Re: RE: ProgressiveMuslims digest, Vol 1 #364 - 9 msgs

Salaam aleikum,

I'm new here to some of you and am a returned member for those of you who
remember me from before.  I just got back from living in Southern Africa (a
fabulous 9 months . . . I so wish I could just settle there), so have
returned to the list.

I would like to respond to just one thing that y2 said:

> I'm always reminded of a the 'original sin'.  God told Adam do not eat
from
> this tree.  God did NOT give Adam a reason like the tree is poisoness or
the
> tree will affect your state of mind...God simply gave Adam a direct order.
> Adam/Eve eventually ate from the tree, and that was the original sin.  A
> simple insignificant innocent act of eating a fruit.
>
> The orignal sin was not rape, murder, theft...It was disobeying a simple
> insignificant order from God.  But it was more than that wasn't it.

Charity's comment:

I wanted to point out that original sin is actually a Christian theological
concept.  Muslims believe that all people are born with innate goodness:
Fitrah.  This theological concept says that ALL people are born muslim (with
a little 'm': submission to the Divine), with the innate nature to do good
and worship the One God, Allah.  The theological concept of original sin
says that ALL people are born with this inherited original sin which
required the 'sacrifice' of Jesus to absolve, as well as the idea that
peoples' inherant nature is to choose to sin.  There is NO concept of
original sin in Islam.  We 'people' are responsible for our own actions, not
those of Adam, Eve, or any other predecesor.
I have to say this difference is one of the main reasons for my choosing to
be a Muslim.  For me it makes alot more sense . . . I like to meet people
and give them the benefit of the doubt.  In most cases I find that people
are genuine, not out to hurt me or others consciously, etc.  It is more in
tune with my innate optimism.  With the idea of original sin, it means that
I would meet new people with the idea that this person's innate choice will
be evil, doing bad, trying to hurt, etc.  So for me, the Muslim concept of
Fitrah is constantly reinforced in my contemplation of and experience in
Creation.

I just wanted to make my voice heard :)  he he he, and say hello to some of
the familiar faces here!

-Charity