The
doctrine of
Original Sin has many opponents, including many
Christians, but this is largely because it is misunderstood. There are two principal definitions of original sin: the
act of sinning committed by
Adam and
Eve, and the
state that humanity is now in due to this sin. To add to
Quizro's writeup:
OBJECTION FOUR: "How is Original Sin transmitted? How can a newborn, innocent of all action, 'get' original sin? Is it
genetic or something?"
A RESPONSE: Original sin is not
magical; it is not a literal stain; it is not a substance; it is not a
virus; it is not
genetic. When all humans are said to have original sin, it merely means that we are in a negative state--that we
lack special
graces that we don't truly deserve but that
God initially gifted
Adam:
immortality, the guaranteed vision of
God,
freedom from
disease, complete control over
temptation while also having
free will, etc.
So the
rationalist's objection is thus invalid. The objection from those who quote
Ezekiel 18:20 ("It is the soul that sins, and no other, that shall die; a son shall not share a father's guilt, nor a father his son's. The righteous man shall reap the fruit of his own righteousness, and the wicked man the fruit of his own wickedness") is also invalid, because
original sin is not a punishment. It is merely a retraction of certain gifts because we don't deserve them. It is also important for
Christians to always keep in mind that Original Sin, while real, is fairly unimportant compared to the great gift given to us that is much greater than what was taken away earlier: the love of
Christ, and his death for us.