Origin of the Angels

[EmilLang1000]

Anyone familiar with Evangelion is well aware of the "Angels" who appear throughout the series; yet the origin of these Angels is never actually stated. It's said that they were the offspring of Lillith, the first wife of Adam, and Lillith, subsequently, came from Adam originally.

Yet anyone really interested in Christianity, extraterrestrials in our past, or stories of creation, will undoubtedly recall hearing of a race of giant beings called, the "Nephilim," that were said to be the offsrping of angels (or ETs, depending on you're take).

According to the Book of Enoch, and I'm paraphrasing here as close to the text as I can recall:
"And the Sons of God looked down upon the earth and the men that dwelt within. And they saw the women of Man and became infatuated. And they came down upon the earth and lay with the maidens, giving birth to the giants that reach to the sky, the Nephilim."

I may just be confusing the matter even further here, but perhaps those beings that appeared were not actually "Angels," as we would be led to believe, but were, in fact, the Nephilim spoken of in these ancient texts - the sons of angels.

I may be reading a little too into the story, but let's here your take on this theory.

[Solaria735]

I am indeed very familiar with the Nephilim stories (they are mentioned in the Pentateuch as well, not just the book of Enoch). However, I don't think they really have anything to do with the Angels in Evangelion. Afterall, Eva isn't truly an accurate representation of Christianity (or Judaism); it just incorporates parts of the mythology to add an exotic element to the story. In EVA, it's said that the angels come from Lilith (and Adam). In the Nephilim myths however, the angels who impregnate women are actually fallen angels (aka demons), and in Eva, there is no mention really of God as far as I can remember, or of angels being good or evil, and thus fallen. Furthermore, if the Angels in Eva were Nephilim, they'd also be the children of humans, and that's not even considered in the series.

Still, the Nephilim texts are very interesting to read, and it is true, many do consider them, and angels in general, in ancient myths to have really been extraterrestrials. (As a side note, many of those who consider Nephilim and angels to really be aliens visiting Earth tend to not be followers of the faith; although there are some Christians who even think that aliens are really just angels, usually fallen- demons.)

[doughboy]

It's said that they were the offspring of Lillith, the first wife of Adam, and Lillith, subsequently, came from Adam originally.

I thought it was the other way around. Lillith => Humans, Adam => Angels.

I recall Kaoru saying to Shinji, "you are Lillim."

[Solaria735]

Maybe that was it. It's been quite a while since I've seen Eva, and I'm admittedly not the best source for it. I can remember the parts about Adam and the Angels well enough; but for some reason my mind blanks on the whole Lilith thing (that, and being familiar with Judeo-Christian texts- religious studies was one of my majors, and early Christianity was my specialty- has made me confused as I try to remember how it was used in Eva .)

[cholinms]

In one of the movies they actualy mentioned that the angels have the same genetic structure as humanity. They axplained that the angels where humans who rejected our human form. That is why the humans and angels could not co-exist with each other.

It was also explained that Third impact would occur when the angels came in contact with Lilith. They were so incompatible that just the contact would negate the souls ability to remain separate from other souls(thus the walls that surround our hearts and make us all individuals).

At the end of End of Evangelion they wexplain a lot of this and even state that thrid impact was initiated through the forbiden fusion of Adam and Lilith.

I may have some of this wrong its been a while since I've sat down and watched them.

[Banana_Boat]

It's said that they were the offspring of Lillith, the first wife of Adam, and Lillith, subsequently, came from Adam originally.

I thought it was the other way around. Lillith => Humans, Adam => Angels.

I recall Kaoru saying to Shinji, "you are Lillim."

yea, lilim the offspring of lilith

[bum]

At the end of End of Evangelion they wexplain a lot of this and even state that thrid impact was initiated through the forbiden fusion of Adam and Lilith.

I honestly dont get that. A guy and a girl wana have a good time and it screws the world over? I think anno realy needs to find a woman in his life.