Christianity - A Journey from Facts to Fiction — Page 24
24 Christianity – A Journey from Facts to Fiction sins of our forefathers is one thing but to be compelled to con- tinue to sin as a consequence of one’s forefather’s error is simply abominable. Let us get down to the hard realities of human experience and try to understand the Christian philosophy of crime and punish- ment in relation to our everyday experience. Let us suppose a judgement is passed against a criminal, which is far too severe and harsh in proportion to the crime committed. That could, of course, lead to loud and severe condemnation of such a gross disproportionate penalty by every sensible man. In view of this, we find it very difficult to believe that the penalty imposed on Adam for his sin came from a Just God. It is not just a case of an out of proportion penalty. It is a penalty that, according to the Christian understanding of God’s conduct, outlived the lifespan of Adam and Eve and was extended generation after generation to their progeny. For the progeny to suffer for the punishment of their parents is actually an extension of the violation of justice beyond its ultimate limits. But we are not talking of that either. If we had the misfortune to observe a judgement passed by any contemporary judge making it compulsory for the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, etc. of a criminal to be coerced by law to continue to sin and commit crimes and be punished accordingly till eternity then what would be the reaction of contemporary society, which has acquired a universal sense of justice through civilisation? The reader must be reminded here that this concept of inher- ited sin is only a Pauline misinterpretation. It cannot be rightfully attributed to the teachings of the Old Testament. There is over-