One of the general differences between Western and Eastern Christianity is in their view of 'Original Sin'. A while ago I came across this blog post that details how Augustine may have been wrong about OS because of a misreading of the Greek and Latin texts. This is the main basis for mainstream RC and Protestant views of OS, though it is not the only view acceptable to Catholics it is the dominant one.
I'd like to know your thoughts on this:
"Augustine took Paul’s phrase “ἐφ᾽ ᾧ πάντες ἥμαρτον” following the Vulgate “in quo omnes peccaverunt” to be “in whom [Adam] all sinned”.
(The Greek can be transliterated ef’ ho pantes hemarton.) Well, Augustine didn’t actually use the Vulgate, which was being translated during his lifetime, but the sometimes not very accurate Old Latin translations. But his Latin version seems to have been similar to the Vulgate here. Doug continues:
The Augustinian interpretation of Paul’s “ἐφ᾽ ᾧ πάντες ἥμαρτον” as meaning “in whom all sinned” makes it the most disastrous preposition in history. All modern translations agree that its proper meaning is “because.”
More precisely, “the most disastrous preposition” is ἐφ᾽ ef’, a contracted form of epi meaning “on”. The Greek phrase ἐφ᾽ ᾧ ef’ ho literally means “on which”, or possibly “on whom”, but is commonly used to mean “because”, or perhaps “in that”. The problem is that the Latin rendering of ἐφ᾽ ᾧ, in quo, is ambiguous between “in which” and “in whom” (I’m not sure if it can also mean simply “because” or “in that”), and Augustine understood it as meaning “in whom”, i.e. “in Adam”."
Augustine's mistake about original sin - Gentle WisdomGentle Wisdom
Original sin was connected to eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which is symbolic of law. Law defines, teaches and enforces what is considered good and evil behavior. Paul says, that sin is not imputed where there is no law. Sin only appears when a law appears, since sin has no power outside the law.
For example, things that were not against the law, 100 years ago, but which are now against the law, only become a sin when the law appears. When automobiles first appeared, one did not need a license to drive. This requirement only became a sin, when a law was created that said now you need a license. Law and sin is not magic but follows cause and affect, with law the cause of sin. Paul also said sin taking opportunity through the commandment produces sin of every kind.
Law defines and therefore creates sin. The more laws we define the sins that are created. The accumulative affect of law, is a lot of unconscious sin, that one is forced to learn by being defined by the law. This creates an internal polarization, contrary to instinct, causing another affect noticed by Paul. Sin taking opportunity through the new commandment, produces sin of every kind. The unnatural potential defined by law of man will need to be lowered. This will often occur via unconscious impulse, even in ways that do not appear to be directly connected to the specific law. It is more abbots the law that broke the camel's back. One may get pissed off and break a window due to the sudden hike in taxes.
As another example of the problems with law, marijuana laws are different state to state in the USA. If you travel across the country, smoking marijuana, you will be a sinner in those states where there is a law. However, you will not be a sinner where there is no law. Sin will only be imputed in states where there is a law. Law, like magic, can be used to define sin, and thereby intoxicate the power hungry. The power to make law and define sin can make the ego feel like a god, able to define the sins of others, while ignoring this for yourself. The dual standards the laws of the Democrats, in Washington, behave this way
Original sin is the breaking of the first law of good and evil. This began as a taboo against irrationality accepting law; tree of knowledge, due to fear and vanity, as better than instinct; tree of life. This cultural premise then set a pattern for humans, with some playing god each generation, defining law to give power to sin, in a way that is not rational or universal, but designed to help maintain and consolidate power. Different laws, in different states, for the same thing is not rational, and will lead to problems.
Jesus did away with law in favor of faith. He nailed law and its defined sins to the cross. When Jesus was tried, the Roman magistrate saw no violation of law worthy of death. The Pharisees, who wanted Jesus gone, made up a new law and a new sin to allow the death penalty. Human cultures, after Jesus, continued to make laws of man and accept laws of man, and therefore perpetrated the schema of original sin. Paul makes a distinction between laws of man and laws of God. The laws of God do not show preferences and are the same for all; ten commandments. Manmade tend to be political; subjective and ofter have dual standards that do not apply to the powerful and rich.
Laws of man often have self serving, dual standards, which render it manipulative. For example, Nixon was impeached for spying on an opposition political party. Obama did a similar thing, but worse in 2016, since he used government resources to help him spy. Obama was not even charged for doing something worse; dual standards. This is how laws of man creates injustice. Ironically, all you need to do is be in power and say that a new law allows any president named to Obama, is sinless, even if he breaks the same laws that Nixon broke. This is why God said, you shall surely die if you choose law. The corrupt will control the law and make laws that can railroad the innocent and protect and promote criminals.
Another good example is censorship of free speech on social media. The rules or laws of man on FaceBook will allow free speech for third world dictators to threaten other countries. It also allows Democrats to freely speak their talking points However, rules and laws will target and censor conservation ideas. This type of partition law is a continuation of original sin, since this is based on deception, is self serving and not rational and universal. Adam and Eve ate to booster their own egos and positions of power, not to make the best rational choices for all humans. Many modern laws do the same thing and lead to death and problems for others.
