Someone asked whether humans are inherently good and learn to be bad, or are bad and must learn to be good. I'm Catholic and I believe we are inherently good, being made in God's image, but original sin places the obstacles of death, suffering, ignorance, and an inclination to sin in our way. God, most notably through Baptism, helps us to overcome the inclination to sin. What do other people believe about our being made in God's image/original sin/Baptism/etc? I've always wondered about Muslim/agnostic/whatever other religion viewpoints on these issues.
2007-06-26 11:05:36 · 8 answers · asked by csbp029 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
*To clarify: original sin occurred when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. Also Catholics don't believe Baptism removes your inclination to sin- we just believe it gives you grace and helps you to resist sin. This doesn't mean you will resist it- people are people and are not perfect- but it helps.
2007-06-26 11:59:55 · update #1
The Hebrew term translated “sin” is chat·ta’th′, in Greek the word normally used is ha·mar·ti′a - Both words convey the meaning "miss" in the sense of not quite hitting the mark or reaching the goal.
Of course, man was created perfect but through the transgressions of Adam we all have inherited sin - or we are all now short of perfection.
The Hebrew text lists all the sacrifices that had to be made by the nation of Israel in order that they could approach God in a clean and Holy manner - this had to be done on a continuous basis, year after year.
The only thing that could permanently adjust the standing of man would be a sacrifice of equivalence to that which brought about sin. Another perfect man - Jesus in his human form. When Jesus was sacrificed he covered the sins of the world.
The act of baptism doesn't remove sin, Christ's ransom did that - it is a sign that we have dedicated our lives to God and wish to serve him.
Once saved always saved? No, the fact that we can have a clean standing before God doesn't mean we can do what we like - The apostle Paul said in Romans 7:21 that we have a constant fight against sin.
2007-06-26 11:34:20 · answer #1 · answered by Grip Savage 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Baptism alone won't save you, and it doesn't 'wash away'your inclination to sin.
You as a Catholic should know the Biblical story of Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden. - they disobeyed God, and their offspring were BORN in sin, destined to die from that time on.
Only Jeus and His atoning blood can save you to the uttermost; you can never earn Heaven on your own.
2007-06-26 18:12:36 · answer #2 · answered by watcherd 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
What the heck is original Sin in the first place ? We are born in to sin and have a desire to sin . Being baptized is just a outwardly sign that you are a believer in Christ . It will not hinder or stop you from sinning .
2007-06-26 18:11:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus told some in the Bible that they were of their father, the devil. We are all born with a sin nature. But there are some "good" unsaved people. We have all fallen short of the glory of God. So I don't believe we can truly compare what you are trying yo do, but after you are saved, you will want to become like Jesus and do as He did.
2007-06-26 18:24:45 · answer #4 · answered by RB 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Unless you were born with some sort of abnormal brain function, you were born with only the basic instincts to want happiness and to avoid suffering. At first happiness was simple -- your mother's smile or touch, mother's milk, clean and comfortable diapers, clothing, bedding. You were innocent and without sin. Sin and other conceptualizations you would learn later, from people who wished to control you.
This is one of the fundamental differences between Buddhism and Christianity. Buddhists believe that we are all born good, wanting only happiness and not to suffer. We do not believe that we are born sinful and need some external God to intervene on our behalf. It is within our power to create happiness and its causes for ourselves and for others.
2007-06-26 19:54:44 · answer #5 · answered by buddhamonkeyboy 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Here it is in a nut shell:
No person can serve God with the nature that they are born with. They need that nature radically executed by God, and His Holy Spirit infused into that individual.
Apart from this event the person is hell bound.
Baptism will not save anyone. They have to come by way of the cross of Calvary.
2007-06-26 18:08:48 · answer #6 · answered by 1saintofGod 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
People don't commit original sin, they inherit it. That's what baptism does, it gives us the sanctifying grace that we lost.
2007-06-26 19:56:17 · answer #7 · answered by lawlzlawlzduck 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
what is orignial sin?? we were born in sin.
2007-06-26 18:14:30 · answer #8 · answered by Cutie Pie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋