Do We Inherit Sin? How to Understand Original Sin | Jonathan Pageau & John Vervaeke

Summary

The transcript explores the concept of sin and death as distinct but interconnected ideas, suggesting that sin leads to a state of brokenness or 'death' in various aspects of life. It discusses the inherited brokenness, or 'original sin,' as the consequence of living in a world shaped by past mistakes. The speaker draws parallels with Buddhist karma, emphasizing the influence of inherited patterns on behavior and suffering. The solution proposed is to consciously embrace one's brokenness to avoid being enslaved by it, and to aim towards the 'good' despite the challenges.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Sin and death are related but distinct; sin is the act of missing the mark, while death is the consequence of that act.
• 📜 Scripture suggests that the wages of sin is death, implying a direct causality between sin and death.
• 🍂 We do not inherit Adam's sin, but rather the brokenness and death that resulted from his actions.
• 🌐 The concept of sin causing death applies to all levels of reality, including personal, societal, and global.
• 👶 We are born into a world and families with a history of 'missing the mark,' thus inheriting brokenness.
• 💡 Our aspirations to 'hit the mark' are innate, guiding us towards life despite the inherited brokenness.
• 🧳 The inherited brokenness or 'baggage' from our parents and society can make it harder for us to achieve our aspirations.
• 🌐 Historical and societal patterns, such as racism, contribute to our inherited brokenness and suffering.
• 🙏 Christianity offers a path to overcome this brokenness through embracing and acknowledging one's own sin and death.
• 🕊 Embracing our brokenness consciously can free us from becoming slaves to it, allowing us to see and aim for the good.
• 🛣 The aspiration for the good and the recognition of our dissatisfaction with brokenness can lead to hope and transformation.

Q & A

What is the main distinction made between 'sin' and 'death' in the script?

The script differentiates 'sin' as the act of missing the mark or purpose, while 'death' is the consequence or the state of brokenness that results from sin.

How does the script interpret the concept of inheriting sin from Adam in the context of scripture?

The script suggests that scripture does not say we inherit Adam's sin, but rather the brokenness or 'death' that came into the world because of his sin.

What does the script suggest is the purpose of life and how does 'missing the mark' relate to it?

The purpose of life is to hit the mark or fulfill one's purpose. 'Missing the mark' refers to failing to achieve this purpose, leading to a state of brokenness or 'death'.

How does the script describe the inheritance of brokenness in our lives?

We inherit brokenness because we are born into families, societies, and systems that have already missed the mark, thus living in a world with inherent brokenness.

What role does aspiration play in the context of living in a broken world according to the script?

Aspirations guide us and give us the desire to live despite the brokenness. They represent the recognition of a better state and the drive to move towards it.

How does the script relate the concept of original sin to the idea of karma in Buddhism?

The script draws parallels between original sin and karma, suggesting that we inherit patterns of behavior that affect us and cause suffering, much like the Buddhist concept of karma.

What is the psychological and existential understanding of inheriting brokenness as described in the script?

It is the idea that we pick up patterns from our parents, friends, and culture that shape us and move us in ways that may be detrimental to our aspirations.

How does the script suggest we deal with the inherited brokenness or 'death'?

The script suggests embracing the brokenness consciously, acknowledging our own shortcomings, and not blaming others, as a way to avoid becoming slaves to the brokenness.

What does the script propose as the Christian perspective on overcoming the brokenness?

Christianity, and Christ in particular, shows us that embracing death and brokenness consciously can lead to a recapture of the vision or aim of life, which is the good.

How does the script connect the dissatisfaction found in brokenness to hope?

The dissatisfaction with brokenness is what causes our suffering, but it also indicates that there is something within us that seeks more than the brokenness, sparking hope.

What is the final message of the script regarding the relationship between sin, death, and our aspirations?

The final message is that while sin leads to death and brokenness, it is our aspirations and the recognition of a higher good that can guide us towards overcoming these challenges.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 Understanding Sin and Death: The Concept of Missed Marks

The first paragraph explores the distinction between sin and death, highlighting their interconnectedness as described in scripture. It emphasizes that sin is the cause of death, not an inherited trait, and that death is the consequence of missing the mark in life. The speaker discusses the idea of brokenness at various levels of reality, including personal, societal, and global, and how this inherited brokenness affects our aspirations and behaviors. The paragraph also touches on the psychological and existential implications of this brokenness, drawing parallels to the Buddhist concept of karma and the patterns of behavior that can lead to suffering. It concludes by suggesting that our desire for goodness and the recognition of our dissatisfaction with the broken world are what drive our hope and potential for improvement.

05:00

🌱 Embracing Brokenness: The Path to Reaching the Aim

The second paragraph delves into the concept of embracing one's own brokenness and death as a means to achieve the ultimate aim in life. It suggests that recognizing and accepting our own shortcomings and the broken aspects of our lives is essential to not becoming slaves to them. The speaker encourages individuals to consciously acknowledge their sins and the places where they have missed the mark, rather than blaming external factors such as parents or the system. The paragraph concludes with the idea that Christianity, and Christ in particular, show us that embracing our brokenness is a difficult but necessary step towards healing and growth, aligning with the broader theme of the video script.

Keywords

💡Sin

Sin is defined as an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law or a violation of moral rules. In the video's context, sin is portrayed as the root cause of death and suffering, illustrating the concept that 'the wages of sin is death.' It is the act of missing the mark morally or spiritually, which leads to a state of brokenness and separation from the divine.

💡Death

Death, in this script, is not only the physical end of life but also symbolizes the spiritual and existential state of being disconnected from the divine and the ideal. It is the consequence of sin, representing the brokenness and the 'world of death' we live in, as a result of the inherited sin from Adam, which is not about inheriting the act but the state of being in a broken world.

💡Brokenness

Brokenness refers to the state of being damaged or not functioning correctly, often on a spiritual or societal level. In the video, it is used to describe the condition of the world and individuals as a result of sin, causing a systemic failure and a personal sense of disconnection from the purpose or 'mark' we are meant to hit.

💡Inheritance

Inheritance in this context is not about physical or monetary inheritance but rather the spiritual and existential inheritance of brokenness and the consequences of sin from previous generations. The video explains that we are born into a world and families that have already 'missed the mark,' thus inheriting the brokenness and the struggle to overcome it.

💡Miss the Mark

To 'miss the mark' is a metaphor used in the script to describe the act of failing to achieve a moral, spiritual, or ideal state. It is related to the concept of sin and is the action that leads to death and brokenness. The phrase is used to illustrate the universal human experience of falling short of ideals and the resulting impact on our lives and the world.

💡Consequences

Consequences in the video refer to the outcomes or effects that result from actions, particularly the actions of missing the moral mark. It is the inheritance of death and brokenness that we must live with due to the sin of others and our own, making it harder for us to achieve the ideal state.

💡Aspirations

Aspirations are the hopes and ambitions that guide individuals towards a better or ideal state. In the script, aspirations are what drive us to strive for the 'mark' despite the inherited brokenness and the world of death we live in. They represent the human desire for something more than the current state of existence.

💡Buddhist Notion of Karma

The Buddhist notion of karma mentioned in the video refers to the spiritual principle of cause and effect, where intent and actions of an individual influence their future. The video draws a parallel between this concept and the Christian idea of original sin, suggesting that we inherit patterns of behavior that affect our actions and cause suffering.

💡Historical Racism

Historical racism is used in the script as an example of societal patterns that have been inherited and continue to shape our behavior in detrimental ways. It is part of the systemic brokenness that individuals must navigate and overcome in their pursuit of moral and spiritual wholeness.

💡Embrace Death

Embracing death in the video is a metaphorical concept that suggests consciously accepting the brokenness and consequences of sin as part of our existence. It is a call to acknowledge our shortcomings and the reality of our condition, which is necessary to move towards healing and redemption.

💡Redemption

Redemption in the script is the process of overcoming the inherited brokenness and achieving a state of wholeness or reconciliation with the divine. It is the ultimate aim or 'mark' that individuals strive for, despite the challenges posed by the world of death and the consequences of sin.

Highlights

Differentiating between sin and death as related but distinct concepts.

Scripture states the wages of sin is death, implying a cause-effect relationship.

We do not inherit Adam's sin but rather the consequences of living in a world shaped by sin.

Death is described as a purpose missed, leading to a system breakdown at various levels of reality.

Inheriting brokenness from previous generations and systems that have missed the mark.

The aspiration to hit the mark despite living with the consequences of past misses.

The difficulty of hitting the mark when inheriting the baggage of a broken world.

Original sin as the inheritance of brokenness and its impact on our behavior and suffering.

Comparing the concept of original sin to Buddhist notions of karma and inherited patterns.

The psychological and existential understanding of inheriting patterns that shape and limit us.

The importance of recognizing historical influences like racism in shaping detrimental patterns.

The aspiration for the good as a reminder of our dissatisfaction with the broken world.

The Christian perspective on embracing brokenness and death as a path to reaching the aim.

The challenge of consciously embracing our own brokenness and missing the mark.

The importance of recognizing and owning our sins rather than blaming external factors.

The solution involves seeing our own brokenness and recapturing the vision of the aim.

Transcripts

the way to understand it is to clearly

differentiate between

sin and death um they're related but

they're they're different

um and so in scripture it says the wages

of sin

is death right and there's an idea that

even in the in scripture it never says

that we inherit the sin of adam it says

that

that we because of adam's sin we are

we are in death like we are in the in in

we are living in a world of death and

that's really the best way to

to understand it which is that sin

causes death so you you have a purpose

you miss the mark and that's that's what

death is

and so there's a there's a brokenness it

you break

the system breaks down as you miss the

mark and this is

happens at every level of reality

whether it's in your own life or

in society or entirety of the world

when when something misses the mark then

there's a

breakdown which happens now we we

inherit the breakdown of that which is

before us

right we inherit death so we are born in

families that

have missed the mark we are born of

parents that have missed the mark we

are born of systems that have missed the

mark

and so because of that we we live in a

world which has an aspect of it which is

broken

we still have the aspiration of hitting

the mark and that's that's what kind of

guides us

and makes us want to live but we have to

live with the consequences of that

of that of that miss um and the

difficulty is that

when you're in a world of death that is

when you inherit

the consequence of sin so when your

parents miss the mark and they will and

we know they do

yeah you inherit that and it makes it

more difficult for you to hit the mark

because you have all the baggage which

comes and you have inherited

the the the patterns of being that will

make that worse right which will which

will increase the brokenness which will

tend to fragment

okay and so that's the manner in which

we need to understand

original sin that's what it is it's the

inheritance of

brokenness so so that

and i hope i hope you take this as a

helpful thing that to me reminds me of

um um you know

certain interpretations of the buddhist

notion of karma that there are these

patterns at work

and and we and we inherit them

um and they affect our behavior and they

they cause suffering uh

and the way i sort of understood this at

least psychologically and existentially

is

as you said you know we we pick up from

others our parents our friends and our

culture we pick up

and that you know here's where

historical racism does matter right we

pick up patterns

um that are shaping us and moving us um

in ways

that are detrimental to our aspirations

is is that is that a fair yeah exactly

yeah but the idea is the idea is of

course

the very desire the very aspiration

that is the very possibility we have of

conceiving the good

and of seeing the point that we're

aiming at right

of of of seeing it in our view and and

moving towards it

right is is the very

how can i say this is the reminder that

we are not that we don't fit in this

broken world that we are

that we are we find dissatisfaction in

the brokenness

so that's what causes our suffering but

it's also what

what can ultimately cause our hope

because we see

we can see that we're not made like

there's something in us which

wants more than this brokenness and this

this world of death there's something in

us which is which can see that which we

can aim towards

and which is the good of course um and

so that is really the

and so what let's say what christianity

shows us and like what christ shows us

is that the manner to

reach the the manner to reach

the the aim in the brokenness

is to a certain extent embrace death

and that's really the that's the hardest

thing is to embrace

death consciously embrace the brokenness

consciously

and therefore we don't become slaves of

that brokenness

right it's to see your sins to see the

place where you miss the mark

instead of just blaming your parents

because that's what you will want to do

right you want to blame your parents

you want to blame the system and your

right to because

the system is broken your parents are

broken everything

there's an aspect of everything that's

given to you which is broken not

fully but there is an aspect of it which

is broken

and the solution is to is to actually

rather see your own

death the places in you that you're that

you're dead

and recapture the

the vision right recapture the aim