The Bible states that Adam and Eve were the first man and woman ever created. They lived in a lush garden--a utopia--and had everything they could ever need or want. Then one day, Satan assumed the form of a snake and tricked Eve into eating the forbidden fruit. After this, Adam ate the fruit as well, and they were separated from God and banished from the garden. The Catholic view of Adam and Eve concerns this original story as well as the concept of origin of sin.

The First People

Adam and Eve were the first people God ever created. According to "Catholicism for Dummies," "God created man in his own image and likeness, male and female. The first man was called Adam, and the first woman, the wife of Adam, was called Eve."

Only Two

Some people believe that there were more than two people created, or more than two people evolved, at one time in the origin of humanity. Some Christians even believe that the Biblical story of Adam and Eve is meant to be representative of the first human beings, though there were more than two of them. Pope Pius XII stated that when it comes to this idea, " the children of the Church by no means enjoy such liberty [to believe in it]" (Catholic.com).

Original Sin

When Adam and Eve sinned against God by defying his wishes and eating the forbidden fruit, they became the first sinners. Through this transgression, all mankind has a sinful nature (according to some Christian beliefs). Catholics believe that "original sin is transmitted from generation to generation by birth" ("Catholicism for Dummies").

Broken Relationships

The result of Adam and Eve's sin is a kind of death. In this sense, Catholics believe that the death Adam and Eve experienced was the death of their relationships. On AmericanCatholic.org, it states that "with sin, all our other relationships---those to God, to ourselves, to other people, to the natural world---break down." In other words, relationships die when people sin.

Need for Salvation

Adam and Eve's sin led the way for Jesus to come to Earth and save man from his sinful nature. Now, through the act of baptism, Catholics believe they can wash away their original sin with Baptism and be saved (taken to Heaven after death) because of Jesus's self-sacrifice on the cross.

Source:

American Catholic: Adam, Eve and Original Sin

Catholic Answers: Adam, Eve & Evolution

"Catholicism for Dummies"; Rev. John Trigilio Jr. and Rev. Kenneth Brighenti; 2003