Are we evil from birth?  Do we come into this world wretched sinful beings?  Although it can seem like a dark, depressing idea, it is a common theological belief in Christianity.  What is your opinion?

1. Rosemary Says:
   April 23rd, 2010 at 12:14 am

   Oooh, Anne, that’s a toughie. I find this one so hard to believe so I guess just by instinct I’d say “no.” That’s just based on the purity of my own children. They seem like absolute angels upon arrival and only learn to do wrong as they grow older. And what do you think?

2. Sarah Says:
   May 8th, 2010 at 11:55 pm

   I believe that the idea that people are evil from birth is perhaps one of the most devastating ideas in history. One who believes in human dignity will not inflict horror and atrocities on others. On the other hand, if you see people as intrinsically evil, then you can rationalize all sorts of atrocities in the name of saving/converting others, protecting society, or even your own base desires.

3. Julie Says:
   June 4th, 2010 at 10:33 am

   I think the problem is in the words itself, “good and evil” and what those words conjure up for us. I don’t think they carry the original meaning anymore… Maybe it would be better to say Perfect and Imperfect or Complete and Broken?

4. Judith Says:
   July 3rd, 2010 at 12:48 am

   Big topic. I just finished Stephen Prothero’s book, God is Not One (haha, the one I got to be the “expert” on at the UU meeting). One of the enlightening things for me was reading that Judaism does not understand that passage in Genesis the same way that many Christians do. Just knowing that opens the door for wider interpretation, I think.