The article deals with new approaches to the theology of original sin. It introduces the readers to basic features of new theories, ie their christological background, deconstruction of Trent dogmas, psychological and sociological issues, the evolutionary view on history and polarity between situationalism and personalism concerning original sin. Then it tries to propose basic criteria for evaluation of various theological theories that were developed in past decades.
In his polemics against Pelagianism, Augustine of Hippo quotes his master Ambrose of Milan as a witness of the doctrine of original sin. However, Ambrose uses the expression 'peccata haereditaria' only once and the term 'peccatum originale' never. In his comments to the Psalm 50 he holds that every man (except Christ) is from the conception and birth infected by a contagion or iniquity caused by the fall of Adam. Unlike Augustine, the need to defend the personal responsibility lead Ambrose to underline the difference between our sin and the one of Adam. For that reason he stresses that the consequences of Adam's fall lies in the inclination to fault, everyone will be judged only for his own sins.
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