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Hi, Father, I'm interested in your opinion. Ever since the fall of Man, mankind has been divided into various races with their own unique culture and history. There have been the well known negative aspects of the Fall such as death and sin. However, mankind has also made significant advances in many fields such as the unique culture and history of different nations. There has been impressive achievements in the fields of the arts, architecture, sciences, literature, political science, technology, entertainment and music. It may even be said that besides all the many wars of history, mankind has a extraordinary history. My question is , if mankind had not fallen, would man have advanced so significantly as they have today? However, can it not also be said that no matter how advanced we are, without Christ and the gospel, we are still behind regarding what it means to be genuine human beings? Also, had the first humans not have sinned, can it also not be said that the rest of us would not be here since they engaged in sex only after the Fall?
Answer to Question 546 I think you have answered your own question. If Adam and Eve did not sin then there wouldn't have been the need for the commandment of "Increase and multiply" Only after the exile from Paradise did sexual relations between Adam and Eve begin. Before this they lived an angelic life. The first chapter tells us that when God created them male and female he blessed them, saying, Increase and multiply, and fill the earth. This was said in anticipation of the fall. God knew the risk of creating Adam with a free will and foresaw that he would fall into sin and death. Thus from the very beginning God pronounced the plan of salvation that would allow Adam to re-unite with him. This plan was the process of regeneration, "the increase and multiply" which through children, Adam or Adam's nature would continue to live until the plan of salvation should be fulfilled with the coming of Christ. To put it more simply, children were a necessity so that the nature of man did not die until God could fulfill his plan to save him. If man did not sin then the human race would only consist of Adam and Eve and they would probably still be living in the garden of Eden. They would have been in communion with God so what need would they have with the Arts and Sciences and everything else we consider as advancement in our modern world.
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