A Statement on Original SinFirst articulated by Augustine (354-430 AD), the doctrine of original sin holds that all descendants of Adam inherit the guilt of the sin of 'Adam and thus incur the punishment for Adam's sin. Inheriting Adam's guilt at birth therefore presupposes a person guilty before God at birth and destined for hell. This is the basis of the Catholic need for infant baptism, the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception (that Mary herself was uniquely conceived, free from Adam's guilt), and the belief that salvation is available only through connection with the Church through baptism. Additionally, the belief that God holds Adam's descendants personally responsible for Adam's sin calls into question the importance of our free will as it relates to our moral responsibility to God. In other words, if God holds us responsible for Adam's sin, then the exercise of our free will must, in God's eyes, have little or no consequence. This leads to the Augustinian belief in predestination – that who is saved and who is lost is entirely determined by God's sovereign election, and...