Category Archives: The science of Original Sin

What about this vision of Original Sin as a reification of our own interpretations of the ‘what is real’. Once reified, a “serpent” inspires us to actions that produce results that differ from expectations (i.e. what is defined to be ‘real’). How do we deal with those results? Examples? And how does this picture resonate with traditional interpretations of these chapters of Genesis. This topic is addressed in chapters 11,12 and 13.

04/11/18

Man and Sin by Piet Schoonenberg (1964) 2.3 KT

[Also, the obligations of tribe and family are particular.

My particular tribe and family may have a tendency to micromanage. Petty demands add to time-honored expectations.

Plus, there will always be a slacker in the house.

Plus, the family and tribe may have a debilitating tendency to blame all their woes on one person. Everyone wants to be blameless, so nothing gets done.

The Law of Moses mitigated that.

The Law of Moses held out the possibility of reward (or, at least, not punishment) for the individual with initiative, despite family and tribal obligations.]

04/3/18

Man and Sin by Piet Schoonenberg (1964) 2.3 KN

[What is the actuality2a that fundamentally transforms freedom2a(1a) into bondage2a(1a)?

This ‘something2a’ emerges from and situates the possibilities inherent in me1a.

The mirror of the world3a or the thought experiment3a brings ‘something2a’ out of the possibilities inherent in me1a.

I may think that something2a enslaves me.

Actually, the relation3a enslaves me.]

03/26/18

Man and Sin by Piet Schoonenberg (1964) 2.3 KH

Summary of text [comment] page 83

[A nugget of wisdom appears.

The integrity of the individual may be formulated as an if…then statement.

IF the person’s mirror of the world reflects YHWH,

THEN freedom describes the potentials inherent in the person.

The individual becomes responsible and free.

IF the person’s mirror of the world does not reflect YHWH,

THEN bondage describes the potentials inherent in the person.

The individual loses responsibility (words) and becomes a slave (bondage).]