# Who is responsible for the original sin? **URL:** \ **Category:** Philosophy of Religion\ **Created:** [May 14, 2026, 9:39pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/who-is-responsible-for-the-original-sin/1003 "2026-05-14T21:39:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MoK](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/www.thephilosophyforum.com/mok/32/578_2.png) [@MoK](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/MoK)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 9:39pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/who-is-responsible-for-the-original-sin/1003/1 "2026-05-14T21:39:45Z")
The story of original sin revolves around four main characters, namely God, the Serpent/Satan, Eve, and Adam. God is an all-powerful character here with foreknowledge. Satan is a character who hates humans. Adam and Eve were created in the Garden of Eden. They were free to eat everything but the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It seems that they accepted the command of God until Satan entered the scene, convincing Eve that they would not be punished by God if they ate the fruit. Eve seems to be convinced by Satan; otherwise, she wouldn’t have eaten the fruit. God enters the scene then, mentioning to them what they have done, punish Adam, Eve, and Satan. The question is, who is really responsible for the original sin? Adam and Eve are not, since they were convinced/fooled that they would not get punished. Satan hated humans so much for his own reasons; otherwise, He wouldn’t lie to Eve. So, we are left with God as the only Person responsible for the sin. God has foreknowledge, so He knew in advance that the sin would happen. He allowed Satan to have access to the Garden even though He knew that Satan would fool Eve. He persist to keep the tree there in spite of the fact that He knew that they would eat from the tree. I am wondering what you think and if you agree with my analysis. ---
**Author:** ![Corvus](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/www.thephilosophyforum.com/corvus/32/1331_2.png) [@Corvus](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Corvus)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 10:20pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/who-is-responsible-for-the-original-sin/1003/2 "2026-05-14T22:20:21Z")
> [@MoK](#): > > So, we are left with God as the only **Person** responsible for the sin. Was God a person too? ---
**Author:** ![MoK](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/www.thephilosophyforum.com/mok/32/578_2.png) [@MoK](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/MoK)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 10:33pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/who-is-responsible-for-the-original-sin/1003/3 "2026-05-14T22:33:04Z")
Yes, you can consider God as a person in a theological sense, namely, self-aware, possessing emotions, etc. ---
**Author:** ![T\_Clark](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/www.thephilosophyforum.com/t_clark/32/56_2.png) [@T\_Clark](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/T_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 10:34pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/who-is-responsible-for-the-original-sin/1003/4 "2026-05-14T22:34:42Z")
Have you read Genesis? You’ve given sort of a Saturday morning cartoon version. It’s not particularly accurate. ---
**Author:** ![MoK](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/www.thephilosophyforum.com/mok/32/578_2.png) [@MoK](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/MoK)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 10:37pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/who-is-responsible-for-the-original-sin/1003/5 "2026-05-14T22:37:14Z")
Yes, I read Genesis. What part don’t you agree with? ---
**Author:** ![Fooloso4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@Fooloso4](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Fooloso4)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 10:38pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/who-is-responsible-for-the-original-sin/1003/6 "2026-05-14T22:38:26Z")
Adam blames both God and Eve. (3.12) Eve blames the serpent (3.13). God holds them all responsible (3.14),(3.16), (3.17) > [@MoK](#): > > God has foreknowledge, so He knew in advance that the sin would happen. There is nothing in the story that indicates this. There are parts of the collected writings of the Bible that do make such a claim, but others that do not. For example: “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled.” (Genesis 6.5-6) God did not seem to know that Cain would kill Abel (4.9), but he had said Cain before Cain killed his brother: "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” (4.7) Desire plays an important role. There is a connection between desire and sin (4.7). Eve saw that the tree of knowledge was desirable to make one wise (3.6) ---
**Author:** ![Corvus](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/www.thephilosophyforum.com/corvus/32/1331_2.png) [@Corvus](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Corvus)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 10:43pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/who-is-responsible-for-the-original-sin/1003/7 "2026-05-14T22:43:34Z")
> [@MoK](#): > > God has foreknowledge, so He knew in advance that the sin would happen. Persons don’t have these foreseeing the future capabilities. Would you agree? ---
**Author:** ![WeSee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c5a1d2/32.png) [@WeSee](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/WeSee)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 11:43pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/who-is-responsible-for-the-original-sin/1003/8 "2026-05-14T23:43:25Z")
As I understand it, Christianity created the concept of original sin in the early half of the first millennium. It’s important to note that the concept is contrary to both Judaism and the gospel preached by Jesus during His ministry. ---
**Author:** ![Banno](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/www.thephilosophyforum.com/banno/32/55_2.png) [@Banno](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Banno)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 11:55pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/who-is-responsible-for-the-original-sin/1003/9 "2026-05-14T23:55:36Z")
> [@MoK](#): > > So, we are left with God as the only Person responsible for the sin. I think you have it. The simple version is the clearest and cleanest. But it’s an unpalatable conclusion for many, and hence more sophisticated versions have been invented in order to paper over the problem of God’s responsibilities. ---
**Author:** ![Corvus](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/www.thephilosophyforum.com/corvus/32/1331_2.png) [@Corvus](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Corvus)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 9:24am UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/who-is-responsible-for-the-original-sin/1003/10 "2026-05-15T09:24:39Z")
> [@MoK](#): > > Yes, you can consider God as a person in a theological sense, namely, self-aware, possessing emotions, etc. Not sure if God could be a person. Persons don’t have power to create humans or the world. Persons don’t have knowledge of the future. Persons get old and die too. God doesn’t get old, and doesn’t die. God lives forever eternally. God knows everything - the past, present and future. God is everywhere in the universe. God created the world and humans. I think these are what the Bible says and suggests. Not sure if you read the Bible yourself. If God is not a person but is God, then would it be reasonable for humans to suggest God is responsible for having done what was right for the world and humans within his will and knowledge? ---
**Author:** ![MoK](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/www.thephilosophyforum.com/mok/32/578_2.png) [@MoK](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/MoK)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 3:21pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/who-is-responsible-for-the-original-sin/1003/11 "2026-05-15T15:21:57Z")
> [@Fooloso4](#): > > There is nothing in the story that indicates this. There are parts of the collected writings of the Bible that do make such a claim, but others that do not. The verses in favor of God’s foreknowledge are numerous, and I am not talking about the book of Genesis only. Most theologians also agree that God has foreknowledge. Regardless, that situation was sinful, and God is responsible for it as well. ---
**Author:** ![MoK](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/www.thephilosophyforum.com/mok/32/578_2.png) [@MoK](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/MoK)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 3:23pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/who-is-responsible-for-the-original-sin/1003/12 "2026-05-15T15:23:23Z")
By person, I don’t mean a human person. So God has foreknowledge. ---
**Author:** ![MoK](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/www.thephilosophyforum.com/mok/32/578_2.png) [@MoK](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/MoK)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 3:30pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/who-is-responsible-for-the-original-sin/1003/13 "2026-05-15T15:30:38Z")
> [@WeSee](#): > > As I understand it, Christianity created the concept of original sin in the early half of the first millennium. My focus in this thread is on what happened in Paradise and who is responsible. You are correct in saying that Agustin developed the concept of original sin. > [@WeSee](#): > > It’s important to note that the concept is contrary to both Judaism and the gospel preached by Jesus during His ministry. I am not aware of that. Do you mind elaborating? ---
**Author:** ![MoK](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/www.thephilosophyforum.com/mok/32/578_2.png) [@MoK](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/MoK)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 3:36pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/who-is-responsible-for-the-original-sin/1003/14 "2026-05-15T15:36:09Z")
> [@Corvus](#): > > Not sure if God could be a person. Persons don’t have power to create humans or the world. Persons don’t have knowledge of the future. Persons get old and die too. > > God doesn’t get old, and doesn’t die. God lives forever eternally. God knows everything - the past, present and future. God is everywhere in the universe. God created the world and humans. By person, I don’t mean a human person. > [@Corvus](#): > > I think these are what the Bible says and suggests. Not sure if you read the Bible yourself. I read a couple of Bible books. > [@Corvus](#): > > If God is not a person but is God, then would it be reasonable for humans to suggest God is responsible for having done what was right for the world and humans within his will and knowledge? So, you agree or disagree? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/www.thephilosophyforum.com/frank/32/216_2.png) [@Frank](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 4:15pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/who-is-responsible-for-the-original-sin/1003/15 "2026-05-15T16:15:27Z")
> [@MoK](#): > > I am wondering what you think and if you agree with my analysis. Sure. The story is saying that the first sin was committed out of ignorance and naivete. Through that sin, they gained the knowledge of Good and Evil, which is exactly what the serpent promised. ---
**Author:** ![Fooloso4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@Fooloso4](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Fooloso4)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 4:24pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/who-is-responsible-for-the-original-sin/1003/16 "2026-05-15T16:24:19Z")
> [@MoK](#): > > The verses in favor of God’s foreknowledge are numerous, Yes, but you asked about the story of Adam and Eve. God, as a character in that story, is not the God of later invention with attributes that accrue over a long period of time. In later times, through the influence of Paul, Augustine interpreted it as the story of original sin. Many scholars reject his interpretation. To answer your question, Augustine is responsible for “original sin”. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/www.thephilosophyforum.com/frank/32/216_2.png) [@Frank](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 4:59pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/who-is-responsible-for-the-original-sin/1003/17 "2026-05-15T16:59:46Z")
> [@Fooloso4](#): > > To answer your question, Augustine is responsible for “original sin”. I think you mean Augustine is the origin of the idea that all humans share in Adams’ sin. He didn’t make up the idea that Adam was the first sinner. Romans 5:12 ---
**Author:** ![180Proof](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/www.thephilosophyforum.com/180proof/32/1100_2.png) [@180Proof](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/180Proof)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 5:45pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/who-is-responsible-for-the-original-sin/1003/18 "2026-05-15T17:45:38Z")
“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and **create evil: I the Lord** do all these things.” Isaiah 45:7 (KJV) IIRC, the doctrine of original sin was established first by Saul of Tarsus and then Augustine of Hippo. ---
**Author:** ![Corvus](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/www.thephilosophyforum.com/corvus/32/1331_2.png) [@Corvus](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Corvus)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 6:23pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/who-is-responsible-for-the-original-sin/1003/19 "2026-05-15T18:23:50Z")
> [@MoK](#): > > By person, I don’t mean a human person. A human person sounds confusing. Is there other types of persons? For example, God person and dog person or cat person? -surely that doesn’t sound correct or making sense. I was under impression God is not person. God is **the** unique and special existence with the properties. Your stance seems unclear in differentiating between God and person. > [@MoK](#): > > I read a couple of Bible books. Do you mean the original Bible OT and NT? or are they commentaries about the Bible ? > [@MoK](#): > > So, you agree or disagree? I **was asking you** if you think it would be reasonable for humans ask whether God is responsible for his actions on humans, if God has all the qualities which are out of human world and understanding. It is far too early stage for me to agree or disagree on anything at this point. ---
**Author:** ![MoK](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/www.thephilosophyforum.com/mok/32/578_2.png) [@MoK](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/MoK)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 6:37pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/who-is-responsible-for-the-original-sin/1003/20 "2026-05-15T18:37:20Z")
> [@Fooloso4](#): > > Yes, but you asked about the story of Adam and Eve. God, as a character in that story, is not the God of later invention with attributes that accrue over a long period of time. Are you saying that there are different Gods? Anyhow, as I mentioned, God is responsible for the sin because He created a sinful situation in which sin could be committed, even if we put the concept of foreknowledge aside. [Next page](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/who-is-responsible-for-the-original-sin/1003.md?page=2)