Final answer:
Original Sin refers to Adam and Eve's disobedience in eating from the forbidden tree, thus damaging the 'image of God' within humans by introducing a propensity for wrongdoing and mortality. Philosophers and theologians like St. Augustine interpret this as part of soul-making, implying growth towards spiritual maturity. Redemption and grace are key to restoring the flawed human nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of Original Sin in Christian theology refers to the sin committed by Adam and Eve when they ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. This act resulted in the corruption of human nature itself, marking every person born into the world with a flawed moral compass - it is seen as a wound to our 'image of God'.
In the story of Genesis 3, the serpent deceives Eve, leading to the disobedience of God's command. God, foreseeing the event yet allowing it to occur, sets the stage for the necessary redemption through Christ. This event in biblical narrative damages the image of God in humans, reflecting the inherent capacity for wrongdoing and mortality.
Philosophers like St. Augustine have argued that this fall of humanity serves a greater purpose by allowing humans the opportunity for spiritual growth, a process called soul-making. While this Original Sin taints the divine image within us, the concept of grace and redemption plays a central role in restoring it, according to Christian doctrine.