Well, I notice that five of the first seven IMDb voters cast a 2 of 10 for this episode, to weigh it a 3.2 average, but that would cause one to wonder what is expected of a production team (of which I have neither association nor influence) whose primary research is limited largely to the account of Adam and Eve in the Book of Genesis, which provides the authority for Judeo-Christian study of the human race. (Or, perhaps, they must expect first-hand interviews and film clips?)
Thomas Miller narrates this account (premiering on February 11, 1997) of the patriarch and matriarch of humankind, with an unidentified female voice-over artist's providing passages of the Scriptures to coincide with the biography of Adam and Eve.
Interview guests describe human emotions beyond these Pentateuch passages to create empathy with these famous historic figures, to correlate with universal conditions through the centuries.
According to this episode, the Book of Genesis has been compiled for the written word 1,000 years B.C., after oral re-tellings for thousands of years from one generation to the next.
The balance of this episode contains the Genesis account of Adam, whose name is said to come from the Hebrew word for "ground" or "earth," and Eve, whose name is said to derive from "life" or "living" within the same language.
God, Adam, Eve and the talking serpent comprise the original cast list, leading to original sin, which expels Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, before they welcome Cain and Abel, which leads to the first murder in history.
130 years later, after a period of no recorded activity, Adam and Eve welcome Seth, as they repopulate the earth in loving fashion, for ten generations to follow, until the age of Noah and the eradication of life other than the family of Noah.
The climax becomes eclectic beyond Judeo-Christian teachings with an addendum stating that for centuries to follow, ancient rabbis have speculated on the untold elements in the lives of Hebrew patriarchs and matriarch, creating the "Midrash," to present missing information.
One theory has it that a woman named Lilith is created from clay in the same manner as Adam and at the same time, but she turns against him, becomes nocturnal and exits the Garden of Eden of her own volition, thus leaving Adam alone and with the need to create from his rib the loving Eve.
Eve disappears from the account after Seth is born, but another theory added to ancient Hebrew, Greek and Latin texts has it that when Adam nears the end of his 930-year lifespan, he turns ill and sends Eve and Seth back to the Garden of Eden to retrieve the Oil of Mercy, but when they are not admitted, Seth retrieves cedar seeds, which ultimately grow to produce the wood used to construct the cross of Jesus one day.
17th Century English Author John Milton is also cited for embellishing the Garden of Eden account in his novel "Paradise Lost" (1667) and its sequel "Paradise Regained" (1671), with the promise of hope and redemption through obedience to the Creator.
Interview Guests for this episode consist of Carole Fontaine (Professor of Theology and History, Andover Newton Theological School), Carol L. Meyers (Professor of Biblical Studies, Duke University), Dr. John Gray (Author: "Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus"), Daniel Smith-Christopher (Professor of Theological Studies, Loyola), Burton L. Visotzky (Professor of Midrash, Jewish Theological Seminary of America), and Rabbi David Wolpe (Associate Professor: Jewish Theological Seminary of America), with Jack Perkins (Host) and Thomas Miller (Narrator).
Thomas Miller narrates this account (premiering on February 11, 1997) of the patriarch and matriarch of humankind, with an unidentified female voice-over artist's providing passages of the Scriptures to coincide with the biography of Adam and Eve.
Interview guests describe human emotions beyond these Pentateuch passages to create empathy with these famous historic figures, to correlate with universal conditions through the centuries.
According to this episode, the Book of Genesis has been compiled for the written word 1,000 years B.C., after oral re-tellings for thousands of years from one generation to the next.
The balance of this episode contains the Genesis account of Adam, whose name is said to come from the Hebrew word for "ground" or "earth," and Eve, whose name is said to derive from "life" or "living" within the same language.
God, Adam, Eve and the talking serpent comprise the original cast list, leading to original sin, which expels Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, before they welcome Cain and Abel, which leads to the first murder in history.
130 years later, after a period of no recorded activity, Adam and Eve welcome Seth, as they repopulate the earth in loving fashion, for ten generations to follow, until the age of Noah and the eradication of life other than the family of Noah.
The climax becomes eclectic beyond Judeo-Christian teachings with an addendum stating that for centuries to follow, ancient rabbis have speculated on the untold elements in the lives of Hebrew patriarchs and matriarch, creating the "Midrash," to present missing information.
One theory has it that a woman named Lilith is created from clay in the same manner as Adam and at the same time, but she turns against him, becomes nocturnal and exits the Garden of Eden of her own volition, thus leaving Adam alone and with the need to create from his rib the loving Eve.
Eve disappears from the account after Seth is born, but another theory added to ancient Hebrew, Greek and Latin texts has it that when Adam nears the end of his 930-year lifespan, he turns ill and sends Eve and Seth back to the Garden of Eden to retrieve the Oil of Mercy, but when they are not admitted, Seth retrieves cedar seeds, which ultimately grow to produce the wood used to construct the cross of Jesus one day.
17th Century English Author John Milton is also cited for embellishing the Garden of Eden account in his novel "Paradise Lost" (1667) and its sequel "Paradise Regained" (1671), with the promise of hope and redemption through obedience to the Creator.
Interview Guests for this episode consist of Carole Fontaine (Professor of Theology and History, Andover Newton Theological School), Carol L. Meyers (Professor of Biblical Studies, Duke University), Dr. John Gray (Author: "Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus"), Daniel Smith-Christopher (Professor of Theological Studies, Loyola), Burton L. Visotzky (Professor of Midrash, Jewish Theological Seminary of America), and Rabbi David Wolpe (Associate Professor: Jewish Theological Seminary of America), with Jack Perkins (Host) and Thomas Miller (Narrator).
