125k views
2 votes
Are we personally responsible for the sin of Adam?

1 Answer

5 votes

Final answer:

According to Christian theology, particularly the Augustinian concept of original sin, humanity collectively bears responsibility for Adam's sin, while from a modern existential perspective, individuals are seen as having radical freedom and thus personal responsibility for their own actions and morality.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question of whether individuals are personally responsible for the sin of Adam is a deeply theological one, touching on themes of free will, original sin, and the justice of God. In Christian theology, particularly within Augustinian tradition, the concept of original sin posits that humanity bears a collective responsibility for Adam's transgression, affecting the nature of mankind and necessitating divine redemption through Jesus Christ. Irenaeus provides an alternate perspective, one where evil exists as a part of the soul-making process, thus aligning with a developmental and teleological view that does not solely blame humankind for inherited sin but sees it as a necessary stage in spiritual development. Contrarily, modern existential thought often emphasizes radical human freedom and responsibility for choices, suggesting that humans define their own morality and are thus responsible for the consequences of their actions, distancing the notion of inherent sinfulness from a historical event and situating it within the context of individual autonomy.

User Darryl Hebbes
by
8.2k points

No related questions found