[lit-ideas] Re: The Problem of Evil
- From: "Andreas Ramos" <andreas@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 9 Mar 2006 09:30:18 -0800
... the question of original sin. Christianity teaches it, Judaism refutes it.
The christian idea of "original sin" is based on the concept of "generational curse" (or
"generational punishment.") In modern society, a man robs a bank, he goes to jail (well,
actually, he becomes a White House appointee to Iraq). In biblical times, he would be
punished, and his family as well for the next seven generations. The sons of sons of the
sons would be punished for the errors of the grandfather.
Classical China had this as well. If someone was found guilty of a crime, he would be
executed, along with all male sons over the age of 16, and the females and under-age sons
would be turned into slaves and given the military. The family estates would be confiscated,
and if the crime was severe, the ancestor shrines would be destroyed and the bones of
ancestors disinterred and exposed to the weather.
The most extreme example of generational punishment is of course the christian god's curse
on humanity: all of Adam's offspring (all humans) are collectively punished for Adam's
error.
So, to refute orignal sin, one only needs to remove the idea of generational punishment. Why
should I be punished for an act by somenone else? We don't accept generational punishment
anymore, so the idea of original sin has no basis as well.
yrs,
andreas
www.andreas.com
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