgiven from the first drop of blood shed; he will be shown his place in heaven; he will be protected from the torment of the grave; he will be safe from the greater terror; a crown of dignity will be placed on his head, one ruby of which is better than this world and everything in it; he gets married to seventy-two wives from houries and he will intercede for seventy of his relatives.” (Tirmidhi & Ibn Majah)

From this point ulama of Islam argued about the matter and Ibn Qayyim (ra) sum up with; 2 houires per average man in heaven will be guarantied and this number may increase according to the good deeds of the man with the female slaves of the heaven. Ibn Qayyim (ra) also makes tawil on the weak ahadith concerning the numbers of the houris and states that this numbers (i.e. 100) may refer the sexual intercourse power of man in the heaven (he may have power to have sexual intercourse with 100 women) and these numbers may not show the actual number of the houris one will get when he goes to heaven. And he ended his comment with the least amount of 2 wives (from houris) per each man in heaven.

Ibn Qayyim in his book “Hadi’l-Arwah ila Bilad al-Afrah/ (Wasf) Sifat al-Jannah (Attributes of the Heaven)” states following:

“In the sahih hadiths, it is stated that, they will have only two wives. There is nothing else mentioned in the sahih hadith. If those narrations which we mentioned before are protected (by memorization) then their meaning will be either they may have maids and ghilman (youths of perpetual) other than their 2 wives then this means; people of heaven will have these female slaves according to their degree as same as their having maid and ghilman according to their degree or those ahadith refers that the man in heaven will have the sexual intercourse power of having sexual intercourse with all his wives. Then the real protected (by memorization) meaning and the hukm will be the sexual intercourse power. But some narrators, narrated this meaning & hukm as “the man in the heaven will have this many wives”.

Indeed Tirmidhi, in his Jami’ narrated from Anas by Qatada that RasulAllah (saw) stated: “The man in heaven will be given such-and-such strength (power to conduct) for intercourse.” It was said, “O RasulAllah (saw), will he really be capable of that?” He (saw) said, “He will be given the strength (capacity) of a hundred (men).” (Tirmidhi & Ibn Hibban) this is a sahih hadith.

Presumably, the person who narrated this hadith, narrated with the understanding of “he will go to 100 virgin”. Perhaps everyone will be given different amount of wives according to their degree.

Doubtless a believer will have more than two wives in heaven. Because in both Bukhari and Muslim this was narrated: “For a believer there would be a tent of single hollowed pearl the breadth of which would be sixty miles in heaven. The believer will have his families in it and the believer would go around it and none would be able to see the others.”

**

And there is another narration which is famous with the name "hadith of Soor" narrated from Abu Hurayrah (ra) includes this part related our topic:

“Every man in heaven will go to 72 of the creatures of Allah (houri) and 2 of the women of mankind, these two women are superior to the creatures of Allah (houri) with their worshipping (good deeds) they had performed in this world.” (Bayhaqi, al-Bas wa’n-Nushur; Tabari, Tafsir; Abu Yala, Ibn Hajar, Fathu’l-Baari, Tabarani and others)

[Hisham Abu]

what sexual encounters? if there are more men than women we have a problem i never thought possible in heaven.I'm sorry, I fail to see any problem. The people of heaven will have such a huge land mass of space just for them and companion. Not forgetting the human hearts will be cleaned from all faults, such as envy, jealousy and other such evil thoughts.

I mean companionship, not just sex. Sex isn't be all and end all.

[darultawhid]

what sexual encounters? if there are more men than women we have a problem i never thought possible in heaven.

ill-feeling (ghill) will be removed in the hereafter (http://www.darultawhid.com/en/forum/index.php?topic=1201.0)

When Allah (swt) describes the position of the people of heaven, He (awj) states:

“And We will remove whatever of ill-feeling is in their breasts” (7/43)

In the ayah which we translate as ill-feeling (ghill) includes every bad habit of heart such as; hatred, unjust, jealousy, rancor, resentful envy or enmity, ill-willing… And this will be done before admitting them to heaven. Thus they will enter heaven in a state of untainted purity.

Ibn Kathir (ra) explained the word ghill in the ayah as: “But those who believed, and worked righteousness -- We burden not any person beyond his scope -- such are the dwellers of Paradise. They will abide therein. And We shall remove from their breasts any Ghill; meaning, envy and hatred. Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri said that the Messenger of Allah said,

«إِذَا خَلَصَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ مِنَ النَّارِ حُبِسُوا عَلَى قَنْطَرَةٍ بَيْنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ فَاقْتُصَّ لَهُمْ مَظَالِمَ كَانَتْ بَيْنَهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا حَتَّى إِذَا هُذِّبُوا وَنُقُّوا أُذِنَ لَهُمْ فِي دُخُولِ الْجَنَّةِ فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ إِنَّ أَحَدَهُمْ بِمَنْزِلِهِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ أَدَلُّ مِنْهُ بِمَسْكَنِهِ كَانَ فِي الدُّنْيَا»

(After the believers are saved from entering the Fire, they will be kept in wait by a bridge between Paradise and Hellfire. Then, transgression that occurred between them in the life of this world will be judged. Until, when they are purified and cleansed, they will be given permission to enter Paradise. By He in Whose Hand is my soul! One of them will be able to find his dwelling in Paradise more so than he did in the life of this world.) As-Suddi said about Allah's statement,

[وَنَزَعْنَا مَا فِى صُدُورِهِم مِّنْ غِلٍّ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمُ الاٌّنْهَـرُ]

(And We shall remove from their breasts any Ghill; rivers flowing under them,) "When the people of Paradise are taken to it, they will find a tree close to its door, and two springs from under the trunk of that tree. They will drink from one of them, and all hatred will be removed from their hearts, for it is the cleansing drink. They will take a bath in the other, and the brightness of delight will radiate from their faces. Ever after, they will never have messy hair or become dirty.''

Imam Qurtubi mentions this hadith in his tafsir: The Prophet (saw) stated: “Hatred will be like the place camels settle at the door of jannah. Allah will take it from the hearts of the Mu’min.” And he stated the following: “It is stated that hatred being taken out and thrown means that individuals will not be jealous of each other due to their ranks.”

Razi in his tafsir explained the word in two meanings:

-The extraction of hatred means “cleansing of the character, to lift all the uncertainties (waswas) and to prevent them from re-entering their hearts.”

-The ranks of those who enter jannah differentiate according to their maturity and deficiency. Therefore Haq teala will have erased jealousy from their hearts.

In the tafsir of this ayah Samarqandi states: When the rivers flow from underneath their mansions hatred and jealousy will be taken from their hearts. They will be very clean there.

Ibn Jarer Tabari (ra) said regarding this ayah: In this ayah it has been declared that jealousy and hatred which can be felt against one another will be taken out of those who enter jannah with salih amal.

[Muhammad2]

If I was a woman I'd find that pretty disheartening, knowing that there was a greater than 50/50 chance I'll end up in Jahannam.

[Hisham Abu]

If I was a woman I'd find that pretty disheartening, knowing that there was a greater than 50/50 chance I'll end up in Jahannam.There is no such chance. Both men and women have the same chance. Just because if one has many more in hell doesn't mean to so they are doomed, or destined to go to hell just because of something they have control over. Rather it was only a matter of fact.

[xris]

ide prefer it if earthy pleasures were left behind seems rather shallow for paradise to be providing carnal sweetners.if god is so visible why should you need these base pleasures.

[C.G.Jung]

ide prefer it if earthy pleasures were left behind seems rather shallow for paradise to be providing carnal sweetners.if god is so visible why should you need these base pleasures.

Well, if the sex ration are near even, usually with more men all together, when Islam allows men to have more than one wife, you are left with a whole bunch of poor men who can't even have one. So it seems like a precaution for those who will never get any in the earthly plain.

[Hisham Abu]

Well, if the sex ration are near even, usually with more men all together, when Islam allows men to have more than one wife, you are left with a whole bunch of poor men who can't even have one. So it seems like a precaution for those who will never get any in the earthly plain.The ratio of men-to-women is not 50-50, and the ratio of women is forever increasing. Even in London women number more than men.

ide prefer it if earthy pleasures were left behind seems rather shallow for paradise to be providing carnal sweetners.if god is so visible why should you need these base pleasures.They are not so much earthly desires, they are human desires/characteristics. If one was to remove them then we would no longer be human.

[C.G.Jung]

The ratio of men-to-women is not 50-50, and the ratio of women is forever increasing. Even in London women number more than men.

Going to back up that assertion? Not that I don't belief you. But sex ratios are in constant flux. I don't know why you would "even" in London, especially when it result in a hasty generalization. When you take a mirco climate, the ratio is even more sporatic. Before the 50s there were more women, in the last half century there has been more men.

[Hisham Abu]

Going to back up that assertion? Not that I don't belief you. But sex ratios are in constant flux. I don't know why you would "even" in London, especially when it result in a hasty generalization. When you take a mirco climate, the ratio is even more sporatic. Before the 50s there were more women, in the last half century there has been more men.London has seen an influx of women from rural areas, and the rest of Europe. Whereas many men have left for rural areas, Australia, New Zeeland and South Africa.

[xris]

i think there is some kind of obsessive perverted desires involved here,most people dont think or worry about sex in heaven most if they believe wonder about the glory of god.

[Hisham Abu]

i think there is some kind of obsessive perverted desires involved here,most people dont think or worry about sex in heaven most if they believe wonder about the glory of god.There's nothing perverted about it. Rather I feel it is very beautiful to have the pleasure of such companionship. Again, it's not about the sex.

[jello]

There's nothing perverted about it. Rather I feel it is very beautiful to have the pleasure of such companionship. Again, it's not about the sex.


Companionship is the main thing. Then come other things, which we cannot really imagine how they would be in Heaven.

[mgilani]

T o be honest, i dont want any trouble/problems/nagging..........its gonna be like earth all over again. Does that answer the question?
and hey, dont blame, blame the broads!

[mgk81]

the worry should more be with who will you be going where, then to think which gender is gonna be more in either. we dont even know what's it gonna be like when in jannah or jahannam we dont even know what our form will be.

if u look at the hadith it demorilizes women and portrays men to be quite the lustfull. we will be judged accordingly so who can say that which gender is gonna more!!

[xris]

There's nothing perverted about it. Rather I feel it is very beautiful to have the pleasure of such companionship. Again, it's not about the sex.if its not about sex why not have no males or females just souls.im hoping if it exists there is no earthly yearnings to bother me.

[Hisham Abu]

if its not about sex why not have no males or females just souls.im hoping if it exists there is no earthly yearnings to bother me.Souls have a gender, thus the phrase Soul Mates. I do not believe there will be any yearning, at least not one that will bother anyone.

[xris]

Souls have a gender, thus the phrase Soul Mates. I do not believe there will be any yearning, at least not one that will bother anyone.so the gender will still be an issue in heaven and if there is no sexual desires how can you tell the difference and so there should no reason for gender.

[Pro_Candy]

If I was a woman I'd find that pretty disheartening, knowing that there was a greater than 50/50 chance I'll end up in Jahannam.

It is pretty discouraging to have this 'minority in heaven and majority in hell' thrown around all the time.

[xris]

It is pretty discouraging to have this 'minority in heaven and majority in hell' thrown around all the time.i would have thought judging by the people i have met all the inhabitants of heaven would be women.as for sex in heaven my wife thought that was reserved for hell,dont tell her please.

[Hisham Abu]

i would have thought judging by the people i have met all the inhabitants of heaven would be women.as for sex in heaven my wife thought that was reserved for hell,dont tell her please.

so the gender will still be an issue in heaven and if there is no sexual desires how can you tell the difference and so there should no reason for gender.

I don't understand what exactly is wrong with having sexual desires. It's not an evil, or satanic in any way. Think about it like this, God made Adam (as) and even though he sat in the heavens he was lonely, so God made for him a companion, Eve/Hawa. Would you not want the company of your wife, along side you in heaven?

It is pretty discouraging to have this 'minority in heaven and majority in hell' thrown around all the time.

What is there for Woman in Paradise? (http://islamqa.com/index.php?ref=608&ln=eng)

[xris]

I don't understand what exactly is wrong with having sexual desires. It's not an evil, or satanic in any way. Think about it like this, God made Adam (as) and even though he sat in the heavens he was lonely, so God made for him a companion, Eve/Hawa. Would you not want the company of your wife, along side you in heaven?



What is there for Woman in Paradise? (http://islamqa.com/index.php?ref=608&ln=eng)i thought sexual desires are a spur to have children in this world and not to prolong this activity in heaven.its a bit like why do you need to eat if your not hungry.

[Hisham Abu]

i thought sexual desires are a spur to have children in this world and not to prolong this activity in heaven.its a bit like why do you need to eat if your not hungry.Sexual desires are for pleasure as well, not just for procreation. It can also be a means of bonding and intimacy. A symbol of love.

[xris]

Sexual desires are for pleasure as well, not just for procreation. It can also be a means of bonding and intimacy. A symbol of love.this pleasure like hunger is for earthly necessity not some high emotional intimicy,as you will find out as the years pass by.companionship or friendship should not need some thigh slapping animal encounter.its not reserved for us humans this base instinct,it may bond two animals for all the right reasons here but its not an acceptable thing to be doing for all eternity.

[Arsalan]

A Majority i hope so, coz thats where iam headen inshAllah.

[xris]

A Majority i hope so, coz thats where iam headen inshAllah.im glad your so confident.what if they were all in hell where would like to be?this preoccupation with the opposite sex and their not so deepest of feelings is a bit worrying.

[C.G.Jung]

Souls have a gender, thus the phrase Soul Mates.

That doesn't make it so. Even then such phrases have many philosphies behind it. We have Plato as (or has) Aristophanes talking about soulmate in a non-serious storey, and there is also Carl Jungs Anima (Latin feminine for soul) and Animus (Latin masculine for soul), which are created out of the human consciousness. The later concept is talking about gender, not sex.

[Hisham Abu]

I am speaking about Islam. Plato and Aristophanes were heretics who knew not what they were speaking of. They had no knowledge from Allaah (swT). And what is the point of defining gender if it has no importance (i.e. no sex).

It seems sex in Christianity for some reason is shunned as something evil, impure etc. etc. But it is nothing but the very nature of man. Can't change that.

[C.G.Jung]

And what is the point of defining gender if it has no importance (i.e. no sex).

Gender when I was talking about animus and anima has to to about how humans define everything into a duality of masculine and feminine. They have nothing to do about sex (male/female).

It seems sex in Christianity for some reason is shunned as something evil, impure etc. etc. But it is nothing but the very nature of man. Can't change that.

That was random. and inaccurate.

[Ste]

Going to back up that assertion? Not that I don't belief you. But sex ratios are in constant flux. I don't know why you would "even" in London, especially when it result in a hasty generalization. When you take a mirco climate, the ratio is even more sporatic. Before the 50s there were more women, in the last half century there has been more men.


World War II

[C.G.Jung]

I am speaking about Islam. Plato and Aristophanes were heretics who knew not what they were speaking of. They had no knowledge from Allaah (swT).

Well, everyone was a heretic before Islam. So Islam teaches soulmates.. are you sure it is not just male and female in general. The common understanding is there is one person out their for you. So, say my soulmate is a Muslim (or anyother variation that causes impossible circumstances that cause people not to meet), and I am not. Does that mean she (or he) will never be with her (his) soulmate?

[Hisham Abu]

That was random. and inaccurate.I apologise, it was very presumptuous of me to say that. But I was thinking aloud, I don't understand the reasoning or points raised by xris. And I once knew of a Christian who referred to the forbidden fruit (i.e the apple) as sex. In his version of the story, Adam (as) and Eve were not allowed to consummate their marriage. But yes, it was silly of me to try and sum up the very many differing Christian view points in one ignorant statement.

[C.G.Jung]

I apologise, it was very presumptuous of me to say that. But I was thinking aloud, I don't understand the reasoning or points raised by xris. And I once knew of a Christian who referred to the forbidden fruit (i.e the apple) as sex. In his version of the story, Adam (as) and Eve were not allowed to consummate their marriage. But yes, it was silly of me to try and sum up the very many differing Christian view points in one ignorant statement.

Well, he/she is clearly wrong. The forbidden fruit is human consciousness (which is quite obvious with the name Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil). Making us into a bunch of projecting neurotic nincompoops. Adam sybolizes human consciousness (The Tree of Knowledge), while Jesus (Son of Man as he is called sometimes) sybolizes the unconscious (The Tree of Everlasting Life; unconscousness ironically being death, physically), which is why Jesus said he is the say to god, sybolically speaking. The language I use is certainly not from Chriatianity, as I am not a Christian, but the interpretations of Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell, and is supported by the Bible.

Odd, a Christian would take that stance.. unless they are reading too much into that misogynist... ah I forget his name... from Alexandria... saying that women are the harbingers of sin.