Mr. Majestic
This is an interesting topic and unlike what others have said, I think it is indeed worthy of speculation.
I have had ups and downs about the Bible. I used to think it was totally from God. Then I thought men wrote it under inspiration from God, so it became a mixture if Truth and Fiction. Then for a brief time, I thought it was just myths and fables to teach us about how to live righteously. Then, I began to read and study other viewpoints, and embraced the idea that there is a mysterious message in it that man has to search for, one that is hidden in plain sight. This is a necessary endeavor that some will take the journey to discover and others will not "waste" their time to search out.
At this juncture of my search, here are my thoughts about the Genesis account:
1) The Eternal One is perfect and without fault. There is no imperfection in the creation.
2) This Eternal One was singular until this energy activated and matter and Life began, yet it was still One…..one Life.
3) The Garden of Eden story is an explanation of how this Eternal One decided to experience existence in the plane of Mater (matter) separate from Itself.
4) In order for there to be separation from The One, free will must be extended…an ego and personality must be developed in order for the One to be separated intellectually, physically, emotionally, spiritually. Now there are two separate "personalities". They are still One but separate.
5) In order for this Free Will to be gifted, thus separating The One into another type of personality, The Eternal One had to set up something for the other to consciously make a choice about on its own. So The Eternal One placed "the Tree" in the garden and told the man not to eat of its fruit. The woman had not yet been made. (This may or may not have been a literal tree.)
6) The Man was perfect and the thought of disobedience never entered his mind. He continued cultivating the garden and followed the directive to avoid the tree. This was not difficult for the man, because the vibration of disobedience had not yet entered Creation.
7) Another separation needed to be made in order for there to be legitimate choice, a push and pull of loyalties, will, and desire…..real free will. Therefore, another, the Woman, was separated from the Man and thus, the Yin and Yang of Life was set in motion. Rather than looking at it negatively as "the fall of man", perhaps this is how the Gift of Free Will was extended, therefore a positive. Mankind is free to make its own decisions and live Life here in the world of matter by its own choices….good or bad.
The part of man that is separate is his ego and personality. The part that stays connected to The Eternal One is man’s neshama (spiritual soul) which returns to The Eternal One upon the body’s death along with the soul’s lessons learned. This is on a different plane from the plane of Mater. It is in the "God/Spirit" realm of Pure Consciousness and is a state of pure Love and Light.
This is the way I see the creation account in Genesis regarding the so-called "fall of man". There are mysteries about this Life that are there to keep the dynamics of Life in Motion. It's an amazing journey and the search for answers can only enrich and broaden one's growth.
Thanks for your thread.