Can a major religion change? Reading Genesis 1�3 in the twenty-first century1
Ever since the fourth century Christian theologians read Genesis 1�3 as a historical account about creation and fall. Augustine (354�430), one of the Latin fathers of the Church, introduced the idea of �original sin� on account of his reading of these chapters. According to him God created a perfect...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Afrikaans |
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AOSIS
2007-09-01
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| Series: | Verbum et Ecclesia |
| Online Access: | http://verbumetecclesia.org.za/index.php/VE/article/view/107 |
| Summary: | Ever since the fourth century Christian theologians read Genesis 1�3 as a historical account about creation and fall. Augustine (354�430), one of the Latin fathers of the Church, introduced the idea of �original sin� on account of his reading of these chapters. According to him God created a perfect world which collapsed because of the sin of� Adam and Eve. This idea became a fixed doctrine in the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches.� The doctrine holds that every human being, by the very fact of birth, inherits a �tainted� nature in need of regeneration. Since the paradigm shift in Biblical Studies which occurred towards the end of the nineteenth century, the doctrine has come under severe criticism by Old� Testament scholars. In recent years even systematic <br />theologians are questioning the interpretation of� Augustine and proclaim: �There is no fall in Scripture.� This issue is discussed in detail and an answer is given to the question whether Christians can accept other readings and whether Christianity can change. |
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| ISSN: | 1609-9982 2074-7705 |