Original sin

In Christianity, the doctrine of Original sin refers to the story of Adam and Eve having eating the fruit of the forbidden tree. Due to this sin they were kicked out of the Garden of Eden, the paradise God created for them. The doctrine, elaborated upon at length by [Thomas Acquinas]?, states that the stain of this sin is inherited by all human beings from Adam.

Since we are, according to this doctrine, born sinners, we die sinners, in other words we are 'lost' eternally, and in need of salvation?. The only way we are justified in God's eyes and reconciled with God is by humbly asking for forgiveness, believing that his son Jesus Christ through his death and crucifixion? took on himself the due punishment for our sins and trespasses (atonement?, and living life in obedience to God. The ultimate punishment for the original sin was expulsion from the presence of God and subjection to physical and spiritual death; the ultimate goal and blessing of reconciliation is the restoration of the original relationship man had with God; this includes eternal life.

Christians have different views on the way to receive salvation from original sin. On one end of the spectrum are they who believe that only a chosen elect, the predestined, will come to realise their fortunate position, while all the others will have to suffer under the yoke of sin and never achieve any assurance of salvation. On the other end are they that believe that every person ever born will ultimately be justified, restored and saved.

Meaning of the story

Some people attribute their expulsion from Eden as punishment for disobeying God's commandment (Gen. 2:17) "Of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat . . ." Others interpret the fruit as the symbol of something so precious that Adam and Eve would risk their lives to "eat of it."

/Talk