Recent Reconstruction of the Doctrine of Sin: II. Original Sin

The doctrine of original sin, which commanded almost unanimous approval in the history of Christian thinking, has recently aroused adverse criticism. The biblical support of the theological doctrine has been found to be very doubtful. Science has made incredible the doctrine of so profound an altera...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Tennant, Frederick Robert (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: University of Chicago Press 1925
In: The journal of religion
Year: 1925, Volume: 5, Issue: 2, Pages: 150-162
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Summary:The doctrine of original sin, which commanded almost unanimous approval in the history of Christian thinking, has recently aroused adverse criticism. The biblical support of the theological doctrine has been found to be very doubtful. Science has made incredible the doctrine of so profound an alteration of human nature as is attributed to Adam, within the lifetime of one individual. We recognize aspects in human behavior due to the persistence of animal instincts, but these are biologically considered normal and natural. They are non-moral antecedents of sin, but not inherently sinful. The "higher" life of any individual is socially rather than physiologically produced. If we are to speak of the transmission of sin at all, we should look to social forces for the general conditions under which the specific inheritance of each individual finds expression.
ISSN:1549-6538
Contains:Enthalten in: The journal of religion
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1086/480493