Population Genomics,Confessionalism,and the Metaphysics of Original Sin

Abstract

There are various reasons for the hesitancy toward—even the outright denial of original sin. One of the foremost reasons has to do with current proposals put forth by evolutionary science and population genomics. Because of this hesitation it is fair to wonder, must a traditional doctrine in which original sin derives from the actions of an original pair be discarded in light of these sciences? In this essay I propose a possible account of how Christians who hold to certain historic confessions and ecclesial pronouncements might continue to speak of the sins of an original pair if the most prevalent scientific account of human origins is correct. To do this I draw upon Jonathan Edwards’s account of personal identity.