ABSTRACT

This book defends a startling idea: that the age-old theological and philosophical problems of original sin and evil, long thought intractable, have already been solved. The solution has come from the very scientific discovery that many consider the most mortal threat to traditional religion: evolution. Daryl P. Domning explains in straightforward terms the workings of modern evolutionary theory, Darwinian natural selection, and how this has brought forth life and the human mind. He counters objections to Darwinism that are raised by some believers and emphasizes that the evolutionary process necessarily enforces selfish behavior on all living things. This account of both physical and moral evil is arguably more consistent with traditional Christian teachings than are the explanations given by most contemporary "evolutionary" theologians themselves. The prominent theologian, Monika K. Hellwig, dialogues with Daryl Domning throughout the book to present a balanced reappraisal of the doctrine of original sin from both a scientist's and theologian's perspective.

chapter |8 pages

Introduction

part |2 pages

Part One The historical and theological background of original sin

chapter 1|6 pages

The classic teaching on original sin

part |2 pages

Part Two Why the pre-critical understanding of creation and original sin is no longer tenable

part |2 pages

Part Three Towards a new understanding of original sin

chapter 8|16 pages

Evolution and human behavior

chapter 9|19 pages

Evolution and human ethics

chapter |1 pages

Response to Part Three

part |2 pages

Part Four Original selfishness: a contribution to evolutionary theology

chapter 10|10 pages

Adam and Eve reinterpreted

chapter 11|11 pages

The meaning of salvation and the “Fall”

chapter 12|12 pages

Reprise: What about suffering?

chapter 14|7 pages

Summary and conclusion

chapter |2 pages

Response to Part Four

chapter |3 pages

Rejoinder