What is the idea that human beings are born inherently sinful and therefore need redemption for salvation?

Answer 1

The concept is called "Original Sin" in many sects of Christianity, including Roman Catholicism. However, not all people, not even all Christians, believe that Original Sin exists or is even possible.

The following text was provided by an anonymous contributor.

No one is born sinful. A newborn child is like a clean white sheet. It is pure, with no stains on it. However, when they (children) begin to grow, they commit sins. No one else is entirely responsible for his or her own sins. (I can't say I am a sinner because my mother was a sinner) A child is innocent until they reach puberty. After puberty, their deeds are considered as good or bad.

Salvation is what you earn by doing good deeds and taking responsibility for your own actions (that is not the definition, but how you earn it in the context of religion). Judaism, Christianity, Islam and many other religions have concepts of afterlife. Afterlife is when you live eternally. If you are of the righteous, you earn salvation from the Hellfire.

It should be considered that salvation isn't simple. Life is a test, and to achieve everything, one has to work very hard. Therefore, to gain salvation, one must work very hard. Doing two-three deeds is probably not enough, and living your life the way you want to is also not enough. If you don't believe in the hereafter or the afterlife, and you also deny Heaven and Hell, then it doesn't matter how to you how you live. However, if you do believe in these then you also have to believe in God, the Creator of these.

Redemption for Salvation isn't and CANNOT be given by priests, monks, rabbis, imams, sheikhs or nay spiritual/religious leaders. During the Middle Ages, poor people used to give money to the priests to get redemption for salvation, especially during the Bubonic Plague, but truthfully, it can't be given unless you are worshipping them. If you are worshipping them, then you are answerable to them and due to their human nature; they can't save you from what is promised from God.

This brings it to the topic of who is God. People cannot be God because they are not Omnipotent or Able. They aren't the ones who give life or death. They haven't created the heavens and the earth.

Although science explains how many things occur, it is unable to explain why they occur or what causes them to occur. For example, science explains that earthquakes occur due to the movements of the tectonic plates, but it is unable to explain why do the plates move in the first place. Someone or something causes them to move.

Religion tells us that God causes things to occur. If God is the Creator, then He is the Only ONE who can give salvation, none else.

Say: "O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of God; for God forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Turn ye to your Lord (in repentance) and bow to His (Will), before the Penalty [Hellfire] comes on you: after that ye shall not be helped. And follow the Best of (the courses) revealed to you from your Lord, before the Penalty comes on you of a sudden, while ye perceive not! -Lest the soul should (then) say: Ah! Woe is me! -In that I neglected (my Duty) towards God, and was but among those who mocked! - Or (lest) it should say: 'If only God had guided me, I should certainly have been among the righteous.' Or (lest) it should say when it (actually sees the Penalty: 'If only I had another chance, I should certainly be among those who do good!'

[End Quote: Chapter 39, Verses 53-58, Quran]

It is not possible to gain redemption for salvation from anyone but God alone. To add to this, God is Alone the Creator and Inventor of all things. Polytheism along with Atheism is commonly practised today, or otherwise Secularism (which trying to bring life away from religion has become a religion in its own self). According to Polytheism, there is more than one God.

A good parable for this is a cook. If there is more than one cook in a kitchen, the soup will turn out strange. One cook will ask for more salt, the other for less. One for more pepper, and the other for less and on and on. One cook might make soup with sugar and the other with soy sauce. Imagine the commotion in that kitchen. IF there were gods instead of God, there would be a large and unimaginable commotion.

If there were more than one God, we would hear about one God saying: "The sun must rise from the east," and the other saying, "No, from the west."

Sticking with the belief that there are seven heavens (skies), we would hear that one God has taken over the seventh, and the other has taken over the sixth sky. Then we would hear that one God has re-conquered the seventh sky.

In conclusion to the original question: What is the idea that human beings are born inherently sinful and therefore need redemption for salvation?

The idea is based on beliefs that have been altered over time and have much truth and much false in them. Human beings are born inherently sinful because they are unable to be completely "good." Due to an internationally accepted idea that "no one is perfect," we can assure that human beings have good and bad qualities. These qualities make us good and bad/evil.

We all commit at least minor/little sins throughout the day, such as: white lies, and borrowing without asking (stealing). This is due to our behaviour that makes us inherently sinful. During the same day, we also do good, such as: helping out others, and showing respect.

The concept of inherently sinful mostly exists in Christianity, but the concept isn't specified and restricted only to Christianity.

To gain redemption for salvation, we don't need to look at our nature of being inherently sinful, instead, we need to look at how much and what type of deeds we have done.

For example, on a scale, if put several apricots and assume that the edible fruit is our good deeds and the pit is our bad deeds, the weight will be based on the total mass (or our deeds). However, if we were to separate the edible fruit from the pits and were to place it on the two ends of the scale separately, one side would weigh heavier than the other. If our good deeds are heavier in scale than our bad deeds, than we have gained salvation, but if it is the other way around, we lose that.

In Christianity, the belief is that through the crucifiction of Christ (Jesus) (who in Judaism is known as Esau, and in Islam as Isa) the sins of all of mankind were forgiven. Therefore, redemption has occurred through his sufferings.

Jesus was a man and of God's chosen, but he was also vulnerable to be inherently sinful. Everyone is answerable to his or her own actions, as was Jesus. Therefore, Jesus cannot save humankind from a severe penalty promised by God in the Bible, Torah or Quran. To gain true salvation, one must account for his or her own actions.

In conclusion, the idea is truthful because we are all inherently sinful, but redemption has not given salvation, but instead, to gain true redemption for salvation, we must work and help those around us. WE ARE ALL ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR ACTIONS and Jesus cannot save us. The only one who can save us is God by His Mercy and Forgiveness who is the Creator of Jesus.

Answer 2

This idea is rooted in the Christian doctrine of original sin, which posits that all humans inherit a sinful nature from Adam and Eve's disobedience in the Garden of Eden. Redemption and salvation are believed to be possible through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who offers forgiveness and eternal life to those who believe in him.