The Fall & original sin

• What was Adam and Eves relationship prior to the Fall?

  • Harmonious relationship with nature and each other
  • God commanded them to 'go forth and multiply' - implies sexual relationship
  • Our rationality must of had perfect control over our bodies (sex was not driven by desire)
• What did Adam and Eve do which led to original sin?

  • They disobeyed God - banished from the garden of eden (the fall)
  • Human nature is corrupted, causing an irresistible desire to sin
• How has this corruption been inherited by every human?

  • All humans were 'seminally present in the loins of Adam.'
  • 'We all were that one man who fell into sin' - we became cursed by the sin, which is why we are all born with original sin too.
• Name 3 features of original sin.

  • Cupiditas (selfish love) vs caritas (love of others) - original sin causes cupiditas to take over caritas.
  • Concupiscence - when our bodily desires overwhelm our reason
• Scientific evidence against the fall?

  • Genetic diversity means that it is not possible for all of humanity to have descended from two people
  • We evolved and were not created
  • Biological understanding of reproduction is false
  • So, the doctrine of original sin is not true, undermining all of Augustines conclusions
• Why might his views still be defended?

  • Maybe the fall isn't accurate - but original sin is if you look how terrible humans can be
  • e.g Augustine stole from a pear tree when he was a child just for the fun of sinning - children must be born with a desire to sin
  • G.K Chesterton argues original sin can be seen in the street - observable
  • Hobbes (Philosopher) - concluded that human nature contains an orientation towards evil and violence.
• What is Pelagius' perspective on Augustine's observations?

  • Augustines observations reflect his society, not human nature
  • He emphasises the influence of education/upbringing in shaping behaviour
• How is Pelagius backed up by contemporary evidence?

  • Martin Luther King - 'the arch of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice'.
  • Steven pinker - violence has decreased in modern times
  • If Augustine were correct the OS caused temptation to sin - then humans could not have morally improved - yet they have
  • We cannot be as hopelessly corrupted as Augustine thought