Bishop Barron on Original Sin 

Good Grief! This stuff is delicious! Even as a protestant I find these videos to be amazingly filling. Keep it up Fr. Barron!

Came back to this video after last watching it two years ago. I was a devout protestant and loved my faith until about 7 or so years ago. I went through a deconstruction of my faith that lead me to atheism for about 5 years. Long story regarding what lead me there and what ultimately lead me back. But the roughest possible outline I can give for my path back is this. First, Jordan Peterson convinced me of the logical and moral necessity of the idea of God, at very least God as a necessary abstraction that is the personification of our highest moral intuitions and values. God is necessary as an externalized moral aim. But listening to Peterson lead me to Bishop Barron's videos. Bishop Barron described a God that is not A BEING, but rather BEING as such. Paul Tillich called God the ground of all being. From there, it's not a far stretch to accept that God, or essential being, contains properties such as intelligence. We are expressions of being and we are intelligent. Ergo, God is intelligent. Finally, I came back to faith because I chose to. I wanted to. Ultimately, we believe things because we wish to. I used to get so hung up on logic and reason, which are intellectually necessary for navigating our way through life. But our beliefs about ultimate matters cannot finally be settled by logic. Logic can only define one's options. But once it was done that, one must choose.

Excellent summation of the Christian understanding of original sin. Thank you Fr. Robert Barron. Once in my early twenties while in college, I was given a strong challenge to pray. The challenge came from a peer who was a Christian. Though I was an agnostic, I took up the challenge as he was my friend and someone I respected even if I disagreed with on the existence of God. I sincerely prayed this prayer: "If I have done anything to hurt anyone I am truly sorry and if there is a God want to know you." That prayer changed my life and placed me on a journey of a lifetime.

My mind is blown. I was just baptized catholic and I really appreciate your videos! It makes so much sense!!

Original sin- taking our own will over the will of God. Never heard it that way. Love your videos. Thank you.

I'm always speechless everytime I listen to people explaining the obscure language in The Bible. As a kid I never thought much about it, but through curiousity and current events, my faith got reignited. Thank you, Bishop, for sharing your wisdom on this platform and helping young Christians find themselves and their faith.

I've always felt that there are multiple layers of meaning to the Garden of Eden story. But you said something that rang a bell in my head that makes a lot of sense. By partaking of the fruit of the tree, Adam and Eve took it upon themselves to discern good and evil, instead of God. For some reason, that idea seems to be the best way I've heard so far of making sense of what happened next. Their eyes were opened and they were ashamed because they were naked. Since they took discernment of good and evil upon themselves, that means that they made themselves their own judges. But the problem is they weren't ready for that. They weren't equipped to judge rightly. God is the righteous judge. They took that role upon themselves and for the first time looked at themselves in judgment, not knowing what to do about it. So, they covered themselves and hid from God. This is one of those things that is at once so elementary, but also profound.

Gosh Im addicted to your videos right now. My history class somewhat ironic if ask me, is either atheist or just doesn't go to church, and didn't understand priest celibacy, the sex scandal,etc. I just wanted to pound my head on my desk. I just wish it was brought up at lunch, so I could explain it better to them. I will never understand parents who let there kids have all these questions and never answer them. when I am a father, I want my children to constantly ask me about the faith. I definitely want a copy of Summa Theologica in my house at all times. It can sit near the bible. That and the hunger games.

Thank you Bishop! So many RC commentators seem "Catholic specific" in many ways. I deeply appreciate your broadly Christian comments and keen insights. We, the believing Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox churches have so much more in common than what separates us. Thanks for helping to make that clear.

It's always amazing how Fr. Barron gives such thoughtful and insightful reflections on so many topics and the comments are so harsh and unappreciative. Pearls before swine, I tell you! Thanks Father, this message was eye-opening for me.

That’s the greatest explanation I’ve EVER had on the Original Sin. It never made so much sense!

Thank you Bishop Barron. ❤🙏

Thank you Bishop for these videos, you explain things in such an understandable way.

Bishop Barron- I am a stay at home mom and I listen to your videos every day when my baby is napping. These videos have livened my faith and nurtured my soul. Thank you so so much for all you do!!!!

Thank you Fr. Baron. Very inspiring, I needed an explanation for my own tendencies to sin, despite being a devout Catholic! Helps explain David’s declaration in psalm 51, ‘I was conceived in Sin!’

Fr. Barron, that was one of your best commentaries !

Thank you father Barron, especially for sharing so deep understanding of what happens to our consciousness when arrogating to our selves the right to decide good from evil. God bless you dear father !! Always like you and love you !!

This is one of my favorite videos by you Father Barron. I'm amazed by how intuitive this story is. The writer of Genesis identified the essential human problem thousands of years ago...yet we still fall into the same trap every single day! Seriously amazing how even the brief account of the fall cuts to the heart of humanity.

Thank you, truly appreciate this clear insightful and illuminating explanation of truth, also appreciate your presence in the media, again, thank you.

God Bless you Father Barron. We are so blessed to have you in our Catholic Church, keep up enlightening us all.

When I talk to my family about God I am at the same time listening as I don't know what is coming out of my mouth, but these mouthing s are only happening with an audience that is responsive, I notice i am in no way elegant in speech with an audience that is non responsive and I find my self searching through memories to deliver a speech or to correct or educate etc etc, so it is with truth the receiver needs to be open to it as well as the giver. This is very inspiring Father thank you for it.

Very clear words and great way to explain us theology. I`m feeling very proud to be Christian after knowing better God and is Sun Jesus through your thoughts. Many thanks! Already recommend your videos here in Portugal. God bless you!

Thank you Bishop ♝ Barron you are a highly intellectual individual I love your videos on the Bible and the teachings of Catholicism! How the Good Lord Created the World for us all!

Oooffff.... that was deep! Great explanation!

Thanks so much for sharing this!

As a non practicant catholic, but a stron believer. This vídeo has changed totally my view of life itself. I'm astonished on how much knowledge lays on few words, thank You.

So good. Thank you Father.

Wow, this explains so much, thank you

Awesome! Thank you!

Wonderful video. Thank you.

This video is excellent

The baptism and renewal is great! 😇😇😇

I was raised a nominal Catholic and later became a born again evangelical. I have since denounced evangelicalism. If only an evangelical could give such thoughtful answers as Father Baron

Thank you

So important!!!

Brilliant

Wow. Excellent video! As in your Tre Ore cd, we are all wired for God.

+Bishop Robert Barron Love this explanation

That was a better sermon than ninety percent of what is preached behind Baptist pulpits on any given Sunday! Yes, I am a Baptist.

I'm a Protestant Christian (Christian reformed/Calvinist). I absolutely love your videos. I see all denominations as just 'Christian', so I'm not into differing from other fellow Christians even though I know we all have different interpretations of the Bible. I do, however, find that you and CRC pastors would see eye to eye on almost everything (at least from my point of view). Thanks for the awesome videos!!! Also - please read "The Mark of the Lion" trilogy by Francine Rivers and do a review!!!! One of the best stories ever written in my opinion. I think about them almost daily because they pertain to so many parts of life. Please read!!

Finally someone who speaks to me on my level!

I never thought about the original sin that way. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.

You are a national treasure, Bishop.

Thank you, Bishop! The value of refreshing one's fundamental frame of reference can hardly be overestimated. As one goes on in life, one tends to forget some of the vital details of one's faith which ultimately weakens your belief system. It's like when you have to explain some of the important biblical concepts to your child...and, furthermore, it is so true that man's free will is really important. It can be compared to a man having received a knife from God. You can use it constructively as in for instance, cutting food for you and your family, or, you can use it destructively as in robbing and killing another person(s)...

Very well explained.

Very well said

Thank you Fr. Barron. As usual you make everything clear and easy to understand. I was wondering if you are a fan of Leonard Cohen, and if you would have the time to do a review of a song of his called "The Future"

wonderfull!

I always considered that it was knowing good from evil - as objective realities - rather than deciding what was good and evil.

I like the phrase: ‘...up and down the centuries.’

Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him for ever When man's chief end is to glorify man is when we have a problem

Not a Catholic (I'm a filthy Lutheran), but I really appreciate this video.

Makes sense… curvatus in se, or egocentrism as original sin… so far, so good. Communion looks like the logical therapeutic process after that. It’s a meaningfull meditation on the human condition.

I am fully convinced that Bishop Barron is correct in his explanation (which was apparently posted to RU-vid on or around 2014): that the original Garden of Eden sin was not so much the simple act of eating of the forbidden tree as it was Adam and Eve's decision to start deciding for themselves what was (or is) good and what was (or is) evil. I'm convinced because the serpent told Eve that she could become "like" God, and becoming "like" God was also at the root of Lucifer's rebellion (Isaiah 14:12-14); and importantly, Eve decided that the forbidden fruit was good for food and desirable to make one wise even before she ate of it. QUESTION: Does anyone know where Bishop Barron's explanation - or anything similar - can be found in writing, aside from the following excerpt from pages 50 and 59 of the 2019 commentary on Genesis: "The serpent is the voice in human beings telling them they are- or should be-God-like, meaning they can rely solely on themselves to determine what is right and wrong. This is what is happening in the secular West. People increasingly rely on their feelings to determine right and wrong. They do not rely on God; they do not rely on a religion; they do not rely on a Bible. Morally speaking, they are their own gods. … And as the serpent correctly noted, 'knowing good and evil' can also mean being the one who determines what is good and what is evil. That is what is meant in this verse by "man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil.'" (The Rational Bible -- Genesis: God, Creation, and Destruction. 2019, Regnery Faith.) Again, can anyone please tell me where something similar to Bishop Barron's explanation appeas in writing aside from the aforementioned commentary? This explanation seems to be extremely important, but so far I have not seen anything about it in writing except for the above-cited 2019 commentary. Thanks!

interesting take on it.

Praise God for you Bishop! Adam and Eve didnt pray to God, or with each other and believed the lies from the Devil instead of focusing on the magnificent's of the Lord! The goodness an agape love of the Lord was demonstrated an inherently love gives us a choice gives us freedom to make a mistake and so Jesus cover dare error our sins in the Messianic Covenant! You are amazing Bishop thank you God bless you I love listening to your wisdom!

This is wonderful but only partially explains original sin. What about original sin as being passed on from generation to generation as proposed by Saint Augustine? Original sin in terms of Jesus' mission of atonement? Original sin is also the basis of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception? There are so many gaps I do not know where to start. This is from a Catholic who is searching for answers to solidify my Catholic beliefs.

Sick vid bro keep up the groovy stuff my man! #jesus #isgr8

Muito bom, fantástico 5*****

Dear Bishop, will you please recommend what other materials (books, commentaries, etc.) I should look for to learn more about original sin? Thank you.

Dear Fr. Barron, Your exposition of sin, Original Sin, that is, is quite clear to me. Now, Our Lord has created us from clay or whatever, and has blown into us the Spirit of Life. Once this Spirit of life is recovered and it parts to its Original Place, The Creator, it is, or better, would it be against His Laws to have this body meshed-up, homogenized, pasteurized, and used as a fertilizer for the plants that live in this world? You know that there are too many cemeteries, and instead of being cremated, which is just as bad, we could donate our bodies to a useful use. What do you think about this? Best regards, John.

We all have a right to do whatever we please. And that applies to everyone.

I watched you video just previous to this one: "Misreading Genesis". I got that, 100%. But then, how do we glean the meaning and definition of original sin from the same text? Specifically, how did we derive our definitive Catholic definition of Original sin from Genesis?

Thank you Fr. Barron! Regarding your explanation that original sin was man's assuming the prerogative for determining good and evil-- can you describe what it meant for Mary to be conceived without original sin?

What distinguishes this awkward self-consciousness from real self-knowlege or awareness? Does the Tree of Knowledge represent asking the question "Why is this Good?" or "Is this Good?", or does it represent like Fr. Barron is saying, the assertion of my ability to make goodness. ? (thanks for the interesting video)

Wow he really is a good-speaker.

Great

the "aspiration" you mention Fr. Barron evokes the spiration of the Holy Trinity, between God and the Son, Jesus Christ, & the Holy Spirit.

Does concupiscence (what I understand to be the "tendency" to fall into sin) exist as a remnant of original sin? If yes, why then does Baptism not remove concupiscence, as Baptism removes all stain of original and personal sin--both eternal and temporal punishment, correct? Great video, and thanks for all your work on behalf of the Church.

This is the deepest interpretation of the fall of man I have ever heard.

Why am I unhappy? I have this gaping hole within me that no matter what I try to do to try and fill it stays painfully empty.

Hi, your Excellency or do you prefer Bishop Barron ? Please excuse my ignorance . I was wondering if you could help me with some of our traditions in our family . I was born in a Catholic family and I attend church when I don't have to work ,but I never dough in further than that and your explanation got thinking. I grasped the original sin and my question is , why did I baptize my new born goddaughter if she is not even close to making a decision of what is her favor colors ? I think the translation got lost in transition some how. And yes I will help her and guide her to understand the word to the best of my ability. Any comments would be appreciated , even maybe the trolls.

thepuppyturtle wrote: I'll let God be the moral guide of my life as soon as he sees fit to make his existence evident. me: "and God so loved the world that He sent His only Son..." - Jesus is the fullness of the revelation you seek.

Hi bishop After watching this video I have a doubt that is If God forbidden Adam and Eve from eating the fruit of knowledge,then does it implies that God wanted us to live a life in which we can commit sin without us knowing it’s sin? Please I hope u clarify me on this.Thanks

There is no original sin! We are not innately bad, but the opposite, we are innately good; but we have an ego that causes us to see ourselves separate, lacking and at odds with life and others; at odds with Love, so we behave badly. But we are not bad! We are mistaken, we misunderstand life. Everyone has an ego, and it is not of Love. The ego is also not evil, although it is behind all acts we would consider evil. The ego is not a thing or an entity, it's just programming to take care of number one. This programming causes us to be self-servicing, self-centered, fearful, distrusting, defensive and aggressive. The ego is a sense of self, not something real or true. A sense of self is nothing tangible, nothing that can't be fairly easily overlooked, if its lack of realness is pointed out. The ego is programming that causes us to see life, ourselves and others through a particular lense; one tainted by fear, judgment, limitation, smallness and a sense of lack. The egoic programming creates a sense of being under attack or threatened by others and by life. The ego is in fear much of the time, and therefore divorced from Love. This fear is an illusion, an imagination of something fearful in the future; not based on an actual threat in the here and now. When we're identified with this very primitive part of ourselves, we believe in the ego's fears and try to protect ourselves any way we can; usually by trying to attain more wealth, comfort, power, security, control, success, popularity and admiration; all things that make the ego safer, at least temporarily.

This might be unrelated, but I have a question about Eve and Mary that I haven't seen in my (limited) reading of exegesis. Eve of course played a unique and dreadful role in the fall of man as she listened to the demon and tempted Adam. Mary, played a unique and blessed role in our redemption as the new Eve as she listened to the angel and nurtured Christ. So (finally) I was wondering what exegesis the Church has on the corollary between the fruit of the tree as first sin creating division and strife between man and woman, and the fruit of the tree (the wine Christ created) as His first glorious act at a wedding where man and woman are united.

Can you do a video, soon, about the pitfalls of new age-ism culture and practices.

I'm a bit confused about a certain passage from genesis: after adam and eve ate the fruit, God said that "he is like one of us, knowing what is good and what is evil." Who is God referring to when he says "one of us"? To the persons of the trinity, other gods, angels, what?

I sure wish other Priest had your oratory gift Fr. Barron. We would pack the pews for the homily.

How did the sin of our first parents become the sin of the whole human race? What was St. Augustine’s philosophical argument in support of the doctrine of original sin? And why do you avoid discussing the known facts of evolution?

And I thought only rabbi's had this deep knowledge of things of scripture.

Seems to me, God knew before he made man the path man would take. I am thinking God has something great for us ahead as bad as things look at this moment.

I'm not familiar with many of the dogmas and doctrines of the world's various religions, but the dogma of original sin is one of, if not the most, egregious of them all.

Hi, can anyone tell me the Introduction song? Thanks.

facts yo

There is always freewill, option and choice. Even children are born with freewill, option and choice. That is why children need parents to correct them.

But if we are made in His image and "likeness," then wouldn't delving into the understanding of good and evil be integral to our being? If we know not evil, and evil exists through the devil, how could we ever identify, resist, and fight evil when it comes? Bishop Barron has done what Robert Stackpole did in his book "A Bridge of Mercy," namely, exercise philosophical and theological "gymnastics" to come to a conclusion that is entirely debatable. But it seems to me that if the explanation is so convoluted, then it might not be right.

God is Love personified. Derived from Love are the actions defined as good and the actions defined as evil. Humans, while incarnate, are too veiled by our animal drives and instincts, from God's wisdom to know what is good and evil.

I love Bishop Robert Barron

How do I reconcile this explanation of Original Sin with the teaching that it is something that as been passed on to every human?

I was watching my cat in the laundry yesterday. It was interesting because it gave me a glimpse of what may have happened and why Adam and Eve experienced deep discomfort after eating from the Tree of Knowledge. the cat was walking past the washing machine, the same washing machine it always sees going out or coming in from the cat door. the washing machine was making a weird sound this time, and the cat thought the machine was alive somehow and it stopped, hiding behind a clothesline, to catch the "machine animal". what I mean is that the cat has no knowledge of something being alive and manmade; if the object makes a sound or moves, it will reclassify as alive. At the same time, the cat has no knowledge of his body as we do, and that is why we cover it, and it doesn't. It's a bit as it sees through his eyes only where we are in our bodies after eating from the Tree of Knowledge.

Anyone have any thoughts on how to reconcile human evolution, (which seems to indicate polygenism: multiple biological decedents) and the doctrine of original sin? I can wrap my mind around original sin being allocating to oneself that which belongs to God, as bishop Barron mentions here. Original sin in this way being a foundational theological, in a sense personal and ongoing sin or condition, seperate from a specific chronological/temporal event. I've even read about original sin being explained in terms of how sin propagates and perpetuates across cultures and generations through their negative societal impacts, so much so that it's as if sinful natures were being passed down biologically. These two perspectives fit with polygenism. But to my knowledge polygenism isn't 'allowed' by the church. So I go back to my initial question. Any thoughts would helpful.

Bishop Barron, I am concerned that you seem to refuse to clarify what you said in this video. Several people, including myself, have commented and/or asked you about your comment which indicated that "Adam" in the book of genesis is some kind of metaphor for humanity. We are wondering what your opinion is of the reality of the man Adam, the true origin and nature of original sin, and precisely how your view squares with the Tradition of the Church. It seems, evidenced by several of your videos that have caused controversy, that you often leave legitimate questions on faith unanswered. As a bishop, isn't it your job to instruct the faithful, most especially on matters of faith? This is causing confusion. Please teach us clearly what you mean.

Wow

What is the song in the beggining

If only God can determine good and evil, is that not the "will" of God taking precedence over the "reason" of God (an element that you rightly criticized within Islam)?

The existence of qualities independent of things which exhibit them seems strange to me. Is this the case for all qualities? Is there a softness itself? Wetness itself? Blueness itself? Transparentness itself? I do not seek for transparent things to look out of my house with, but rather, I seek for transparentness itself? I think that all of matter exists independent of the qualities we assign them and groupings of matter are often unique. however, for the sake of communication, we place things in categories so that we may make reference to the category. I think these categories are a human invention that describes our relationship to matter. I think that these properties we assign to categories are not a part of reality independent of our interaction with it, but rather, a property of the way we interact with reality.

My concern has always been the issue of justice..."Abraham was a Manifestation of God and a descendant of Adam; likewise, Ishmael, Isaac, Jeremiah and the whole line of prophets including David, Solomon and Aaron were among His posterity. Were all these holy men condemned to a realm of punishment because of a deed committed by the first father, because of a mistake said to have been made by their mutual and remotest ancestor Adam?" ~ Abdu'l Baha, Baha'i Faith

Ok, so I have two questions, of which the first one had been asked countless times: if God didn't want man to nibble on the proverbial apple, why place it in the garden in the first place? The second one is: philosophy is mentioned as one of those things that make life precious and beautiful and help us grow as persons; but isn't philosophy essentially Man's attempt to define what's good and what's evil, and decide how to live?

Hi Father Barron, I am an avid listener. Just want to check what does it mean by "the spirit of God is hovering over the waters". What does it mean by water?