Kinnell

"Saint Francis and the Sow"

Original sin.

There are variations within the doctrine of original sin.  How complete was the fall?  Various answers developed over the centuries.

1. The Augustinian approach (formulated by St. Augustine based on Paul's writings).
• Within this system, the fall is utterly complete, marring the image of God in humans beyond the point where they can effectively strive for their own salvation.
• The Calvinistic doctrine of Total Depravity carries the belief to its logical conclusion, with the resulting belief that we are all vile worms without any goodness whatsoever.
• Such a system results in problems of self-esteem and in esteeming others.  The tendency is to despise oneself and others.  The common humanity we share with others is something that must be destroyed, not respected.
2. The Pelagian approach (formulated by the British monk Pelagius) denied that the sin of Adam & Eve affects us.
• He admitted that Adam & Eve sinned, but denied that their sin marred God's image in humanity.  Essentially he denied original sin.
• Humans following the example of Christ could follow God's will and achieve salvation.
3. The Semi-Pelagian approach (generally followed in Catholic theology)
• The Fall is real and has real effects on us.
• Nevertheless, the image of God within us, though tarnished, has survived.  We frequently need grace, but people can win the struggle against sin & earn their salvation.  They can even earn enough to have some extra goodness left over to help those who need it.  Those with this extra goodness are called saints.

In all three systems, there is a need for salvation.  The nature of salvation changes from one system to another.

1. In Augustine, the fall is complete, so salvation must by wholly by grace.  Only then can we begin to follow Christ.
2. In Pelagius, Christ serves primarily as a model for us to follow.
3. In the Semi-Pelagian system, Christ serves to renew the divine that is still within us.

Notice the importance of metaphors.  The Puritans, when looking for things in nature to compare us to, always go for something we find repulsive.  They see nature as being as fallen & ugly as humans.

St. Francis with his joyful Christianity recognized the beauty and divinity that was latent in things which others regarded as ugly.  The pig was really beautiful when looked at through the eyes of grace.  We and the pig simply needed to be reminded of its beauty.  Its salvation lay, not in becoming something else, but rather in accepting what it was.