No Adam = no Original Sin - right?

[Soldano16]

Now that it's widely accepted that the story of Adam is not a literal representation of reality, the concept of original sin falls apart, it would seem.

 

[Dunemeister]

Not at all. The first chapter of Genesis is a theological interpretation of human origins. It's telling us that "Adam" (the word means "humanity") has a propensity to rebel against God, and this propensity leads to idolatry and immorality.

 

[GadFly]

Not at all. The first chapter of Genesis is a theological interpretation of human origins. It's telling us that "Adam" (the word means "humanity") has a propensity to rebel against God, and this propensity leads to idolatry and immorality.

I have been taught that we are born with inbred sin. Most of my life I believed that to be true. For the last few years I have seriously questioned this belief based mainly on John 1, which seems to be a better description of Gen.1. Is Christ the light that lights everybody that comes into the world and how does that conflict with inbred sin? By inbred sin I mean original sin.

 

[Captain Civic]

I have been taught that we are born with inbred sin.

Only if your mother is your sister.

Sorry, couldn't resist. :slap:

 

[Willamena]

Adam = no Original Sin - right

Now that it's widely accepted that the story of Adam is not a literal representation of reality, the concept of original sin falls apart, it would seem.

Non-literally speaking, no Adam would mean no Original Sin, the way I understand both those symbols of reality.

Edit: Christ is the light that illuminates the symbols.

 

[Scuba Pete]

There is no Biblical support for the concept of "original sin". In fact, I defy you to find the term in scripture.

 

[doppelganger]

Now that it's widely accepted that the story of Adam is not a literal representation of reality, the concept of original sin falls apart, it would seem.

Unless "original sin" has a value that isn't literal as well.

 

[Willamena]

We should do a whole thread of "non-literally speaking"...

 

[Dunemeister]

I have been taught that we are born with inbred sin. Most of my life I believed that to be true. For the last few years I have seriously questioned this belief based mainly on John 1, which seems to be a better description of Gen.1. Is Christ the light that lights everybody that comes into the world and how does that conflict with inbred sin? By inbred sin I mean original sin.

The text at issue:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life,*5 and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
John 1:1-5

I'm not so sure this contradicts the doctrine of original sin. Rather, this passage seems only to say that Jesus is the light, which in turn means that he is the truth. He enlightens. Besides, what about this?

And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.'
John 3:19-21

People loved darkness rather than light. That seems to presume a propensity for evil. In any case, I'm not so sure that these passages in John speak directly to the issue.

 

[pray4me]

I don't believe people are born evil. I believe people are born as Adam was made good and that each of them eventually makes the choice to sin sometime during their lives. You truely see innocence when you look into a newborn baby's eyes. How can anyone think that we are born evil?

 

[Sola'lor]

Now that it's widely accepted that the story of Adam is not a literal representation of reality, the concept of original sin falls apart, it would seem.

It is widely accepted that it's not literal? Well to each his/her own. I don't believe in original sin, anyway, even though I believe in a literal Adam,

 

[Dunemeister]

I don't believe people are born evil. I believe people are born as Adam was made good and that each of them eventually makes the choice to sin sometime during their lives. You truely see innocence when you look into a newborn baby's eyes. How can anyone think that we are born evil?

The doctrine of original sin (despite what some overenthusiastic proponents of it say) does not say that people are born evil. It says that we are born with a propensity for evil. You don't have to teach children to be selfish, lie, or hurt others. Quite the contrary. You have to teach them to share, to be considerate, to be generous. So whatever "innocence" children have in their eyes, it's seriously defaced by their first birthday.

 

[Comprehend]

Not at all. The first chapter of Genesis is a theological interpretation of human origins. It's telling us that "Adam" (the word means "humanity") has a propensity to rebel against God, and this propensity leads to idolatry and immorality.

Adam means "man" not "humanity"

'adam {aw-dawm'**
Hebrew: noun masculine
Possible Definitions:
1) man, mankind
1a) man, human being
1b) man, mankind (much more frequently intended sense in OT)
1c) Adam, first man
1d) city in Jordan valley
'adam {aw-dawm'**
Hebrew: noun masculine
from 119;
Strong's Number 120
Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament - 25a

 

[Comprehend]

Now that it's widely accepted that the story of Adam is not a literal representation of reality, the concept of original sin falls apart, it would seem.

I guess I am one of those people who does believe that Adam was an actual person who "fell" however, I do not believe in Original Sin... so what do you think of that?

 

[Soldano16]

"Adam" (the word means "humanity") has a propensity to rebel against God, and this propensity leads to idolatry and immorality.

So god made us this way and then blames us?

 

[Soldano16]

I guess I am one of those people who does believe that Adam was an actual person who "fell" however, I do not believe in Original Sin... so what do you think of that?

I must admit that I don't think much of anyone who believes the bible as a literal account.

 

[sandandfoam]

I don't believe people are born evil. I believe people are born as Adam was made good and that each of them eventually makes the choice to sin sometime during their lives. You truely see innocence when you look into a newborn baby's eyes. How can anyone think that we are born evil?

I agree with the view that when you look into the face of a newborn you are looking at God.

 

[astarath]

lol I imagine that we dont often think about you either Soldano

 

[crystalonyx]

The concept of "sin" was invented by religion to use as a place-holder for guilt to keep believers. The idea that we need saving from ourselves is actually ridiculous, what we need saving from is snake-oil salesmen.

 

[rheff78]

Actually, by the story, no Eve would equal no original sin.