Adam
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Allegorical statements and legends surround the historical Manifestation of God, Adam
"It can, therefore, be confidently stated that the teachings of the Faith name Krishna as a Manifestation of God. In light, however, of the other statements of the Guardian, in which he stresses the paucity of our information about the beginnings of Hinduism, we should be cautious not to assert the historical accuracy of specific stories related about Krishna. A similar case where allegorical statements and legends surround the figure of a known Manifestation of God is that of Adam."
- (On behalf of the Universal House of Justice, at http://bahai-library.com/?file=uhj_krishna_qayyum-asma.html )
The story (and timing) of Adam and creation is symbolic
"As to the record in the Bible concerning Adam's entering paradise, His eating from the tree and His expulsion through the temptation of Satan: These are all symbols beneath which there are wonderful and divine meanings not to be calculated in years, dates and measurement of time. Likewise, the statement that God created the heaven and the earth in six days is symbolic. We will not explain this further today. The texts of the Holy Books are all symbolical, needing authoritative interpretation."
- (Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 219-220)
See also
Adam and Eve
Regarding Adam and Eve, see Chapter 30 of Some Answered Questions .
For Biblical references, see Genesis, Chapters 1-5
Each Manifestation of God represents Adam; the first believer of each Faith represents Eve; the new believers are their progeny
Note: the following is (at least presently) unauthenticated, so until verified, it can only be regarded as pilgrims' notes)
Regarding thy question as to the beginning of Creation: Know thou that the Truth (GOD) has eternally ever been, and so also have His creatures, for there is no beginning either for the Truth (God) or for the creatures. According to the bodies in the contingent world, the "beginning" mentioned in the Holy Scriptures means the beginning of the Manifestation, and "creation" signifies the Second Spiritual Birth: as Christ says, "You must be born again." [Ed. - John 3:7 ] There is no doubt that the beginning of this Spiritual creation was the Manifestation Himself, for each Manifestation of the Divine Manifestations is the Adam (of His time,) and His first believer is Eve, while all the souls who are born of the Second Birth are His children and decendents. In the New Testament it is recorded : "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit." Again in John 1:13" Which was born not of blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
- (Attributed to 'Abdu'l-Baha. Dwight Barstow collection, BC#286B, revealed Oct. 24, 1903. Translated in the Holy City. Translation certified to by Mirza Fareed Ameen, Dec.26, 1903.; Pub. by C.e. Sprague, 3502 Lake Ave., Chicago, Ill. Apr. 19, 08.; BC#286C; see http://bahai-library.com/archives/barstow.intro.html )
Note: the above may be confirmed by the following utterance attributed to Muhammad, and confirmed by 'Abdu'l-Bahá:
"I and ‘Alí, we are the Father and Mother of this people."
- (Bahá'í Scriptures, no. 914 (p. 479))
and the words of 'Abdu'l-Bahá as He continues:
"“Adam” signifies the overflowing Reality, distributive, active, which represents the appearance of the Names and Qualities of God, the Divine conditions (or stations); whereas Eve is the passive Reality, taking, dependent, receptive, existing through the Divine Names and Qualities. Briefly, such are the least of the mysteries of the composition of the Greatest Name upon the stone of the Divine ring."
- (Bahá'í Scriptures, no. 914 (p. 479))
