HANDOUT 9: THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE OF ORIGINAL SIN

I. PRELIMINARY NOTES: SOME REFLECTIONS ON FUNDAMENTAL MORAL THEOLOGY

1. Experience of human freedom a. awareness of oneself as a distinct, responsible being: creative agents able to choose among alternatives, what kind of person we shall be 2. Human freedom as manifestation of divine image in human being a. relational beings called to fullness of life in relationships of mutual love and self-giving b. not to do something but to be someone in relation to God, neighbor, world, self 3. Human freedom and moral law a. responsibility to use human freedom in goodness and truth b. in accord with obligations of moral law (moral good) -> authentic humanity i. moral law orients us towards authentic human fulllment; it is inscribed by God in our hearts c. misuse of human freedom (moral evil = sin) i. pride, idolatry, alienation from fellow human beings, abuse of earth b. the condition in which all human beings are born; universal state of separation/alienation from God c. being closed to the call of the Spirit that dwells in us 3. Traditional understanding a. original sin inherited effect of ancestors sin b. the basis of the universal need for salvation in Christ 4. Contemporary understanding a. Three-fold emphasis: i. original sin = sin of the world ii. original sin = heart of darkness; inclination to evil prior to personal choice iii. relationship between the reality of original sin and our own personal sins b. Original sin and redemption in Christ i. partial, not total realityshadow side of humankinds need for grace and redemption ii. The Lord saves us but not without us objective redemption/healing, community of believers

II. TRADITIONAL VS. CONTEMPORARY UNDERSTANDING OF ORIGINAL SIN

1. Scriptural texts a. Genesis 3-11: disobedience of Adam and Eve, murder of Abel by Cain, Noah and the Flood, Tower of Babel b. Romans 5: 12-20: Christ (grace and life) as opposed to Adam (sin and death) c. Romans 7: 15-25: I do not do what I want to do but what I have 2. Core meaning of original sin a. privation of sanctifying grace

III. DEEPENING UNDERSTANDING OF THE REALITY OF SIN

1. Three-fold emphasis in biblical understanding of sin a. sin as violation of covenant relationship with God b. sin as communitarian c. sin as historical 2. Degrees of sinfulness understood in context of a breakdown/deterioration of our love relationship with God 3. Sin and fundamental option a. fundamental freedom <-> individual acts i. the kind of person we become <-> what we do or have done

HANDOUT 9: THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE OF ORIGINAL SIN

IV. ORIGINAL SIN AND LIBERATION SPIRITUALITY
1. Doctrine of original sin as theological basis for the concept of social sin a. importance of cooperation in community and communities of solidarity and a more adequate understanding of the necessity of infant baptism 2. Call for faith in the strength, in the healing and liberating grace of Christ 3. Primacy of redemption as personal interior conversion = opening ourselves to Gods grace and love a. It is God who heals us with His grace, with His life-giving Presence and it is made available to everyone through Christ b. But God can only heal us if we acknowledge our need for healingrepentance 4. Redemption and our participation in the liturgical/sacramental life of the Church a. Sacraments began as the early Christian communitys attempt to keep alive the presence of Jesus whom they loved b. outward signs instituted by Christ