Bishop Barron on Original Sin

Summary

The video discusses the beginning of Lent as a spiritual 'spring training,' likening it to revisiting the fundamentals in sports. It emphasizes the importance of going back to spiritual basics, drawing on the biblical creation story. Humans are formed from both the clay of the Earth and the breath of divine life, symbolizing our physical and spiritual nature. The video critiques secularism, highlighting that happiness is found in aligning with God's will, not defining good and evil by our own terms, as seen in modern culture. Lent offers a time to reflect on this spiritual journey.

Takeaways

• 💪 Lent is a time for spiritual training, like athletes practicing fundamentals to improve their skills.
• ⛳ Even the greatest, like golfer Jack Nicklaus, would return to the basics of grip, stance, and swing with his childhood instructor.
• 🌍 Humans are created from the clay of the earth, emphasizing our physical embodiment and connection to the planet.
• 🌬 God's breath, or 'ruach,' is the divine spirit that animates us, representing our upward aspiration towards God.
• 🌳 God places humans in a garden, encouraging them to enjoy life fully, with the freedom to experience everything but one tree.
• 🚫 The prohibition of eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil represents humans overstepping by determining good and evil themselves.
• ⚖ The concept of sin is rooted in humans assuming the divine prerogative of determining morality, as seen in Justice Kennedy's statement about liberty.
• 😔 The Fall leads to intense self-consciousness, as symbolized by Adam and Eve realizing their nakedness and becoming self-aware.
• 📖 The core problem isn't specific sins like murder or theft, but the deeper issue of defining good and evil based on personal will rather than God's guidance.
• 🧐 Lent is a time to reflect on our fallen nature and search for the deeper reasons behind human unhappiness, with Genesis 3 offering key insights.

Q & A

What does the speaker mean by comparing Lent to 'spiritual spring training'?

The speaker compares Lent to spiritual spring training by emphasizing the importance of returning to the fundamentals, just as athletes do during training, no matter how advanced they are. Lent is a time to refocus on the basics of spiritual life.

How does the speaker connect the creation of humans to the concept of being 'made from the clay of the Earth'?

The speaker explains that being made from the clay of the Earth symbolizes our physical, embodied nature. We are composed of the same molecules and minerals as the Earth, which aligns with scientific understandings like Carl Sagan's idea that 'we are star stuff.'

What is the significance of God breathing 'the breath of life' into humans, according to the speaker?

God breathing the breath of life into humans represents the spiritual dimension within us that aspires to connect with God. This breath signifies our ability to seek higher truths, goodness, and beauty beyond the material world.

How does the speaker contrast Gnosticism and secularism with the biblical vision of humanity?

The speaker contrasts Gnosticism, which sees the body as a problem, and secularism, which denies the spiritual dimension, with the biblical view that humans are both physical (from the Earth) and spiritual (animated by God's breath). Both aspects are essential in the biblical vision.

What does the Garden of Eden symbolize in the speaker's interpretation?

The Garden of Eden symbolizes a place of abundance and flourishing, where God desires humans to fully enjoy life. The various trees represent all the wonderful aspects of life, such as philosophy, art, science, and relationships, which God freely allows humans to enjoy.

Why does God prohibit humans from eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil?

God prohibits humans from eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil because the ability to determine good and evil is God's prerogative alone. The original sin involves humans arrogating this divine role for themselves, leading to the fall from grace.

What does the speaker identify as the fundamental sin or problem in the biblical story of the Fall?

The fundamental sin, according to the speaker, is the human desire to decide for themselves what is good and evil, rather than accepting God's authority. This act of self-determination is seen as the root cause of human misery and dysfunction.

How does the speaker relate the Supreme Court decision in Casey v. Planned Parenthood to the story of the Fall?

The speaker relates the Supreme Court decision to the Fall by highlighting Justice Kennedy's statement that liberty involves the right to define one's own concept of existence. The speaker sees this as a modern expression of humans claiming the divine prerogative to determine good and evil.

What is the significance of Adam and Eve realizing they are naked after the Fall?

Adam and Eve's realization of their nakedness symbolizes their uncomfortable self-consciousness and self-preoccupation, which is a consequence of their attempt to take control of good and evil. This self-awareness is linked to the fall from a more outward, God-centered life.

Why does the speaker suggest that the story of the Fall is relevant during Lent?

The speaker suggests that the story of the Fall is relevant during Lent because it helps us understand the root cause of human unhappiness and spiritual dysfunction. Lent is a time to reflect on these deeper issues and return to the fundamentals of spiritual life.

Outlines

00:00

⚾️ Spiritual Spring Training: Returning to Fundamentals

This paragraph introduces the concept of Lent as a time for spiritual renewal, akin to spring training in sports. The speaker compares spiritual growth to athletes like Jack Nicklaus returning to the basics, emphasizing that even the greatest must revisit fundamental principles. The theme of Lent is tied to reconnecting with foundational spiritual truths, reflected in the readings during this period, starting with the story of creation and the Fall.

05:01

🌍 Made from Earth, Breathed by God: Our Dual Nature

Here, the speaker reflects on the dual nature of human beings, formed from the 'clay of the Earth' and animated by God's breath. The paragraph highlights the physical and spiritual components of humanity, affirming the goodness of both. It argues against the notion that the body is the source of sin, as certain philosophies like Gnosticism and dualism have proposed. Instead, the body is affirmed as good, created by God, while the divine breath within us represents our innate aspiration toward truth, goodness, and beauty.

10:02

🌿 The Garden of Liberty and the Forbidden Tree

This section explores the significance of God placing humans in a garden, symbolizing abundance and the permission to enjoy life’s pleasures. The paragraph highlights that God wants humanity to thrive, with all aspects of life—philosophy, art, science, and relationships—available for enjoyment. However, there is one restriction: the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which symbolizes God's sole authority to define morality. The original sin is explained as humanity's attempt to take this divine prerogative for itself, a fundamental act of disobedience and arrogance.

⚖️ Liberty Redefined: The Consequence of the Fall

The speaker links the original sin of defining good and evil to modern notions of liberty, as seen in a quote from Justice Kennedy in the 1992 Casey v. Planned Parenthood case. The paragraph critiques this viewpoint as an extension of the Fall, where humans assume the right to determine the meaning of life and morality. This self-determination is identified as the core problem that leads to human misery, disconnection from God, and societal issues. The speaker argues that this is the root of our unhappiness and fallen nature.

🪞 Nakedness and Self-Consciousness: The Effects of Sin

This paragraph examines the immediate consequence of the Fall: Adam and Eve's realization of their nakedness, symbolizing a new self-consciousness. Rather than seeing this as mere shame, the speaker interprets it as a sign of uncomfortable self-awareness that arises when humans turn inward, making their own will the standard of morality. This self-preoccupation reflects the dysfunction of a fallen world, where humans are disconnected from the outward, God-given order of good and evil.

📖 Genesis Chapter 3: The Key to Understanding Human Misery

In this final paragraph, the speaker suggests that the root of human unhappiness can be traced back to the Fall described in Genesis 3. Lent is presented as an ideal time to reflect on this fundamental cause of human suffering. The speaker encourages a deeper exploration of the biblical story as a means of understanding why humanity is trapped in a state of spiritual and emotional dysfunction.

Keywords

💡Lent

Lent is a season in the Christian liturgical calendar that represents a time for spiritual reflection, penance, and renewal. In the video, Lent is compared to a 'spiritual spring training,' where believers return to the basics of their faith and practice. It serves as a period for personal and spiritual growth, much like athletes revisiting the fundamentals in preparation for a new season.

💡Fundamentals

Fundamentals refer to the basic, essential principles or skills in a particular field. In the context of the video, fundamentals are likened to the basic spiritual principles that believers need to revisit, much like athletes revisiting their grip, stance, or swing in sports. This metaphor is extended to suggest that Lent is a time for spiritual individuals to return to foundational truths about their faith.

💡Clay of the Earth

The 'clay of the earth' refers to the biblical creation narrative where God formed man from the dust or clay, signifying humanity's physical, embodied nature. In the video, it emphasizes the idea that humans are deeply connected to the material world, made from the same elements as the earth itself. This concept also highlights the biblical view that our physicality is inherently good.

💡Breath of Life

The 'breath of life' refers to the divine spirit (ruach in Hebrew) that God breathed into Adam, giving him life. It symbolizes the spiritual dimension within humanity, the part that aspires to transcend the material world and seek union with God. The video contrasts this with secular views that deny this spiritual breath, reducing human existence to mere materiality.

💡Gnosticism

Gnosticism is an ancient belief system that often posits the material world as evil and emphasizes the need to escape it. The video mentions Gnosticism as a worldview that sees the body and physical existence as problematic, which contrasts with the biblical view that the body is inherently good. This serves to dispel the idea that physicality is the root of human problems.

💡Secularism

Secularism refers to a worldview that excludes religious or spiritual interpretations, reducing life to material and scientific explanations. In the video, secularism is criticized for denying the divine 'breath of life' and reducing human aspirations toward God to mere psychological quirks or delusions. This represents a key theme where the spiritual is contrasted with the purely material view of existence.

💡Garden of Eden

The Garden of Eden is the biblical setting for the creation of the first humans and their subsequent fall. In the video, it is portrayed as a place of abundance, where God allows humans nearly unrestricted freedom, symbolizing the richness of life (philosophy, art, science, friendship, etc.). The Garden represents the fullness of life that God desires for humanity, as opposed to restriction or rivalry between God and man.

💡Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil symbolizes the divine prerogative to determine good and evil, which belongs to God alone. In the video, the original sin is described as the act of arrogating this divine prerogative to ourselves, deciding for ourselves what is right and wrong. This act of self-determination is seen as the root cause of human misery and spiritual downfall.

💡Original Sin

Original sin refers to the first act of disobedience by Adam and Eve, which resulted in the fall of humanity. The video explains original sin not as a specific offense, like murder or theft, but as the fundamental act of claiming the right to determine good and evil, which belongs to God alone. This foundational sin leads to a distorted human nature, manifesting in self-consciousness and alienation from God.

💡Self-Consciousness

Self-consciousness in the video is described as a result of the fall from grace, where humans become preoccupied with themselves after rejecting God's guidance. The covering of Adam and Eve's nakedness symbolizes this uncomfortable inward focus, which contrasts with the outward focus on God's wisdom and the world before the fall. This self-preoccupation is presented as a sign of the brokenness in the human condition.

Highlights

The beginning of Lent is described as a time for spiritual spring training, returning to fundamentals.

Like Jack Nicklaus, the best golfer returning to basics each season, Lent invites us to revisit spiritual basics.

Lent readings focus on archetypal, elemental stories that take us back to the basics of spirituality.

The creation story emphasizes that humans are made from the clay of the Earth, signifying our embodied nature.

Science supports the biblical idea that humans are connected to the Earth, as Carl Sagan said, 'We are all star stuff.'

The problem of human sin is not with our bodies or physicality, but something deeper.

Gnosticism, dualism, and other theories wrongly claim the body is sinful; the Bible affirms our bodies are good.

God breathed life into the clay of the Earth, signifying both our physical and divine nature.

The human mind seeks the truth, the will seeks goodness, and the soul seeks beauty – aspirations toward God.

Secularism denies the breath of God within us, reducing life to mere matter and dismissing divine aspirations.

The garden in the creation story symbolizes all that makes life wonderful, with God granting freedom to enjoy it.

God's prohibition of eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil represents God as the ultimate measure of morality.

The original sin is humans arrogating to themselves the power to determine good and evil, rather than leaving that to God.

Justice Kennedy's statement in the Planned Parenthood v. Casey case exemplifies the original sin of self-defining morality.

After the fall, Adam and Eve become self-conscious, symbolizing humanity's inward focus after rejecting God's moral order.

Transcripts

[Music]

well the beginning of Lent is a time for

a sort of spiritual spring training

here's what I mean um when I was playing

sports as a kid we'd begin always with

the fundamentals and even if you've been

playing for a while and you were quite

good the coach would still during you

know spring training for baseball or

summertime for football would bring you

back to the

fundamentals I think of uh Jack Nicholas

a greatest go forever uh at the height

of his powers he was the best golfer in

the world he would still begin the

season by flying to uh see his friend

Jack grout who was his childhood

instructor and Jack rout would take the

best golfer in the world back through

the fundamentals of the grip and stance

and alignment and swing and so it's

always good for us spiritually to go

back to the basics

is a time when we do that and that's why

the readings during Lent are really good

they're real archetypal

Elemental well the first reading for the

first Sunday of Lent um has to do with

the creation of human beings and the

Fall From Grace in the garden there's no

better place to look for the

fundamentals of the spiritual stuff than

that story here's the first thing we

hear it says the Lord God formed the

first man out of the clay of the Earth

Earth and breathe into his nostrils a

breath of life very important claim now

first of all God made us from the clay

of the earth that means that we are um

embodied realities our bodies indeed

come from the the molecules and minerals

and stuff of the earth we with our

scientific perspective know better than

biblical people how embodied we are how

grounded we are in the planet wasn't it

um Carl Sean said ultimately we're all

star stuff because all the the you know

basic atoms and molecules and so on were

were created in the furnace of ancient

stars that eventually found their way

into the planets and so on so we are

indeed made from the clay of the

earth spiritually speaking it's very

important because the problem that we

have and I'll get to that we do have a

problem but it's not with our bodies

it's not our physicality that's the

problem now there are a lot of theories

that you know

uh manism and gnosticism and dualism and

and puritanism up and down the centuries

that make exactly that claim and the

idea there is to get away from the

Fallen body the body is the problem our

emotions our sexuality our passions

that's not biblical that's not biblical

the Bible affirms that God makes us from

the clay of the earth and everything

that God makes is

good that's not the problem the second

thing is we're made from the clay of the

earth and God has breathed into our

nostrils the breath of life there's that

great the Hebrew term is ruach breath or

wind or air uh Greek has that as pneuma

hence our pneumatic tires uh Latin has

it as spiritus

right God has breathed into this earthy

stuff his life it's very important isn't

it there is in us an aspiration to God

our minds that seek not just particular

truths but the truth itself our our

Wills that seek not just particular

Goods but goodness itself our souls that

won't rest until they come to the

beautiful itself there is in these

bodies of clay something of an

aspiration upward toward God if

gnosticism and dualism negate the first

part of that secularism negates the

second part what we have today on

display secularism that life is

reducible to matter what I've described

there is the aspirations upward toward

God are reduced to the level of

psychological quirks or or wish

fulfilling delusions secularism denies

this Breath of God that animates us

biblical Vision in its genius has both

very clearly both the clay of the earth

and the breath of the Divine Life are in

US here's Second Great Insight now for

from the story God takes his first human

beings and he places them it says in a

garden a garden full of delightful

things to see and taste and experience

he gives them practically free reign eat

of all the trees in the garden save one

and I'll get to that but first look at

the extraordinary

permission God wants his human creatures

to flourish in this Garden there's

nothing of the ancient mythological idea

of the gods and human beings in a

rivalrous relationship the true God who

makes everything from nothing can't be

threatened by his creation he needs

nothing from it demands nothing from it

for his own you know well-being and

therefore God's Delight is that we be

fully

Alive we're in a garden not in a

desert more to it the church fathers saw

this all the

trees and were given Liberty to eat of

all these trees

represent all that makes life

wonderful philosophy and Art and

Science stimulating conversation

friendship politics sexuality everything

that makes life wonderful is represented

in the Trees of the garden and God says

eat of them all eat of them all this is

not a god who's trying to limit the

human project but rather the one who

says your being alive fully is my glory

that's the biblical God

okay so how about the prohibition we do

hear that they are prohibited from

eating from One

Tree which is the tree of the knowledge

of Good and Evil what does that mean

well God is the unconditioned good

therefore God is in his own being the

Criterion of Good and

Evil God is the measure of Good and Evil

in his own being therefore this

prerogative belongs to God Alone to know

good and evil what's the original sin

the original problem is arrogating to

ourselves the prerogative of determining

good and evil when our Wills become the

Criterion and the measure rather than

God that I would submit to it's very

it's very subtle point it's not really

so much a particular offense it's not as

though you know murders the original sin

or thievery or adultery it's something

more subtle and and more fundamental

than any of the particular sins it's the

move of arrogating to

ourselves the prerogative of determining

good and evil that's the original

Calamity from which human misery has

followed as surely as night follows the

day now if you're tempted to say this is

just a lot of abstract theological

musing let me submit to you something

I've discussed before the famous um

decision of the US Supreme Court in the

matter of Casey versus Planned

Parenthood so writing for the majority

in that famous case Justice Kennedy

opined as follows now listen at the

heart of Liberty is the right to Define

one's own concept of existence of

meaning of the universe of the mystery

of human life that's the US Supreme

Court

1992 frankly I can't imagine a clearer

expr

of eating of the tree of the knowledge

of Good and Evil than that statement

that it belongs to the very nature of

Liberty My Liberty to determine the

meaning of everything of my life of the

mystery of the

universe that's the arrogating to

ourselves the Divine prerogative that

the Bible identifies as the fundamental

problem and look the Supreme Court gives

formal legal expression to what's

generally taken talk to most people to

as as the truth of things how many

people especially young people would say

something like look you know right or

wrong that's a matter of my personal

decision before you get to any

particular sin any particular offense

that's the fundamental Calamity the

fundamental twisting or dysfunction that

the Bible identifies as the

problem it's very interesting to me that

right after the fall Adam and Eve

realized that they are naked and they

seek to cover themselves now I wouldn't

read it primarily as a question of Shame

I'd read it rather as an intense and

deeply

uncomfortable

self-consciousness see think if the good

is outside of your own will and

experience the good is is something that

you discern in God and in the world that

reflects God's wisdom then you tend to

be non self-conscious you tend to be

looking outward but the minute your will

and your freedom become the determining

uh elements in Good and Evil then

there's this tendency to turn awkwardly

and uncomfortably inward the the

clothing of Adam and Eve is a sign of

their

self-consciousness their self-

preoccupation and that I think is on

display every place in the Fallen World

so the bottom line is um you know we're

all unhappy we live in the world that's

Fallen that's that's followed from this

original fall if you want to find out

and lent's a great time to do it why are

we so unhappy to search out the deepest

roots of that I can't think of a better

place to look than in this third chapter

of the Book of Genesis

[Music]