#189 – Original Sin

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Once again, Nicky Campbell on his Big Questions programme on BBC1 on Sunday morning (10am) touched upon some excellent theological issues, one of which was our understanding of original sin. Bishop Desmond Tutu has recently released a book, Made for Goodness, in which he states that all people are born perfect, thus disagreeing with the doctrine of original sin. I must say I have not yet read the book and will simply focus on the debate on BBC1 where Jonathan Bartley, director of the Christian think-tank, Ekklesia, said the doctrine of original sin has poorly explained by the church over the generations and he would endorse the doctrine of original goodness too. He even apologised for the Church’s mishandling of the issue.

So what are we talking about here? In simple terms, which is all I can muster, the doctrine of original sin says that all humankind is born sinful, a condition inherited from Adam and Eve as a result of their rebellion in the Garden of Eden and that we all need to be redeemed from this. A classic scripture used to support this is Romans 3:23 which says "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". Paul goes even further in Romans 5:12-21 and expounds the doctrine further. Without wishing to argue with St. Paul, does this actually support the doctrine of original sin? Should we, as Dame Ann Leslie argued, feel continually guilty for something we had no part in? Indeed this is one of the issues which led her to become an atheist, having been brought up a strict Catholic and suffering from an obsession with the sinfulness of humanity and a complete inability to help herself. Some people who have been subjected to such an upbringing have experienced a lifelong sense of guilt rather than the forgiveness and freedom offered in Christ.

So what would the doctrine of original goodness say? It is often quoted that "God made man in his own image" (Genesis 1:26,27). Surely this means that all people, no matter who they are or where they have been brought up, were blessed at birth with something of the divine nature within them. This does not deny the suggestion that we also have a tendency to ignore this divine spark and do things which deny its reality. But can we honestly be held responsible for what Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden? The prophet Jeremiah said this, ‘In those days they shall no longer say: "The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’But every one shall die for his own sin; each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge." (Jeremiah 31:29,30).

The problem with the doctrine of original sin comes when we consider the example of a two day old baby who has been killed in a tsunami. Has that child lost its chance of salvation because it has never repented of its sin or was that child born in union with God and sure of a place in his kingdom? Similar arguments can be made about people born in non-Christian countries who have never heard the gospel and live morally good lives in spite of that.

The doctrine of original sin is a deep one and has been debated for centuries and will continue to be a cause of divergent views. For me this says that the Church needs to be a place of exploration rather than dogmatic proclamation. I would love to see more opportunities for us to challenge things said from the pulpit. Some people go home from a Church service with a sense of unease at what they have heard but unable to air their concerns. The person on the programme who received the least support for his views on original sin was Bishop Colin Buchanan and this was largely down to his somewhat dogmatic approach.

I guess this is why I am such a fan of the Alpha Course (I'm a member of Alphaholics Anonymous), because it provides an environment where people can discuss these issues openly and explore through these discussions where they themselves stand. It is also good for the discussion leaders who can be seriously challenged in their own beliefs by having to consider alternative points of view.

So, where do you stand? Do you agree with original sin or original goodness?

Footnote…
God blamed Adam, Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the serpent, and the serpent didn't have a leg to stand on (Zedekiah 3:16).