Have you ever wondered what people mean when they say “the doctrine of original sin”? You might think that it simply means “the first sin,” but in Christian theology the doctrine of original sin often means a doctrine about not just the first sin, but the guilt that all humanity carries because of “the first sin.” In this episode, we will explore how the idea of original sin became tied with original guilt. Sarah will argue that for Augustine of Hippo, one key thinker in the development of the doctrine of original sin, the doctrine was born out in his experience, attested to in Scripture, and tied to a strong doctrine of grace. Many branches of Christianity have wrestled with this theological inheritance, whether they agree with Augustine or not.

Discussion questions, video outline, and glossary available here.