Strangeways

As I was reading over my Bible the other day, I started pondering this point. I was raised Catholic, and CAtholics believe in Original Sin, which is descended from Adam and Eve. One of the purposes of Baptism, for instance, is to wash away this Original Sin.

Most Catholics, however, also believe in evolution, not literal creationism. However, doesn't this conflict with original sin? how can you believe in original sin, if you don't believe Adam and Eve existed? What is the basis for your original sin then? Perhaps you could say original sin then becomes a figurative and not literal event, but then how does one justify being born with it if it's no longer literal? Is there a rational way out of this jam?

Any responses would be great, and sorry if this is in the wrong forum. I'm never sure if I put my threads in the right forum or not since there's so many.

Strangeways

WCH

Maybe Y-Chromosome Adam and Mitochondrial Eve did some pretty f'd up stuff.

[edit]A more serious answer would be that, if sin is seen as hereditary, then you must acknowledge that at least one of your ancestors has sinned, so it really shouldn't matter who it was.

Harry Bosch

First off, I would say that one dosn't believe in evolution. You don't say that you believe in gravity do you? One either accepts the evidence supporting evolution or they believe in a conspiracy.

No, as a liberal Christian, I don't believe in original sin. It just dosn't make sense. If I clone myself, will my clone have the burden of original sin? Was god so foolish as to not realize that his creation could have temptations? And since when does the crimes of the father get passed on to his offspring? Original sin is man's invention. Think how much money it raised for the Cathelic Church over the years!

Strangeways

You're right, one doesn't believe in evolution, and that was a stupid way of putting it on my part. I usually make a point of saying that belief shouldn't be used when discussing evolution. Definitely a huge mistake on my part.

Glad to see that you view Original Sin as human invention as well. :thumbs:

Ftoomsch

Well, THE original sin, someone please correct me if I am wrong, was that Man ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, even though God told him not to. Putting aside the question of how Adam was to know disobeying God was wrong before he knew the difference between good and evil, let's say you believe the myth figuratively. That is after all how many of us view myths: meaningful, but not literal. So, figuratively speaking, mankind disobeyed God, hungered for knowledge, and pursued it anyway; this angered God and was therefore a sin. If you can buy the idea that your deity wants you to be without curiosity, and the idea that disobeying Him is sinful, and the idea that sin can be inherited, no reason why you can't believe in original sin even without a literal interpretation of the creation story.