GRAND RAPIDS -- The existence of Adam and Eve, and the departure of a Calvin College professor who discussed the matter, are back in the national news spotlight.

John Schneider, a longtime Calvin College theology professor until recently, has said there was no historical Adam and Eve. (His September 2010 discussion of the matter is available here.)

"Evolution makes it pretty clear that in nature, and in the moral experience of human beings, there never was any such paradise to be lost," Schneider said in an interview with NPR, broadcast today.

"So Christians, I think, have a challenge, have a job on their hands to reformulate some of their tradition about human beginnings."

His departure is also being debated by Chronicle of Higher Education blogger Mike Ruse, who headlines his piece as "The Shame of Calvin College."

Ruse says Schneider took "early retirement" after he "got into hot water with the president of Calvin College, who thinks that Schneider has been violating the terms of his employment."

The college's acting provost said Tuesday that Schneider chose to retire this year so his studies would not "cause harm or distraction" to the college.

E-mail Julie Hoogland: jhoogland@grpress.com and follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/JulieHoogland