Original Sin and Education
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Concluding the classical educational philosophy book, Doctrines of the Great Educators, Robert Rusk in the final chapter, The Twentieth Century, closes with the statement: “As Sir Fred Clarke put it, all educational philosophies fall into two groups, according to whether the philosopher does or does not believe in Original Sin. The educational debate is still between the disciples of Rousseau and those of Plato.” Professor Sir Frederick Clarke (1880–1952), Director of the Institute of Education in the University of London between 1936 and 1945, was an influential educator throughout his life in England and in the English speaking world by his teaching and writings, including a book on Education and Social Change and essays concerning the Politics of Education and Freedom in the Educative Society. But it seems that the educational thinking in the 21st Century seeks to forget about the doctrine of Original Sin, or at least ignore it.
Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) felt that what was proper was the education of the heart from the natural goodness of man uncorrupted by civilization. Plato (428-348 B.C.) felt that the fixity of the soul is a reflection of the changeless, which he ascribed to God, the Changeless Being. As for Plato, the universal and abstract had more reality than the individual concrete things, all of which were but images of the ultimate reality—just like shadows in a cave, as his educational system sought to provide a means of finding the role a man should realize to best contribute to civilization.
It would seem that the doctrine of original sin did not exist for Rousseau. The evils he blamed on society – much in line with contemporary educational focus. To Plato, it would seem to be the individual’s inability to fully perceive the good. To Rousseau, original sin would have been merely the negative influences of the society, while for Plato, there was an innate incapacity in mankind to fully grasp what was the Ultimate Good. Both Rousseau and Plato had concepts of God, but they were very different, as were their concepts of humanity!
The Christian message is that we are able to realize God through his revelation of himself in Jesus Christ, and that original sin was not just something only back then, but is innate in each of us. We want to assert our dominate wills instead of submitting to the guidance and direction of God. We all insist on taking from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and seek to hide from the presence of God in ourselves.
Education should not just be of the head, but the heart as well, which is something we greatly neglect in contemporary public schooling, but it is also right in that we see just images and not the complete reality in all things, like the shadows in the cave. There seems to be a parallel here with what the Bible calls original sin that perverts all learning in various degrees. The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 7:18, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me…” The “will” is basic to acquiring knowledge as well and evaluating and understanding it. When our wills are out of accord with God, sin is at work—either by transgression, neglect, or by our attitudes at work in various degrees. So, the doctrine of original sin relates to education!
The Bible fully teaches the doctrine of original sin, as human history accounts for the continual problems that have confronted the whole creation in respect to it. Which is the cause and which is the effect? The Bible declares the cause is from the heart of man, not mankind in the social sense primarily, but individually within each person, as Romans 3:23 declares that “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Original sin has never been doubted by Christianity, except by the Pelagians and the Socinians. The doctrine of original sin is plainly taught in the scriptures, but the doctrine of Pelagius, a fifth-century British theologian, taught that man has free will and that divine grace merely helps a Christian accomplish what is already in his power to do. The Socinians were a religious movement organized in 1556, that in the seventeenth century was an important influence in the rise of Unitarianism. Unitarians denied the doctrine of original sin.
The whole Church has basically held to the importance of stating the doctrine of original sin, although many groups have interpreted it differently. The Roman Catholic, the Eastern Orthodox, the Arminian, the Lutheran, and the Calvinistic positions each see original sin somewhat differently. However, the doctrine of original sin or inherited depravity has its origin in the sin of Adam.
The name, “Adam,” means in Hebrew “mankind,” and this is affirmed in Genesis 5:2 that says: “Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam…” Sin is innate in every individual, which is the reason Christ came to die for our sins. The Westminster Confession of Faith states that: “By this sin they fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and so became dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body…Every sin, both original and actual, being a transgression of the righteous law of God and contrary thereunto, doeth, in its own nature bring guilt upon the sinner…”.
Original sin and our morality in respect to this negatively influences our learning and our understanding of knowledge. Look at the works of the flesh, the fruit of our original state of sin as described in Galatians 5:19-21, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” When one thinks about the characteristics mentioned, it can be seen how each of these factors that spring from our original sinfulness can and will disrupt positive learning!
The death and resurrection of Christ takes care of the original sin, as well as all the sins and shortcomings in our lives, as we move on to a greater knowledge in him. I Corinthians 13:9-12 summarizes how the knowledge of God in Christ gives us justification over our original sin and forgiveness and victory over the sins we continually find at work in our lives, as it says: “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away….For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
Here, is the heart realization of the knowledge of God, plus the ability to see beyond the shadows to grasp the full vision of truth, as Christ said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32). Our original sin is that fatal flaw in the human race. This is important to educational philosophy. To recognize this fact is essential in all education, and to find the solution to it in Christ is of the utmost importance.
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by Joe Renfro, Ed.D., Radio Evangelist, Retired Teacher and Pastor, Box 751, Lavonia, Georgia 30553, 706-356-4173, joerenfro@windstream.net
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