While Christians speak of the doctrine of original sin as though it is a biblical concept it is important to know that the idea of original sin was first treated as such by Irenaeus the Bishop of Lyons in the 2nd century, and that it was later further developed in the 4th century by Augustine.
Many Christians would be surprised to learn that the concept of original sin is one that is unfamiliar to Judaism. This does not mean that there is no sense of the reality of sin in Judaism, far from it. The first eleven chapters of Genesis address the subject of human frailty and the reality of sin, but a Jewish reading of these chapters does not focus so much on an original sin of the first couple that set off an avalanche of sin that continues to this day, leaving the human family irretrievably fractured and broken, so much as the reality that there are competing inclinations nestled in the human heart. There is an original blessing that is endangered by what is found within the individual. Judaism is right to stress the original blessing of all created things and the freedom of every person. In order for there to be true freedom, there must be the capacity to choose. Strictly speaking sin is first mentioned in Gen 4:7 where Cain is warned that sin is lurking at the door and that he must master it - how true that is! By Gen 8:21 God reflects on why humanity is not to be destroyed because of the inclination of the human heart towards evil. This is not to say that humanity will always sin, so much as to highlight an inclination that has to be mastered. It also provides a glimpse of God's appreciation of our inherent frailty and the Jewish understanding that while all creation is blessed only God is perfect.
Original sin to be best understood as shorthand for realities we all know well. Life places before us choices every day. We can choose life or death, selfishness or generosity, love or hate, good or evil. Original sin is better understood that capacity in us to choose what is not for our good or the good of others. At the same time we carry in ourselves, our family history, and our human history the consequences of the wounds of those who have gone before us.
The first 11 chapters of Genesis creatively and imaginatively reflect on our human story, and preserve some of Israel's reflection on the ups and downs of their own experience as a nation from their humble beginnings, to settlement in the land, the establishment and dissolution of the united kingdom of Judah and Israel, and the destruction of the Northern Kingdom by the Assyrians in 722 BCE, and the deportation to Babylon in 587 BCE. They had come to appreciate human frailty, but also God's blessing as their history had unfolded over the centuries. The difference between their perspective on original sin and some later Christian perspectives is one of emphasis. Rather than seeing a person as a sheet of paper already marked by original sin the emphasis is on the freedom of the person to choose good or evil. Our lives are a blank sheet of paper - what we write on it depends on us since we are free to choose. As Moses reminds the people in Deut 30:19 " I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live".
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| Michaelangelo - Sistine Chapel |
Many Christians would be surprised to learn that the concept of original sin is one that is unfamiliar to Judaism. This does not mean that there is no sense of the reality of sin in Judaism, far from it. The first eleven chapters of Genesis address the subject of human frailty and the reality of sin, but a Jewish reading of these chapters does not focus so much on an original sin of the first couple that set off an avalanche of sin that continues to this day, leaving the human family irretrievably fractured and broken, so much as the reality that there are competing inclinations nestled in the human heart. There is an original blessing that is endangered by what is found within the individual. Judaism is right to stress the original blessing of all created things and the freedom of every person. In order for there to be true freedom, there must be the capacity to choose. Strictly speaking sin is first mentioned in Gen 4:7 where Cain is warned that sin is lurking at the door and that he must master it - how true that is! By Gen 8:21 God reflects on why humanity is not to be destroyed because of the inclination of the human heart towards evil. This is not to say that humanity will always sin, so much as to highlight an inclination that has to be mastered. It also provides a glimpse of God's appreciation of our inherent frailty and the Jewish understanding that while all creation is blessed only God is perfect.
Original sin to be best understood as shorthand for realities we all know well. Life places before us choices every day. We can choose life or death, selfishness or generosity, love or hate, good or evil. Original sin is better understood that capacity in us to choose what is not for our good or the good of others. At the same time we carry in ourselves, our family history, and our human history the consequences of the wounds of those who have gone before us.
The first 11 chapters of Genesis creatively and imaginatively reflect on our human story, and preserve some of Israel's reflection on the ups and downs of their own experience as a nation from their humble beginnings, to settlement in the land, the establishment and dissolution of the united kingdom of Judah and Israel, and the destruction of the Northern Kingdom by the Assyrians in 722 BCE, and the deportation to Babylon in 587 BCE. They had come to appreciate human frailty, but also God's blessing as their history had unfolded over the centuries. The difference between their perspective on original sin and some later Christian perspectives is one of emphasis. Rather than seeing a person as a sheet of paper already marked by original sin the emphasis is on the freedom of the person to choose good or evil. Our lives are a blank sheet of paper - what we write on it depends on us since we are free to choose. As Moses reminds the people in Deut 30:19 " I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live".
The way I see the original sin is when we become so proud to think we can be as good and all knowing as our God ... The sin of pride catches the human race over and over and it's reflected clearly in the major catastrophes of mankind.. Right through the ages
ReplyDeleteHi Milly, the Biblical writers would certainly agree with your perspective. Genesis is clear in talking about us as created in God's image, and there is great dignity and responsibility that goes with that, but we are creatures not the creator. Keeping things in their proper perspective is not always an easy thing to do and misplaced pride is well and truly present in Genesis 1-11 in Lamech's boast and the Tower of Babel as representative moments.
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