Re: [asa] Historical Theology and Current Theology re: Original Sin & Monogenism

David

I did but I am "correcting " the English for a German RC theologian who has written an article for a Geol Soc of London book on geology and religion!! He was discussing monogenism, I was looking at JP2's 1996 stuff on evolution!

At the risk of aping George :) I am inclined to start from redemption in Christ and thus the sinfulness of humanity rather than getting stuck immediately on Original Sin.

Also Original sin and monogensim is more Augustinian and western theology than Iraneus and eastern theology, which we often overlook. Useful on this is John Hick Evila nd the God of Love 1968 which I read decades ago. Also Eric Mascall's 1950s Bampton Lectures Christian Theology and Natural Science p286ff. The RC EC Messenger is interesting for a prewar perspective - Ramm refers to them.

I remember Oliver Barclay saying in 1971 that humans had a polygenetic origin but that did not seem to worry him as affecting Sin.

I am tempted to say that if we focus too much on the wickedness of an original pair (who are totally elusive) and so called Original sin we overlook our own sin and the need for redemption.

Finally Blocher once said at a meeting in France that if we think we understand Sin then we don't. (Hearsay from a friend of his)

Michael
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: David Opderbeck
  To: ASA
  Sent: Friday, November 23, 2007 5:27 PM
  Subject: [asa] Historical Theology and Current Theology re: Original Sin & Monogenism

  I'm trying to understand more deeply the development of monogenism in the Christian tradition, the link between monogenism and original sin, and contemporary and other efforts to understand original sin without monogenism. To me, this is the most difficult theological obstacle to a consistent evolutionary creation perspective. I'm struggling because I have to admit the evidence for human evolution seems more compelling than alternative explanations, and yet theologically this seems to me like a steep slide away from orthodox faith. The willingness to consider polygenism feels to me like denying something fundamental about the faith.

  I have George Murphy's recent PSCF article; Robin Collins' essay in "Perspectives on an Evolving Creation"; Bernard Ramm's "Offense to Reason" (excellent, BTW); John Stott's Commentary on Romans; Derek Kidner's Commentary on Genesis; and a talk by David Livingstone at Regent College titled "Adam's Ancestors: Five Centuries of Christian Thinking About Human Origins" (really interesting stuff: http://tinyurl.com/2rudhc)

  I also have Henri Blocher's "Original Sin: Illuminating the Riddle," which presupposes monogenism but doesn't seem overly wedded to it; and various commentaries and systematic theology volumes that either presuppose or seem to require monogenism. Finally, I have a number of Roman Catholic documents, including Humani Generis (requiring monogenism: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_12081950_humani-generis_en.html ), John Paul II's Message to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (http://www.catholic.net/RCC/Periodicals/Inside/01-97/creat2.html); a good Wiki on Catholicism and monogenism suggesting some flexibility in current views ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution_and_the_Roman_Catholic_Church#Polygenism); and a blog post from a Catholic apologist discussing different understandings of the Church's position with various apologetic possibilities: http://jimmyakin.typepad.com/defensor_fidei/2006/10/monogenism_scie.html

  Any other references to books, articles, etc. would be much appreciated.

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Received on Fri Nov 23 17:40:57 2007