Takeaway: The concept of original sin has greatly shaped Western culture.
Original Sin is a doctrine I have always had trouble understanding. It is not that I disagree that we are all sinful. I affirm that.
My issues have been in the way that Christians understand the origin of sin, the way some understand the need for a physical Adam and Eve to affirm the doctrine of original sin (which then some need to justify the need for Christ’s death and resurrection), and the extent of the corruption of the world caused by the fall.
Jacobs is an author I appreciate. He was a professor at Wheaton College, and while we overlapped, I did not have him for any classes. But he is one of those authors that, as I read, I am always aware that he is much smarter than I am. Not in a snooty or negative way. He is very readable. It is that he always brings in ideas and sources that I would not have considered (and often do not even know exist).
This is not a theological history but a cultural one. So Jacobs deals primarily with how Christianity and the West have culturally understood original sin. Occasionally, the cultural and the theological understanding separate. I think, at least partially, this is my issue with original sin. I hear people speaking of the transmission of sin as if it were literally part of our DNA. I believe it was Augustine who proposed that one reason that Jesus could be born of a woman and not be corrupted by original sin is that sin was transferred through semen.
As with other theological concepts, the analogy and metaphors we use to explain them sometimes distort the actual content.
Personally, I need more work on original sin to be ‘comfortable’ with it. I think it is not a doctrine that comes easily to a post-modern world. But Jacobs does a very good job introducing it and some of the ways that it has influenced our culture for good and ill. One of the areas that I need to explore is the different ways that the Eastern Orthodox church deals with original sin. My understanding is that the Eastern Orthodox church has a very different understanding of sin. That is outside the realm of this book, but will be in my future reading.
Later Note: I think in the years after I read this, a shifting cultural awareness of systemic sin has made people more open to original sin. But there is a difference between the ideas that all people are impacted by sin, that all people do sin, and that sin is part of each human from birth. It is easier to discuss sin now than it has been at some times earlier in our culture. However, there is still a lot of debate about how the concept of sin works. The value of this book is that it traces the cultural history so that we can compare that cultural history to theological history.
Original Sin: A Cultural History by Alan Jacobs Purchase Links: Hardcover, Kindle Edition
Hey Adam,
Sounds fascinating. I’ve only read Alan Jacobs in Books and Culture but would like to read more of him. Would you mind sending it to us? (You sure you want to give it away? =) ) I’ll FB message you the address. Thanks.
It is yours Nate. I also have another book of his essays that I can send as well if you want.
Just picked up the $8 Kindle version of Original Sin.
Did anyone ever claim Jacobs’ book of essays? If not, please send if you’re still willing!
Thanks!