Introduction
Christianity has a complicated relationship with the concept of sin and its relation to the population. Atonement, a term that is specifically used to describe the process of paying back for one’s sins, is central to Catholicism and other branches of the faith.
Discussion
Different denominations of Christianity interpret the concept of the original sin differently, leading to varying interpretations of the role it plays in society’s moral character. Some scholars, such as Anselm, however, do not view humanity as innately and irreparably sinful. In his view, sin is to be treated the same way other faults were treated during his feudal life – through the system of “satisfaction” (Visser and Williams). If an individual has wronged another, they must pay them back proportional to the status of the offended party.
In this case, those with higher social status or worth must receive a larger compensation. Applying this framework to the concept of God and the original sin shared by the whole of humanity, a problem emerges. Humans are limited, while the power and status of God is infinite and immeasurable. Therefore, humans cannot seek atonement through their actions or faith alone. No matter how hard they strive to cleanse the stain of original sin, they will be unable to do so. To resolve this discrepancy, Anselm refers to the concept of incarnation.
Conclusion
Incarnation is the existence of the holy in the human vessel – a concept represented by Christ. Jesus is both a human person who possesses the original sin, and a part of God, being able to provide the population with atonement, they are unable to achieve themselves.
Work Cited
Visser, S., and T. Williams. Anselm. OUP USA, 2009.