Matthew Fox

So I've just started reading Original Blessing for one of my classes. And while I'm not sure if I agree with Fox's ideas, he got me thinking about some things I haven't dealt with in my world understanding, really.

What is the nature of original sin? Is there such a thing? Fox claims that the doctrine of original sin is not inherent in the texts it is drawn from - in fact, it was basicly cooked up by St. Augustine, and wasn't even all that important to him. Yet somehow, the idea that we are born in sin, and must be saved from that sin, has perminated first Catholic and later Protestant Christian thought. Because of the sin of Adam, the sons of Adam are born in sin. Is this the case?

Are we born in sin? I don't know. We are flawed creatures, I know that. All I have seen in this world tells me this - all I have seen in myself tells me this. But is that flaw an inherent thing in humans that we are helpless to control? I don't think so. I think the flaw is a byproduct of how we are forced to be by life. We must learn to be a certian way in order to survive in our interactions with others, else we fail in them. I think our flaw developes in becoming this way. Is there an alternative? I don't have that answer.

I had to make a choise in my life not too long ago, and some are still accusing me of not having thought it through before making it. To those, my critics, I tell you I did. Do I sacrifice love for my sanity, do I sacrifice one life for my own. I have to . I can't explain why, but I have to. This is my flaw - self preservation.

Ask yourself - is that a sin - or a blessing?