Why does Christianity begin with what seems to be bad news? Is original sin simply a pessimistic account of human nature, or does it ultimately reveal the hope of redemption?
Drawing on Sacred Scripture, St. Augustine, St. Anselm, St. Thomas Aquinas, and the Catholic theological tradition, Fr. White explains why the doctrine of original sin is ultimately good news. The conversation explores the woundedness of human nature, the necessity of grace, the relationship between original sin and evolution, and how Christ and the Virgin Mary reveal God's plan for humanity.
The discussion explores:
Why original sin is ultimately good news
Can reason discover original sin?
Augustine, Aquinas, and the development of the doctrine
Human nature, grace, and the Fall
Pelagianism, Jansenism, and Protestant views of sin
Original sin and evolutionary science
Baptism and the healing of human nature
Christ as the New Adam
The Virgin Mary and the Immaculate Conception
👉 Full transcript & show notes: https://media.angelicum.it/?post_type=online-series&p=8559&preview=true
📖 Angelicum Conversations is a new interview series from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (the Angelicum) in Rome. Each episode features thoughtful dialogue on theology, philosophy, and culture—conversations that reflect the Angelicum’s mission of serving the Church through study, contemplation, and teaching.
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Chapters:
0:00 Preview
0:50 Introduction
1:54 Why Original Sin Is Actually Good News
6:01 Did St. Augustine Invent Original Sin?
9:06 Can We Know Original Sin by Reason Alone?
13:57 Pelagianism, Jansenism, and Human Nature
21:33 How Is Original Sin Transmitted?
25:10 Baptism and the Restoration of Grace
32:34 Original Sin and Evolution
39:26 Why Didn't Jesus and Mary Have Original Sin
49:00 Closing Remarks
