[Harvey1955]

Most people I know think Eve was seduced to eat an apple from the tree of knowledge, where would that idea come from?

[Capuchin]

Popular culture, mainly.

[Choux]

From old cowardly tribal myth makers who wanted to blame women for the ills of humanity despite the fact that AT THAT TIME, MEN HAD ALL THE POWER AND CONTROLLED SOCIETY!!

[Choux]

No, you asked where the idea came from and I told you. :)

[Capuchin]

Most scholars believe that the fruit was likely to be a pomegranate. I'm not sure what evidence they use though :)

[Harvey1955]

most scholars believe that the fruit was likely to be a pomegranite. I'm not sure what evidence they use though :)

Thanks Capuchin, that's what I'm looking for, I'd still like to find some of the scholars works to read.

[shygrneyzs]

Here is an article on the pomegranate with some explanation of why it could have been the fruit on the Tree of Knowledge - Spice Pages: Pomegranate (Punica granatum)
It would make sense, seeing how the geography of the plant would match the location of Eden. The apple story was something started later in Christian history.

The following article gives you some other ideas on the fruit - Google Answers: Forbidden Fruit of Eden

[Marily]

From the one who deceived her? I could tell you what it was but what benefit would it be to you?

[Fr_Chuck]

I will say that first your question is not well written as to what you wanted to know. As stated it asks why we believe Eve was suduced.

If you only wished to know why it was a APPLE, that should have been better noted.

But it was from early paintings and culture, the exact fruit is unknown, since there was never a mention of it.

[paraclete]

Where did the idea come from?

Firstly let us say that she (and Adam) ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. To simplify this into the tree of knowledge is a false idea. Knowledge is not of itself inherently bad but the way we use it might be evil.

Now as to whether the fruit was an apple, highly unlikely in some cultures it is thought it was a banana but apples appear to be representative of fruit in many cultures

[speakez66]

The fruit is the knowledge of who shall live and who shall die. We as men, and women believe to have the knowledge of the gods. We are wiping out species like we know what we are doing. And for that matter have the right to do.
Many would argue the tree was about obedience. But why didn't god just draw a line in the sand and dare us to cross.
This is a story about something more.
Why should we live like the lions and the gazzels of the field.
We are made to rule the world aren't we. So if we are made to rule, then why not have the knowledge of god.
The knowledge of who lives and who dies.
Adam means man
Eve means life giving one.

[MoonlitWaves]

the fruit is the knowledge of who shall live and who shall die. we as men, and women believe to have the knowledge of the gods. we are wiping out species like we know what we are doing. and for that matter have the right to do.
many would argue the tree was about obedience. but why didnt god just draw a line in the sand and dare us to cross.
this is a story about something more.
why should we live like the lions and the gazzels of the field.
we are made to rule the world arent we. so if we are made to rule, then why not have the knowledge of god.
the knowledge of who lives and who dies.
adam means man
eve means life giving one.

I disagree. Well, for one it is stated that it is the knowledge of good and evil. Secondly, they already knew life, living, live, what have you, because God gave them life to live. When they ate from the tree they learned death. I believe that means a spiritual death because of the evil. Before they learned evil everything was perfect so I don't think there would have been a physical death either. But when evil emerged so did all the other bad things like death.. physically. So who lives was common knowledge even before the eating of the fruit. Whoever God gives life, lives. Everyone dies after the eating, so who dies became common knowledge after the eating. But they only learned this after what? Learning evil. Therefore the knowledge was of good and evil.
You said why didn't God just draw a line in the sand if it was about obedience. Because he chose the tree instead of a line in the sand. So that isn't any reason to think the knowledge was anything other than what is stated in the Bible.

[andrewyha]

Also God said "The man is become as one of us; to know good and evil." they only knew good before that, now they knew both and had to make a conscious decision one way or the other.

[speakez66]

[QUOTE=MoonlitWaves]I disagree. Well, for one it is stated that it is the knowledge of good and evil.

when I am talking about the knowledge of who lives and who dies I am talking about good and evil..
all actions are good for some and evil to others.
when a bird pulls a worm out of the ground it is good, and god intended it so.
that is also evil to the worm for his life has ended and probably hurt a bit too. And this also is what god has intended.

however this knowledge is reserved for god only, man should not be as ignorant to believe we understand this knowledge.
if we pretend (as we are and have for millennia) to have this knowledge then we act according to that assumption. Why should we have to live with limits as the others in this earth system (garden), when we can have the fire of life for ourselves. And this is good right, I mean we are not subject to predators of the land any longer. (our only predators is ourselves)

this assumption took place when the agricultural revolution started and we learned the benefits of such knowledge. However there were a lot of agricultural ideas of the time. Many different cultures had different methods dependent on their immediate environment.
in the fertile crescent an agricultural system that acts outside of the laws of nature (the law referred: you may compete in the system (food chain) but must not wage war)) this system of agriculture uses all rescources in an area for the purpose of producing food. How can any other agricultural system compete with a system that uses all rescources in for the purpose of producing more food. (how can mom an pop stores, compete with wal-mart)
the limitless production of food is directly proportional to population growth.
more people more problems: crime, labor (sweat of our brow) famine, species extinction)
this attitude we as a human culture have worldwide is if we have 6 bil people, and people are still hungry in the world, then well lets produce more food. This only adds to the problem, more food more people. (and the hungry are still hungry)
we continue this limitless growth and say this is good. We murder species for our own benefit and say this is good. We suffer in the cause of good, look how great we have become. Exercising our full understanding of good and evil, we have made ourselves masters, gods if you will.
living with the assumption we have the knowledge of God himself, is adolescence. Like a teenager who thinks we know everything. We at this stage must evolve a bit more, grow up as a civilization. Or we will be doomed to destroy the whole world. Limitless growth = eventual death of everything

I believe God in his omnipotence and omniscience understood what we our limits and said unto us eat any fruit in this garden, save the fruit from the tree of knowledge, for the day you eat of this tree you will surely die.

[deist]

Some scholars say it was a fig, since immediately after Adam & Eve ate the fruit & became aware that they were naked they made aprons from fig leaves, implying that they were still in the vicinity of the tree of the knowledge of good & evil & took the fig leaves from it.

[N0help4u]

The apple came from mythology because it is shiny and appealing.
It could have very likely been a fig. The fig is an important Biblical symbol and Jesus cursed the fig tree when he 'saw' it had no fruit. He knew it was not the season for fig trees to have fruit so why would he 'answer' it with a curse? When God saw what Adam and Eve had done
He cursed them, their offspring, the ground and the serpent. He said nothing about the tree and then Jesus came and cursed a tree he KNEW was out of season...