How can we reinterpret,  symbolical and no longer literal,  the traditional biblical story of ‘Adam and Eve’. 

Let’s start at the beginning: God is Pure Love. Pure Love naturally extends itself. This extension is the Son of God (Adam) 

The Son of God (Adam and his extension Eve made from his rib) lives in perfect harmony, in a state of consciousness where only love and wholeness exist (the Garden of Eden).  

Eve does not represent a woman but only a part of the Son of God. 

The Son shares the same characteristics and attributes as the Father. But then something curious happens: a small idea arises, “What if something could exist outside this unity?” And he begins to fantasize about it and felt asleep. 

The Son becomes fascinated by the idea of knowledge and experience outside of the Oneness of God. This is symbolized by the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (the appletree),  representing duality—the belief that there is more than just love and peace.

The serpent, a symbol of the temptation of the ego, whispers to Eve that eating the fruit of this tree will give her wisdom and power. The serpent represents the voice of the ego, constantly telling us that there is something outside the unity of God—something that will fulfill us, make us special.

When Eve decides to pick the apple and eat it, she makes a conscious choice to believe in separation. She shares the apple with Adam, who follows her example. They now experience duality, the distinction between ‘good’ and ‘evil’, and feel separated from the peace of God. This marks the moment when the ego gains dominance, and the illusion of separation seems to become a reality in their experience.

Eating the apple signifies the end of the Garden of Eden, not as a punishment, but as a consequence of their own choice to believe in the illusion of separation. They enter a world of duality, where they must face the belief in scarcity, guilt, and fear.

But according to ACIM, this is not the end of the story. The illusion of separation can be undone by choosing love and forgiveness again. The way back to the Garden of Eden lies in awakening from the dream of duality and rediscovering the unity that has always been present. It is a journey that invites us all to thank the serpent for its lessons, put the apple back, and remember that the Garden of Eden was never truly left—it was only a dream.

The story of Adam and Eve, retold in the light of ACIM, shows us that separation is merely a mistake, an illusion we can awaken from. The choice is always ours to return to the unity of God, to the Garden of Eden that was never really lost.