Subject:
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1. Vs. Original Sin
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Fri, 10 Mar 2000 09:02:50 GMT
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Viewed:
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1573 times
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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Jeremy H. Sproat writes:
> Erik Olson wrote:
> > The whole debate between 'unweaned' and 'wiser' Christians about what we get for
> > our works of righteousness, is first about Original Sin. And it's never settled
> > because happy people don't buy it. If you didn't consider every one guilty by
> > nature, you might have been able to make some progress in bettering mankind.
>
> It's funny you mention that. An article of my church's faith declares that
> "we belive that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's
> transgression."
I don't recall such a thing in any other creed. Is this article of
faith meant to quibble with or clarify Paul? Not sure myself whether
Paul is as important to Mormons, as he is to say Lutherans or Baptists
(who make a very big deal out of Paul's argumentive doctrine in an
attempt to reform the church.)
Anyway, the point of Original Sin doesn't take prisoners. It points to
the Law and says "all men want to break these laws, it's in their nature
to do wrong acts. No one is righteous under the Law (here comes faith...)
Even when you try to be good, you have to admit that you just can't do it.
Install Christ 1.0 in your heart right away."
A wide variety of Christians organize insidious events titled
"Vacation Bible School" where they invite everyone from 5 years and up
to face the fact that they are naughty by nature. If the seeds falls
on fertile ground, it gets the child wondering about its helplessness
to know (before the fact) that acting rowdy is inconsiderate and
displeasing to God (and mother and father.) Or how about picking the
neighbor's flowers, or wrassling, or bless their poor little hearts,
lying cheating and stealing. If the VBS people reach the child's
conscience, they succeed in confronting it with an awakening of its
need to be "saved" because it sees that it does these things and
doesn't have any concept of how to reprogram itself. (Also, the
horrible idea of burning in hell, or being separated from Mommy for all
eternity, factors in.)
One day I will have children and teach them that they are accountable
to themselves for their actions. Give them exciting things to do,
confidence in their own abilities, a focus on the factual world around
them, cause for optimism in their future, a sense of adventure, and
role models that have these things. I don't think they will have
the weakness for saviors that religion counts on.
Original Sin insinuates that since you can't live a good life by some
rational code of ethics, then there isn't one. What it substitutes is
a monstrosity: it gives the Christian license to do anything pleasing
to God. As guidance, it gives examples, all of which led to willing
death by horrible execution while giving away your worldly goods and
counting on blessings from unknown sources. I have known Christians
who dare to practice this; they are people who wreck the world
(coincidentally the original Christians were accused of this, but they
had help from pagans.) Some of them respect the law because God
recommends it, and live to inspire others to live by faith, others
even become terrorists because they think they hear the voice of God.
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: 1. Vs. Original Sin
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| (...) Paul is very important to us. However, for all his enthusiasm, he was only human. He certainly became very excited about some things, and much of what he said is doctorine to us, but he wasn't terribly clear about many things as well. Erm, so (...) (25 years ago, 11-Mar-00, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Does God have a monopoly on gods?
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| (...) It's funny you mention that. An article of my church's faith declares that "we belive that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression." (...) What then is the good life? Can you tell me that? Can anyone (...) (25 years ago, 9-Mar-00, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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