Judaism rejects the idea of original sin. Judaism teaches that humans are born pure and have free will to choose between good and evil. People have the ability to avoid sin and its negative consequences, and goodness is possible, though sometimes difficult. Judaism also doesn't believe that human nature is permanently tainted by original sin.
Saint Augustine (354-430) was the first theologian to teach that man is born into this world in a state of sin. The basis of his belief is from the
Bible (
Genesis 3:17-19) where
Adam is described as having disobeyed
G-d by eating the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden. This, the first sin of man, became known as original sin.
Many
Christians today, particularly members of the Anglican, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, and Presbyterian Churches, subscribe to this belief. They maintain that the sin of Adam was transferred to all future generations, tainting even the unborn. Substantiation for this view is found in the
New Testament (
Romans 5:12) where
Paul says, "Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. By one man's disobediance many were made sinners."
Christianity believes that only through the acceptance of
Jesus the man god that the "grace" of G-d can return to man. A Christian need only believe in Jesus to be saved; nothing else is required .
Question: Dear Rabbi Singer, Does the Jewish faith have a teaching comparable to that of "original sin" in the Christian tradition? By this I mean the teaching that all human beings are born with an innate tendency to disobey God. In my particular Christian tradition, water baptism is required...
outreachjudaism.org
