Original sin

In Christianity, the doctrine of Original sin states that all humans have inherited the guilt of sin from Adam and Eve. According to this doctrine, this guilt is transmitted through inheritence to all people, and exists in them from the moment of their conception. The doctrine was first fully formulated by Saint Augustine.

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. Between those two poles are those that believe that people are still free to choose life with God or separation from God; people remain dependent on God's grace and mercy, but also have a role in participating in their salvation.

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."

Some Eastern Orthodox theologians believe that Adam and Eve began to choose separation from God when they choose independence and took fruit for themselves, rather than allow God to continue to feed them and remain dependent on Him. The expulsion from the Garden was not a legal consequence, but to prevent them from eating of the Tree of Life and immortalizing their sin. As Christians partake of the Eucharist and eat and drink the Body and Blood of Christ, they return to dependence on God and experience a gradual healing of the relationship between God and humanity.

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