Serpent seed
Belief that Eve's union with the Serpent produced two human races.
The serpent seed doctrine, also known as the dual-seed or two-seedline doctrine, is a controversial belief in some fringe Christian and other Abrahamic religious movements. It interprets the Biblical account of the fall of man by asserting that the Serpent mated with Eve in the Garden of Eden, and their offspring was Cain, resulting in two races: the wicked descendants of the Serpent and the righteous descendants of Adam.
- Originator
- Daniel Parker (1781–1844)
- First full formulation
- 19th century
- Key early text
- Views on the Two Seeds (1826)
- Associated groups
- Primitive Baptists, British Israelism, Christian Identity, Branhamism, Unification Church
- Modern proponents
- William M. Branham, Arnold Murray, Wesley A. Swift, Sun Myung Moon
- Estimated adherents (2000)
- 50,000 within Christian Identity; millions within Branhamism and Unification Church
Lore & Background
The idea that Eve mated with the serpent first appeared in medieval Jewish literature in Pirkei De-Rabbi Eliezer (8th century), but without the full serpent seed doctrine. The complete doctrine was invented in the 19th century by Daniel Parker, a Primitive Baptist, who promoted it in his book Views on the Two Seeds (1826). It was later embraced by American religious leaders who wanted to promote white supremacy and brought into British Israelism by C. A. L. Totten and Russel Kelso Carter. Teachers of Christian Identity theology preached the doctrine during the early twentieth century and promoted it within the Ku Klux Klan, Aryan Nations, the American Nazi Party, and other white supremacist organizations.
Reader's Guide
The serpent seed doctrine frames human history as a conflict between two races: the wicked descendants of the Serpent (Cain's line) and the righteous descendants of Adam (Abel and Seth's line). Variations claim the Serpent's descendants have no souls and are predestined for damnation. The identity of the serpent varies—some groups say Satan, others an apelike or human-like pre-Adamite creature. The identity of the serpent's seed also varies: Aryan Nations claims all non-northern Europeans; other Christian Identity groups target Jews or Africans; William Branham connected it with Ham, Jewish figures, and criminals; Arnold Murray linked it to the Kenites; the Unification Church believes all humanity's bloodline is contaminated but can be purified through the Holy Marriage Blessing Ceremony. Mainstream Christianity rejects the doctrine, citing Genesis 4:1 which names Adam as Cain's father, and criticizes it for fomenting racism and undermining the doctrine of original sin. The Anti-Defamation League and Christian apologetics organizations have denounced racist versions as incompatible with traditional Christianity.
Did You Know?
- The earliest expression of Eve mating with the serpent appears in the teachings of Valentinus (100–160), though he did not propose a seed of the damned.
- The full serpent seed doctrine was invented in the 19th century by Daniel Parker, a Primitive Baptist.
- The doctrine was used to justify antisemitism and racism by claiming Jews or non-white races are descendants of Cain and the Serpent.
- In the Unification Church, married couples can change their heritage by performing the Holy Marriage Blessing Ceremony.
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