ORIGINAL SIN

I wrote yesterday how my antennae now go up when I hear Bible teachers and preachers engage in proof-texting. If someone needs to hop all over the Bible and cherry pick verses, plucking them out of context, in order to establish a doctrine, there’s reason to be highly suspicious of the doctrine.

Which brings me to the doctrine of “Original Sin”. I don’t have a firmly established belief about Original Sin, but I can see why it would be important to give it some thought. I’ve watched a couple of YouTube videos on the subject and I have questions:

• Is there an agreed upon definition? Or is this another one of those theological terms that means different things to different people?
• How is Original Sin different from simply believing people are sinful?
• How long has the doctrine been around? Where did it originate?
• What are the ramifications of the doctrine? Of its opposition?
• What are the alternatives to Original Sin?
• Which denominations/sects are on which side of the question?
• MOST IMPORTANTLY: What Bible passages are used to establish the veracity of the doctrine? What Bible verses support the opposition’s position?

In other words, I am way past just asking what the past and current leaders within my own faith tradition have tended to believe – and then just accepting that position on their authority. 

I don’t have any answers yet. Just my questions.