A review by theologiaviatorum
The Ancestral Sin: A Comparative Study of the Sin of Our Ancestors Adam and Eve According to the Paradigms and Doctrines of the First- and ... the Augustinian Formulation of Original Sin by John S. Romanides

challenging informative medium-paced

4.0

This is without a doubt one of the best books I have ever read. I come from a tradition in which many (not all) are Pelagian or Semi-Pelagian in that they believe each person is born entirely without defect and at a particular age (often called "The Age of Accountability," which is no particular age but the moment when any person becomes "responsible") experiences a "fall" of the same kind as Adam. I began to question that idea years ago and became open to Original Sin. The more I studied the more I realized that the condition of Man was directly intertwined and intermingled with one's ideas of atonement, only increasing my interest. Somewhere along the way I became aware that there was a difference between Eastern and Western ideas about this condition. The differences were murky but I knew that in order to distinguish and distance themselves from the West Orthodoxy names this condition Ancestral Sin instead of "Original Sin."  I wanted to learn more about the distinctions between these two and was happy to be pointed towards this book by Romanides. "The Ancestral Sin" cleared up so many passages of the Bible which seemed incomprehensible to me. But once I changed the framework with which I viewed the passage I needed no explanation; It now became "obvious." At the risk of being simplistic I will summarize the distinctions this way: According to Romanides (an important caveat) The West says we die because we sin; The East says we sin because we die. The West says we share the guilt of Adam; The East says we share his death. Romanides has some strong words for the West. He says that St. Augustine was not the first to understand Paul (as some claim) but the first to "fundamentally misinterpret the Apostle" (134). He even refused to name Augustine a Saint or blessed (11). I admit to being turned off by those facts, but I kept reading and I am so glad I did. This is a rare book, the sort of book that becomes a landmark in one's spiritual and intellectual development (it will be in mine). Heartily recommended.

Edit: In the intervening years since reading this book I have learned that Romanides is not *the* Orthodox position.  It is *an* Orthodox position.  Unless I misunderstand them both, Father John Behr, an Orthodox priest, seems to disagree with Romanides on certain points.  Further, it is not the case the Catholics believe children are personally guilty of the sin of Adam, as Romanides insists.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church reads, "Although it is proper to each individual, original sin does not have the character of a personal fault in any of Adam's descendants" (CCC §405).  Admittedly, this is not helped by the use of the word "guilt" in certain translations of documents from Latin.  Regardless, I would now take much issue with Romanides.  Still, I am glad to have read this book and still reference it often.  For that I demoted the book from a 5 star rating to a 4. (Feb. 18, 2025).