(This blog post is my response to some of the questions that came from our Bible study groups this week, who are both reading and discussing "Genesis for Normal People" by Peter Enns and Jared Byas. The authors make mention of the Augustinian roots of "original sin" but don't really dive into it enough to be helpful in reshaping our understanding of this doctrine.)
For centuries, the doctrine of original sin has shaped much of Christian thought, teaching that humans are born sinful and broken due to Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden. While this belief has become central in many Christian traditions, it’s worth asking whether it reflects the teachings of Jesus or the early church. And, more importantly, does it align with the profound truth that every person is created in the Imago Dei—the image of God?
Original Sin: Where Did It Come From?
The idea of original sin as we know it today originated with St. Augustine in the 4th century. Influenced by his interpretation of the Apostle Paul’s writings, particularly Romans 5:12-21, Augustine taught that humanity inherited a sinful nature from Adam, making us all predisposed to sin from birth. This concept became foundational for much of Western Christian theology, especially in Roman Catholic and Protestant traditions.
However, Jesus himself never preached this idea. His teachings focused on love, forgiveness, and the capacity for personal transformation. Likewise, the early Apostles didn’t teach that humanity was inherently sinful and corrupt. Instead, they emphasized the power of God’s grace and the call to live in love and righteousness.
The Jewish Roots: A Different Perspective
In Jewish thought, where the Genesis story of Adam and Eve originates, there is no doctrine of original sin. Judaism teaches that while Adam and Eve’s disobedience had consequences—such as bringing death and hardship into the world—this didn’t result in humanity inheriting a sinful nature. Instead, Judaism emphasizes yetzer ha-tov (the inclination toward good) and yetzer ha-ra (the inclination toward evil), recognizing that humans have the ability to choose between right and wrong.
The focus in Judaism is on individual responsibility and moral choice. Every person is capable of repentance (teshuvah) and reconciliation with God. There’s no need for a doctrine of inherited guilt because people are seen as inherently capable of doing good, not as beings in need of rescue from a broken nature.
What’s the Danger in Viewing People as Inherently Broken?
Thinking of humanity as inherently sinful can lead to several harmful consequences. First, it can foster feelings of shame and unworthiness. If people believe they are fundamentally broken, they may struggle to see their own worth or potential for growth. This view can also limit empowerment—people may feel incapable of making positive contributions to the world, seeing themselves as too flawed to reflect God’s goodness.
This negative outlook can also foster judgment and exclusion. When we see others as inherently sinful, we may be quicker to judge them and slower to offer compassion and grace. Churches and communities can become places of judgment rather than spaces of healing and welcome.
Moreover, this doctrine can distort the message of grace itself. If people are taught that they are hopelessly broken, they may see grace as something they need to earn or desperately cling to, rather than a gift that affirms their inherent worth as image-bearers of God.
Imago Dei: Rediscovering Our True Nature
Here’s the good news: the doctrine of original sin is not the only way to understand human nature. The concept of Imago Dei, rooted in Genesis 1:26-27, teaches that every person is created in the image of God. This means that at our core, we are reflections of the divine, capable of love, creativity, compassion, and goodness.
When we embrace Imago Dei, we see people not as fundamentally broken, but as bearers of God’s image, capable of great good. It reminds us that grace isn’t about fixing something inherently flawed, but about empowering us to live more fully into the divine potential already within us. This view aligns with the teachings of Jesus, who consistently saw the value and dignity in every person and invited them into a life of love, transformation, and purpose.
Reimagining Humanity and Salvation
Abandoning the belief that humans are inherently broken allows us to rediscover the transformative power of grace. Rather than focusing on humanity’s flaws, we can emphasize the divine image in every person. This shift leads to healthier self-understanding, more compassionate communities, and a faith that celebrates the beauty and dignity of all people.
Salvation, then, becomes not about escaping an inherited condition but about turning toward God, aligning with divine love, and realizing our fullest potential as children of God.
This reframing of sin and salvation not only resonates with the teachings of Jesus but also aligns more closely with our understanding of human nature today. By reexamining and setting aside doctrines that may have distorted the Gospel message over the centuries, we can rediscover a faith that affirms human dignity, emphasizes personal responsibility, and celebrates the transformative power of grace.
The Gospel calls us to see ourselves and others as God sees us—created in love, filled with potential, and capable of reflecting the divine in the world. When we let go of doctrines that wrongly emphasize brokenness and instead embrace the truth of Imago Dei, we can experience a deeper, more hopeful faith that invites everyone into the fullness of life with God.
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