For monotheist religions that don't believe in the curse of "original sin", then why do we all die?

Question

I asked this question last week and only non-religious people, for the most part, responded in spite of what I said. I would like a few more answers.

Adam and Eve were banned from Eden, and subject to pain, suffering, disease, old age, and eventually death, because of the curse of God as described in Genesis chapter 3. But if Adam's (and Eve's) sin applies only to them, then why are WE subject to Adam's curse? Why can't we just walk back into Eden and live forever, pain free and disease free, if we are not sinful too?

Obviously I am curious what is the Muslim, Mormon, and/or the Jewish explanation of why God allows suffering, pain and death.

Most branches of Christianity simply accept the explanation by the Apostle Paul that when Adam & Eve sinned, they somehow contaminated the collective human spirit in such a way that we are born selfish with an inherited predisposition toward sin that somehow offends God (Romans 5:12-14). Apparently this same curse was applied by God to all of material creation – including the animals that Adam ruled over -- for those whose response from last week implied that they never heard this (Romans 8:18-25).

Since not all monotheistic, Abrahamaic religious accept Paul's explanation, then how do they explain why death and suffering is universal, instead of being observed only among obviously "sinful" people? Even religious people die.

I'm not trying to pick a fight; just curious. Please educate me

http://www.philosophyofreligion.info/originalsin.html

http://www.allaboutcreation.org/Original-Sin.htm

I take it from the first three responses that most people just assume that God planned death as a part of life and just leave it at that. I can accept that answer if it is what your religion really says..

Yes, “Aquila”, I am familiar with the "the Epicurean paradox" (from “2000 Years of Disbelief”), but Epicurus never considered the possibility that Evil could possibly serve the greater good in a way that we cannot yet comprehend (Origen).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem_of_evil

Thanks for everyone who responded so far -- especially those who obviously put a lot of effort into an answer.

Some extra reading for those who want it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_sin

Answer 1

for reform jews, we think since God gave us free will, it is our own actions that bring "evil", Satan is used symbollically to represent evil and greed but we do not believe in original sin...people die because its part of life...you are born, you live, and you die....no reference to the "original sin" cuz we take Genesis to be comprehended symbollicaly... so we live in a world like this with famine and death all around because people, ehem the government, choose to act that way..so people should resolve our own problems...since God did give us free willl......thats a Reform Jewish point of view for you.....

Answer 2

I detect several questions embedded within you "question." I'll try to answer them:
1) Are we punished for Adam's sin?
2) Are we cursed for Adam's sin?
3) Did God subject the creation to bondage for the sin of Adam?
4) Did God plan from the start that humanity would suffer and die?

1) Actually, God has answered this question:

Ezekiel 18:1-2
The word of Yahweh came to me again, saying, What do you mean, that you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?

In other words, why are the sins of the fathers visited upon the children? Or, why do we suffer for what others did? Your question put poetically.

As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, you shall not have [occasion] any more to use this proverb in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins, he shall die.
...
The soul who sins, he shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him. -- Ezekiel 18:3-4, 20. {It would be good if you took the time to read the rest of Ezekiel 18 on your own, if you really want to understand.}

So, how does this apply to your question about Adam's sin and the rest of humanity?

God does NOT account Adam's sin to us. We are NOT punished from God for Adam's sin. Neither shall we die because of Adam's sin.

2) But why then do we suffer for Adam's sin?

For this I'll give a little parable.
A good man was driving to church one day. At the same time, the police were in a high-speed chase of a known criminal. In the process, the criminal side-swiped the good man's car so that it spun out of control and hit several other cars. As a result, the good man, and several others, died.

Who sinned, and who suffered?

Sin has a consequence; it hurts others whether they deserved it or not. Though God had cursed the earth (the ground) for Adam's sin, sin brings its own curse. That is why God will not allow sinners into eternal life.

3) You suggested that God was the source of the groaning of creation, this is an assumption. The passage does not say what the cause was. I have always believed it to be the result of Satan's sin {the reasons for this are beyond the scope of this topic.}

Be careful of assumptions; many people go very far from the truth of the Bible by making many false assumptions.

4) Did God plan from the start that humanity would suffer death?

God did not intend for Adam to sin; nor did he intend for him to die. But God was ready with a plan that would bring about salvation for all situations.

I hope this helps your understanding of Biblical beliefs.

Answer 3

We die because it's the first step to time travel.

You have been given eternal life. Born, loved by God, loved by mom and dad, you learned pain, you learned joy, you caused pain, you grew, you raised generations, moved mountains, you die. --> Eternal life, do it all over again. All of it, wiser, better, greater. Know that the Holy Spirit of God is within you.

Adam and Eve were not punished. God expected them to fail. Eternal Life is much better than eternal Heaven. You could not know joy without having ever experienced pain. The garden of Eden would be eternally boring, with no sex, no wants, no needs, it might as well be Hell.

The book of Genesis is a great piece of literature, but it's wisdom is all symbolic. You cannot fully appreciate it until you experience your life properly. When you are married without children, it is like you and your wife are in you garden of Eden. You dread having children know that you can never be nude all the time once you have children. That's symbolism.

If Jesus let us know that we have eternal life with the Lord, what are you doing to Create a better future for your Resurrection. God's people faithfully doing God's Will. How's that for Creationism!!!((evolutionary))

Answer 4

Because man has not yet evolved enough to manipulate the flow of the universal energy.

Every negative thought is energy, every killing has energy, every drug filled, boozed up, depressed or sad individual is creating bad unhealthy energy that actually causes the demise and deterioration of the physical mind body and spirit.

On the up side, every laugh, smile, happy thought, creative joy, whether it be a photo, painting, drawing or sculpture, ever time you say I love you, every time you help some one, every time you care - all these have good positive energy that aid healing, cause good health and you know what else, a darn good enjoyable life.

When will man comprehend the way the universe works.

Answer 5

Death is universal because of an apparant "planned obsolescence" ( of some non-speaking grand designer?), the body wears out, breaks down , has nothing to do with sin. suffering is to all because the laws of nature apply to all. Two people step off a ledge, 1 good and 1 bad , both fall, its called gravity, anything less is silly superstition.

Answer 6

I think it has something to do with those seven things connected to the ends of the chromosomes. You get seven, and one by one they wear away, and after that your body doesn't regenerate and begins to deteriorate. FYI Eve & Adam is Mesopotamian mythology, I thought this is obvious.

Also, the ancient Greeks logically disproved a good god ages ago (using nothing but logic). If someone doesn't accept logic as sound doctrine and prefers superstitious hocus pocus church nonsense, then that's their choice.

Answer 7

We die because we have a material body. The soul is not material, and does not die, but the body dies. So, our "original sin" is not that we die, but that we caused ourselves to be placed in this material body. In this material world, we are subject to birth, death, old age, and disease. We can see that even the plants and animals are living for a time, produce some offspring, wither, and die. These are the conditions for all living entities. In addition, we must suffer three types of miseries here. We suffer misery we bring upon ourselves, due to greed, desire, and envy; we suffer misery brought to us by other living beings in the form of attack, deceit, and mental anguish; and we suffer misery due to natural disasters, disease, and world calamity. No one can escape these conditions.

According to the Bhagavad-Gita, when we give up this body, our soul then enters yet another body, one that is perfectly designed to accommodate the state of mind and desires that we developed in this lifetime. So, if you develop the mentality of an animal, you will receive the body of an animal with characteristics perfectly matched to your desires. So, the intelligent soul tries to develop spiritual qualities, so when we leave this body, we no longer have to take another material body, and we can once again obtain our original, spiritual condition.

Answer 8

The Catholic Church teaches that in the Garden of Eden we were given extra gifts and we abused them and we lost them. We we're not being punished for something our ancestors did. We just have to do without the specific closeness with God.

Answer 9

Adam and Eve's original sin is pasted down to us through generations, leading to actual sins, the sins we commit.

Because of this orginal sin we are concieved sinful.

After Adam and Eve left the garden of eden, angels were sent to block the gate to all adam and eves family. since they were the first two people we are all part of this family.

Answer 10

your question depend on wrong Idea which said that Adam and Eve are cursed by God and God do not forgive them !!but the true that God angrey with them But he is the Most mercfull and He forgive them after that ...
whatever believing in original sin is satanic thought CZ it`s mean that all people from Adam to Jesus will go to hell CZ of the wrong of Adam and BTW if you think about this matter logiclly it`s not fair to punish people CZ of other people ..
and BTW war in Iraq in best Example about original sin someone destryed trade towers therefore Bush(the new prophet of christians) punish the people of Iraq !!