Original sin, control, and divine blame
Some Critical Reflections on the Moderate Doctrine of Original Sin
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 7166305 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Aku Visala (0000-0002-8692-804X, University of Helsinki, corresponding author), Olli-Pekka Vainio (0000-0001-8823-2356, University of Helsinki) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 61 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 78-92 |
| Publication date | 2025-03-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Religious Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0034-4125 • E-ISSN: 1469-901X |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/s0034412523001087 |
| OpenAlex | W4390540650 |
| Language | IT |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 20 |
This article examines a construal of the doctrine of original sin which affirms the cognitive corruption of human faculties but denies that humans carry original guilt for Adam's fall or for cognitive corruption. All humans require Christ's atonement, because they either inevitably commit at least one sin or are rejected by God for other reasons. We go on to identify three problems with this account. The first problem is the ‘inevitability’ of sinning. Here, the defender is forced either to accept a compatibilist analysis of responsibility or provide a libertarian-friendly analysis of ‘inevitability’. The latter option contradicts the Augustinian contention that it is impossible for sinners to lead a life of virtue and holiness. The second problem has to do with the mechanics of the cognitive effects of sin. The cognitive effects of original sin make it very difficult or inevitable for humans to perform meritorious actions and very easy or inevitable for them to commit sinful actions. If the sinner's degree of control over her sinful actions is so low, it seems that she does not deserve divine blame and punishment for failing to commit meritorious actions. Finally, we raised some problems regarding the fate of the non-culpable sinners
Atonement · Blame · Commit · Compatibilism · Control (management) · Doctrine · Economics · Epistemology · Free will · Language change · Law and economics · Original sin · Punishment (psychology) · Sociology · Theology · Virtue · Augustinian Studies and Theology · Free Will and Agency · Philosophy · Psychology · Social Psychology · Theology and Philosophy of Evil
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2025 (1) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |