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vandalllj's review
4.0
This book paints a clear picture of the historical arc of the belief in the doctrine of original sin. While it seems clear what side the author takes on the issue, the breadth of source material provides a quite clear scope of belief in the doctrine. Throughout the book, I found moments where I was forced to pause and consider whether the doctrinal support to which I had held flippantly was accurate.
Overall, if you have any interest in the subject matter, I would recommend this book to you. Jacobs is witty, humorous, and enjoyable to read.
Overall, if you have any interest in the subject matter, I would recommend this book to you. Jacobs is witty, humorous, and enjoyable to read.
adamrshields's review
4.0
Short review: This is a cultural history of how the concept of original sin has influenced western culture. It is not a theological history, but does have enough theological material to give a good back ground. I am a little sketchy on the doctrine of original sin as commonly understood. But Jacobs has showed me that the common understanding is not actually the proper theological understanding.
A longer review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/sin/
A longer review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/sin/
the_dragon_starback's review
4.0
I’ve managed to read two books titled “Original Sin” this year, somehow. This one was far better than the other (a disappointing mystery novel).
There were many interesting threads woven in here and Jacobs brought it all together wonderfully in the Afterword.
This quote from the Afterword summarizes things pretty nicely:
“As far as I can tell, then, you must hold five distinct beliefs in order to affirm [original sin]. You must believe that everyone behaves in ways that we usually describe as selfish, cruel, arrogant, and so on. You must believe that we are hard-wired to behave in those ways and do not do so simply because of the bad examples of others. You must believe that such behavior is properly called wrong or sinful, whether it’s evolutionarily adaptive or not. You must believe that it was not originally in our nature to behave in such a way, but that we have fallen from a primal innocence. And you must believe that only supernatural intervention, in the form of what Christians call grace, is sufficient to drag us up out of this pit we’ve dug for ourselves.
There were many interesting threads woven in here and Jacobs brought it all together wonderfully in the Afterword.
This quote from the Afterword summarizes things pretty nicely:
“As far as I can tell, then, you must hold five distinct beliefs in order to affirm [original sin]. You must believe that everyone behaves in ways that we usually describe as selfish, cruel, arrogant, and so on. You must believe that we are hard-wired to behave in those ways and do not do so simply because of the bad examples of others. You must believe that such behavior is properly called wrong or sinful, whether it’s evolutionarily adaptive or not. You must believe that it was not originally in our nature to behave in such a way, but that we have fallen from a primal innocence. And you must believe that only supernatural intervention, in the form of what Christians call grace, is sufficient to drag us up out of this pit we’ve dug for ourselves.
mlindner's review
3.0
I had intended to write a review of this, which is why I am only now making it as finished, but I have lost the desire. Part of the issue is that I do not think that I would fairly do so as I wanted it to be a different book. Or something. As best as I can say I wanted it to be a different book and if I am going to review it then I ought review the book the author wrote and not the one it isn't.
I will say that although it was interesting, I did almost give it up a couple of times. But that be related to my wanting it to be something else.
I want to rate it 2 stars for "It was OK" because that is how I feel, at best, about my experience of reading it but I'm giving it 3 since I know that my opinion is being influenced by wanting something else and I do believe that Jacobs' wrote the book he said he meant to write.
I will say that although it was interesting, I did almost give it up a couple of times. But that be related to my wanting it to be something else.
I want to rate it 2 stars for "It was OK" because that is how I feel, at best, about my experience of reading it but I'm giving it 3 since I know that my opinion is being influenced by wanting something else and I do believe that Jacobs' wrote the book he said he meant to write.
jnepal's review
3.0
I appreciate what he was trying to do, just not sure he did it. But it was good.
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