| It is true that in our modern day (and more realistic understanding) sin is thought of as doing something bad, re:behavior. But back in the bilbical days and using the words Jesus said, forgiving sin was the same as healing a patient with a medical problem. It right there in red and white.
The Bible says we are born in sin because the sins of the forefathers are handed down from generation to generation like a gene is.
We are born inside the genetic make-up that is handed down to us from our parents and their "family tree". Including some kinds of illnesses that the Bible claims are evidences of sin, or punishment for sins as is death (and even old age) because those in God's favor the Bible suggests have longer lives.
Needless to say this idea is of no interest to Atheists, science, or the average person who is more secular then religious. And modern day religions would like to downplay what the Bible said about sin and sickness are part of the same package, or that mental illness has anything to do with demons. Modern religions know that is silly in light of modern medicine, and yet a true fundamentalist and theist would believe that belief is part of the teachings of the Bible.
And the word sin is used in other ways as well, but none the less the Bible speaks about the "sin nature" of humans. And so to propose that this sin nature is our genetic make up would echo that concept.
The "by the book" theist is always looking for scientific proof that will support those biblical claims they read about and have faith in as being truisms. And this new scientific evidence might be the proof they are seeking to support the idea that the Bible is not just "fictional".
The real theist does not view sin as just an abstract concept but they believe it is something deeply rooted in human nature as a controlling influence that people must be saved from. Now science is going to save us from our wayward DNA deformities. Or at least they have faith that this will be possible based on the new gene mapping being done.
Genes might also effect behavaor trates as well, for all I know.
And they studied the DNA in blood samples. And want to take such samples to test people so they can know what sicknesses the person might expect later in life. It's in the bloodline. And what does the Bible say about "salvation' relative to blood? A lot.
The whole reason they promote the Virgin Birth idea is so that Jesus would not have any of the blood (DNA) in him from a earthly father, so that he can be discribed as being the only person born without sin.
This does not make bio-logical sense to a scientist. Or even possible.
But none the less the Bible writers thought and wrote it that way.
But now theists can upgrade the old terms (like the sin nature) by alternating modern words like "genetic make-up". And even have proof they know what they are talking about.
Right? |