How do we know this???
The forbidden fruit was the knowledge between good and evil - what parent doesn't want their child to know the difference between right and wrong?
But, the two do not go together.
The parent (GOD) did NOT tell ANY information to His 'children' other than NOT to eat of that tree; while all along they have been eating from ALL the trees.
"One of these days your face will FREEZE like that; then you'll be sorry!" is probably something we've ALL heard, but did it do any good?
I have to disagree - it is a VERY good story: disobey God and your spirit will die.
But they don't have the capacity to know right from wrong until they eat from the tree. Not to mention it was a set-up. God would have known all along what would happen. And the curse on all women because one was tricked is a bit extreme.
But good story or bad story. It is still a story. There are hundreds of creation myths. Heck, it can even be argued that there are two different creation myths in the Bible.
The evidence is overwhelming that the earth is much older than 6,000 years. That man has been on the planet longer than 6,000 years. That life developed over millions of years, not days. That the universe is extremely old, etc.
If the universe was created in one quick stroke a few thousands of years ago, how can light from stars millions of light years be reaching us right now?
Me, I find it much more believable that God is outside of time and space so for God time does not exist. He willed the universe into existence, crafted life with evolution. Has guided and taught mankind, wants every person to know Him etc. And is far more magnificent than the Bible gives Him credit for.