ORIGINAL SIN?

Millie was told by her Mum and it was reinforced by Grandma that she couldn't have a lolly until she had eaten her lunch.

A little later they spotted her standing over there, with her back to the two authority-figures. When they investigated, Millie had opened the lolly-wrapper (lolly = 'candy' for North Americans!) and the sweet was in her mouth.

Needless to say she lost the sweet, and was scolded.

How did she know she was doing wrong? Classical Western/Catholic theology teaches that she was born with 'Original sin', the stain of which is removed by baptism. Recently the Roman Catholic Church has removed Limbo (the place where babies go who were not baptized, to prepare them for heaven) from its teaching/dogma - not before time.

I have a problem with the idea of Original Sin and its concomitant Limbo, because they're ideas not taught specifically in the Bible. They are derivative, inferential, from other observed realities. I have problems with 'theology by syllogism' (see, for example, this article for more...)

Bella and Millie have been unwell in the last week. Yesterday Bella 'sicked up' on my Sunday best as we were taking them both to church (their mum and dad were getting ready for family-Christmas-lunch). Sometimes Millie says 'I'm actually feeling sick grandpa!'

Have I said Bella is progressing at a different rate from that of Millie? She gets up on her hands and knees, but doesn't yet crawl. Yesterday I found her sitting up in her cot: first time she's done that from a lying position. She occasionally makes a 'Dad... dad... dad' sound, but not much more in terms of specific 'baby-words'... Sometimes we've wondered if she will eventually 'get there' developmentally. She also has no signs of teeth yet. But when she smiles with a very big grin, and flaps her arms and legs excitedly in her high-chair waiting for food, she's so adorable!

Shalom!

Rowland Croucher