Original Blessing: Putting Sin in Its Rightful Place

by Danielle Shroyer

Belief in the doctrine of Original Sin is firmly held by many Christians, but it turns out that its not necessarily biblical. Further, argues Danielle Shroyer, its bad for people and bad for the church. In Original Blessing, Shroyer shows not only how we got it wrong, but how we can put sin back in its rightful place: in a broader context of redemption and the blessing of humanity's creation in the image of God.

Genres: Theology, Christianity, Faith, Religion, Nonfiction, Christian, Spirituality

220 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2016

Reviews

[Rick Lee Lee James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

The doctrine of original sin didn't exist until the 4th century. The concept of original sin isn't held by any of the world religions other than post-4th century Christianity. This is not to say we are sinless but that we are made in the image of God. We are a blessed people sent out of Eden, not a cursed people kicked out. When all Adam and Eve could come up with were itchy fig leaves, God in His grace actually made garments for them. There is so much wonderful material in this book that can help us uncover the loving God of the Bible and help us to break free chains of bad theology that bind us. “Jesus is Lord” is our most central confession. “I am born with a sin nature” is not. "Original blessing is the stubborn assertion not that we are perfect, but that we are loved. And this love has the power to transform even our shadows into light."

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book. A lot of the ideas she presents are super compelling, and I do believe have truth to them, but the formulation of her thesis is a bit sloppy and redundant. There’s a lot of room for clarity here and taking her thoughts to their final conclusions. I’m left with so many more questions than when I started because I feel she didn’t communicate as clearly as she could have. Again, the ideas I find really interesting and compelling, particularly about the heart of God and how our language around our relationship with him really makes a world of difference in the way we view ourselves, others, and God himself, but I wanted more that she simply didn’t give. Much of the time she spends reiterating her point could have been devoted to the different practical and theological conclusions of this thesis, more exegesis, or even more historical background. This book is meant to be accessible to all as a lay theology, but I wish there had been a bit more of an academic backbone to support her arguments.

[TML · Rating 5 out of 5]

Consider this my hard launch that I no longer ascribe to the doctrine of original sin 😤

BUT RLY-

I do not say lightly that this book changed my life by putting words to what I have always known in my bones to be true about God.

“In Jesus, we realize to our great delight and to our unending surprise that even our participation in death itself, and the death of God no less, cannot separate us from our blessing. We can choose a path so terrifying that we end up crucifying the Son of God, and God will turn our evil into a empty tomb on Easter morning. We can take the One who is the Bread of Life, the One who is the Living Water, the One who is the Light of the World, and we can drive nails through his hands and his feet and watch him die on a hill in the public square, and God will look upon our horrifying actions and lead us to yet another garden, with yet another man and a woman, where we find the risen Jesus, who sees Mary Magdalene not hiding in the bushes but searching for her savior. . .”

[Annie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I so wanted to love this book, and there were definitely parts that really resonated and were so comforting. However, her central arguments just were not well supported by scripture or logic. Especially since she's challenging a central tenant of the Western church held for at least 400 years, we need some more meat on these bones. I would totally entertain other books about the nature of humans being bent towards one of blessing and not of original sin in Gen. 1-3, especially if you entertain the notion that it is to be read as an archetype and not as a literal history, which I do. As a counter to the "total depravity" crowd, though, this book sadly falls short. That failure is so incredibly frustrating to me because I see the unnecessary burden weighing so many people down because their view of God has been restricted and obscured by the church in a misinformed attempt at obedience.

[Justin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not unsympathetic to Shroyer's central ideas, but I found the book unconvincing. There's too little exegesis, too little dealing with historical doctrine (particularly if she wishes to reject the doctrine of original sin, which doesn't actually factor heavily in the book). There are some needed correctives here, but too often she addresses strawman Reformed (or other) positions rather than dealing with nuanced arguments. She tends to read her ideas into the text, which leads to too little tight analysis. Coupled with her logical leaps, it makes for a frustrating read. It's main strengths seem to be Shroyer's enthusiasm and writing skill, but her unorthodoxy should be coupled with solid reasoning.

The church would be wise to consider what it means by and how it uses the doctrine of original sin, and if that concept has too central a place. There's some good work to be done on the subject (and presumably has been), but this take is too light, and swings too far in its minimizing of sin.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Original blessing is the stubborn assertion not that we are perfect, but that we are loved. And this love has the power to transform even our shadows into light."
This is a beautiful grace-filled book. It is a great book to discuss in congregations!

[Belinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Useful for those reconstructing their faith

I loved this book. It exposed assumptions of mine regarding sin. It was a wonderful companion to the book Unafraid by Benjamin Corey. It explains where some of my self loathing was nurtured.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will be thinking about this book for a very long time. I just finished it and already want to start it over again. I love books that make me think deeply about something and this one did not disappoint.

[Eugenea Pollock · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my opinion, this is grounded in a good idea that must be stretched to result in a book of modest size. Way too much repetition for my taste.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I wholeheartedly agree with the original blessing rather than the sinful nature, I felt the way it was communicated in this book was lacking. There were parts (mainly the beginning) of the book that I LOVED and quotes that resonated deeply, but I was hoping for more and the book didn't deliver it. First, I wish there was more reference to Biblical text that supports the original blessing standing. While the author did reference a few Bible passages, I felt there could've been a lot more and it felt very basic in the way she explored said passages. Partially, it could be due to the fact that this book is geared more towards the general public rather than those who have an in-depth theological education, but I still found myself wanting more than what was said and explored. Many things were repeated where I feel there could've been a deeper exploration (through Biblical texts or historical context) that supports this idea of original blessing.

This is also VERY niche and I didn't expect it at all, but I really want someone who is emotionally aware/educated in that area to write a book like this, specifically one who's explored IFS (internal family systems). Maybe someday we'll have a book like that. I found myself wanting the author to look more into WHY people sin more. She mentioned that there's always a choice to do good or bad, but I felt it wasn't explored enough as to why people choose destructive patterns. This is something so many people ask me about when I talk to them about sinful nature, and I believe emotional health/IFS helps make sense of it. Additionally, sometimes, it felt like she was making it about working towards "being good" rather than just resting in your "goodness" (I'm not sure I like putting it that way but oh well). It seems like she contradicted herself sometimes by stating that it's about resting in goodness, but in other parts of the book, it felt like it was something you had to strive for, which I'm not sure if I agree with. Perhaps I just misunderstood what she was saying, but I wish there was more time dedicated to this concept of sin and why people do it.

Nonetheless, it was still a really great starting point for me to keep exploring this concept of original blessing rather than sinful nature. The more I ponder and read about sin nature, the more I don't understand how it could be true. If anyone has more recommendations about this concept that explore it in a deeper context, please send them to me!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely appreciated this book and Shroyer's take on the topic. Not many people in the Christian world have heard of the idea of original blessing, but I think it is an important piece of theology to consider. Shroyer is a pastor who has obviously thought deeply about this. As she says, if you look at the world through the lens of original blessing (rather than original sin) it significantly changes how we view Christian theology and tradition. Although I like how she handles the idea of original blessing, I don't completely agree with how it spins out into the various areas she suggests. However, I think she has done an excellent job pointing out some of the ways Christian worldview would have to change (nearly all for the best) to return to the idea of original blessing and let sin take a back seat.

[Kaylie Raines · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Original blessing means realizing your sin is not the most important thing about you, even if the world-or the church- makes you feel like it is”


Beautiful point of view that is slowly but surely changing mine. The church has always preached on how we are all innately sinful, but when in all actuality, we are all innately blessed by the work of the Cross and what Jesus did.

VERY challenging read and wordy at times. She sometimes randomly hopped from one subject to another which is hard for me to follow. Only why I’m giving it 4 stars.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot recommend this book enough, especially for my Christian friends who are struggling with theology around sin, salvation, sexuality, and grace. Shroyer's writing style is both academic and accessible, Biblical and secularly relevant, and her ability to reframe the stories of Eden and Calvary through blessing and grace is so needed in contemporary Christianity, both evangelical and mainline churches. I found myself nodding my head and saying, "Yep!" numerous times!!

[Lakeland]

“We need Jesus because we are children of God who no longer live at home in the garden, and we need our Brother to help us find our way back home.”

This flipped a lot if what I have learned about God on its head and that is kinda overwhelming. But in a kind and holy sense. I could prob write an book on how this book made me feel so I’ll leave it at that.

Thanks to Trina for encouraging me to read. Feels important to give her creds bc it’s not on her goodreads yet.

[Neil White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Danielle Shroyer's book is easy to read and provides some helpful insights into rethinking the place of the doctrine of original sin within Christianity. I found the book helpful in provoking thought and stimulating in its sometimes story telling, sometimes sermon-like tone.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shroyer argues against the traditional view of original sin. Some of her ideas are interesting, but she doesn't support them well, sometimes contradicts herself, and is often redundant.

[Traci · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good. So so good. I’ve had this on my “to read” list for forever. Tons of gems for thinking and preaching.

[Jarmo Larsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked Danielle Shroyer's original way of writing and that someone also dares to go against more controversial teachings within the Christian faith as the doctrine of original sin is. Some believe that it is absolutely essential in the Christian faith, others believe that it is not, and also believe that it is unbiblical. Although the author has some good arguments against original sin, but I miss a more exegetical depth and weight in her writing. Although Shroyer places a lot of emphasis on what she calls "Original blessing" she is also able to see the evil in man, but that evil is more about choices we make instead of something we are. When the doctrine of original sin destorys the image of man, it can look as if Shreyer goes a little too far into the other ditch, but still appearing not to take sin too lightly. On the other hand, she places more emphasis on God's blessing towards people, about how God did not curse Adam and Eve, but how after the "fall", which is not a biblical term according to her, God blesses and provides for them, even Cain . God is merciful all the way, something that the doctrine of original sin can quickly seem to cover up.

Shroyer may appear to minimize the vicarious death of Jesus, and believes that there may be too much focus on it today. She then refers to the art paintings of the church fathers, where the state of paradise prevailed, and that Jesus on the cross only became prominent after we embraced the doctrine of original sin. She still does not reject Jesus' vicarious death, and points out that it has a biblical value, but that the focus should be on the life that springs from Jesus' work. In any case, I believe that the vicarious death of Jesus is more essential and more important to highlight as something great than Shroyer portraits it, but it is also important to highlight the life that comes with it. The scriptures are quite clear on both parts.

Shroyer also gives us an insight into the debate surrounding the doctrine of original sin in the 18th century between the Presbyterian Jonathan Edwards and the Episcopalian John Taylor. We get a number of interesting angles through the book, but I miss more answers from Scripture as to what in and why she thinks the doctrine of original sin is wrong. Occasionally I also get a sense of universalism in the way she writes, but whether she is a universalist or not, is not entirely clear. Towards the end, the book also becomes somewhat repetitive.

[Lexy Twidell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was definitely an interesting read. I appreciate the ways it flips our default Christian perspectives and reminds us to focus on blessing rather than sin as the driving force, though I still felt myself struggling at times to buy completely into the theology that 'original sin' is a myth. I felt her viewpoint was lacking a bit (or at times felt a bit convoluted to ultimately get back around to her main point) and still left me with some big questions... but overall, I appreciate the angle she is taking and still found a lot of really helpful takeaways in this.

*In particular, I was reading this through the lens of considering LGBTQIA+ issues from a Christian perspective, and I found a lot of what Shroyer had to say helpful in creating a positive framework for addressing the often harmful ways many Christians tend to approach these issues.

Here are some quotes I'd like to remember from the text:

p. 24: "Original blessing means realizing your sin is not the most important thing about you, even if the world - or the church - makes you feel like it is"

p. 41: "When we live by original blessing, we have no excuse to treat others poorly. We are called instead to see everyone as bearers of God's image, and therefore creatures of inherent worth and dignity. And it then becomes our responsibility to respect and uphold their dignity as well as our own."

p. 148-150: "When we don't feel grounded in love, whether by God or by those around us, we can potentially turn toward destructive connections instead...When we see sin only as a reflection of individual morality, punishment seems the only fitting response. But aggressive or physical punishment creates distance, which only pushes someone further away from social bonding. Ostracism, shunning, solitary confinement, all of these merely degrade a person's foundation of care even further... In our eagerness to battle sin and fight crime, we've assumed that people are motivated most by fear and the threat of punishment. And the other assumption lurking underneath it is the belief that people are also motivated to do the wrong thing. (There's original sin again.) but when we look at most recent studies, we see a different picture. People are most motivated by a desire to be loved and cherished."

[Hannah Moenyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

You might like (or at least appreciate) this book if you…
…have never heard of the concept of original blessing but have heard of “original sin”
…were raised with the theology of original sin but have always secretly questioned it
…were not raised with the theology of original sin but have been exposed to it in adulthood and aren’t sure what to make of it
…were raised Protestant or Catholic Christian and wonder if original sin was always part of Christian theology
…were raised Eastern Orthodox or Jewish and struggle with discussing theology with people from churches that teach original sin
…grew up non-religious but in a Catholic or Protestant dominant country and are curious about the impact that the doctrine of original sin has had on much of Western culture
…grew up in a culture that did not teach original sin, but are curious about Protestant/Catholic theology or want to have theological/philosophical discussions with Westerners
…enjoy learning about religious history, theology, mythology, or any similar topics

This book is not for you if
…you believe that original sin is inherent to Christianity and don't want to question that belief or realize that it was not part of Christianity for the first few centuries of the Church
...you are looking for a comprehensive book that covers all the detailed history of Christian theology & all the in-depth theological/philosophical arguments for/against original sin and original blessing (this could be a great first step though — once you finish the book itself, you can use the bibliography as a jumping board into whichever aspect of the deep-dives you’re looking for)
…you are looking for a book geared towards academic readers who want footnotes on every page and heavy engagements with original texts (but the parenthesis above applies here too)

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I began reading this book already having felt that the Christian idea of "original sin" especially as espoused from depravity based traditions was and is a rather ridiculous pseudo-doctrine. So be forewarned of my bias as I entered into Original Blessing.

The beginning of the book was slow and a bit of a struggle for me because Shroyer 1.) uses a bit of an experiential hermeneutic framework that felt slightly unstructured (nothing is wrong with that I was simply expecting more of an academic here is some data and the problems with original sin throughout the Church tradition.) She does hit on those problems but more detail and organization, in my opinion, could have helped the background and historical analysis.

The middle of the book Shroyer begins making the case for original blessing in a much better context. She uses sacred text, experience, and tradition to lay out a framework that not only explains the perspective of the blessing view but also dismantle the bigger problematic issues with original sin in the western context.

But the ending, the application and see the real impact of viewing Original Blessing, makes the work unique, thoughtful, and ultimately way more challenging and interesting than I expected. the book is worth reading for the last 50 pages alone. Those chapters have so much annotation and interaction with my pen that I know I will revisit them several times over the next few months and later.

Seriously, please read the last 50 pages. They are super challenging and wonderfully thought out. I absolutely enjoyed this volume and also wrote several questions in my annotations that Shroyer's ideas led me toward which I am excited to explore.

[Patrick Willis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been reading this book off and on for a year (it's crazy when I looked down and saw I literally started this book and finished it on the same day a year apart... that wasn't intentional but cool that it happened, haha). Overall, this book is certainly an interesting book to read and a thought provoker. The theological concept of 'original sin' has always intrigued me, mainly because of how it really seems unnecessary and doesn't seem to have as much biblical basis as many claim. I'm not an end-all authority on theology so I really appreciate reading varying perspectives on different concepts. Shroyer's book is certainly a nice addition to the conversation. While at times it seems a little taxing to push through, there was much that I enjoyed reading, even if her contributions were not enough to yet convince me of ALL of her conclusions. In all fairness, I hope to reread this book in the future (within a much shorter time frame) and I'm hoping I'll be able to derive a better understanding/appreciation for this book as well as provide a better review. Overall, I have a hunch/suspicion that anyone who holds onto the doctrine of 'original sin' will take issue with this book and won't be convinced otherwise. Yet despite this, it's a book worth reading and given a serious shot at contributing a valid voice within this theological conversation.

[David Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are theology books that I will read that inspire and/or educate me on a particular topic, and there are Christian authors who can excite me about lifestyle and behavioral changes or activities that benefit my faith. My favorite books are those that do both: teach and inspire me while also giving me tangible ways to develop practices that exemplify the thesis of the particular theologian/author.

Original Blessing is one of the latter. I resonated strongly with the author’s description of God’s foundational intention to bless us humans with love, forgiveness, and presence. As a pastor involved in ministry with people desperate to hear and experience God’s unconditional grace and favor, this book makes so much more sense of God’s original intention than many of the other things I have read in the past.

This one is exciting. I can’t wait to begin attempting to put this theology into practice and experimenting myself with the concept of living into the blessing of God in my own life, rather than beating myself up about my supposed tendency toward an ingrained “original sin.”

[Sara Pantazes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has made my list of the top 5 books that have formed my faith, I loved every page. Shroyer put into words a sense of unease I have felt around the idea of sin in recent years and gave me the framework of original blessing as an alternative. She questions the theological assumption that humans by nature are predisposed to sin. Original blessing, as an alternative, is the idea that God blessed humans from the beginning with life and grace and steadfast love and that is what defines us, not sin. In the midst of a messy world that we muddle through, “goodness is both an origin and a goal”. So much good news and encouragement in this book to build up your understanding of yourself as a beloved child of God.

“Original blessing is about who God is before it’s about who we are and who we are becoming. It is the way God opens up space for us to dwell in God’s own goodness.” (P. 17)

[Jamie Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who are you? Many would respond with our name, our role such as a mother or a father, brother or sister, aunt or uncle. Or with your occupation. But that is not who you are that is how you are.

Who are you? You are good, you are awesome, you are full of unlimited potential and possibilities. You would argue that is how we are and not who we are.

But no, we were all made by the Creator to be good. To be awesome. That is who we are according to our original blessing. We are good, correction, we are very good.

This book is very good as well. Our original blessing is far more important than the first sin. Yet, we live in a shame induced society rather than a blessing based society.

I highly recommend this book.

[Pastor2112 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though many evangelicals begin their theology with "original sin", the Bible doesn't. It begins with "original blessing". "Original blessing reminds us that God calls us good and beloved before we are anything else." And before anyone does anything! This tells us much about God's overflowing goodness and desire for all creation to participate in God's blessing. Even after the first couple sins, God does not abandon, but rather, cares for them. Put simply: "Genesis 3 is a story of blessing and curses, because we live in a world of both. But as people of faith, we also know that curses will not have the last word." The reason: Original Blessing!

[Ben Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well written and clear, with moments rising to the level of literary beauty. However, I found the overall case to be lacking in engagement with key texts that the western church would/does point to in opposition to Shroyer's case. Additionally, the book suffers from a dearth of, in my opinion, necessary footnotes. The author tends to rely on large, blanket assertions (i.e., 'Jewish tradition says,' 'Irenaeus believed,' or 'The Orthodox Tradition says') without clear evidence or support for her interpretations, definitions, or argument in general.

Perhaps I am simply not the intended audience, but this lack of support weakened my ability to trust the author's case.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome Shift in Paragigm

Churches generally teach that we are wretched souls who went amok in the garden when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit of the tree of good and evil, so in anger God expelled us. Ever since we have been marked by the shame of that sin and have been forced to work our way back to God because we broke the relationship.

By contrast Shroyer posits that our expulsion from the garden was an act of love so we could grow to become what and who we were created to be. Because we are God’s good creation, we never lost His blessing. It’s always there —regardless of circumstances—and we have only to live into it.

[Cole Serfass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original Sin/Total Depravity has been confusing for me for a long time. Original Blessing, as Shroyer terms it, is a beautiful reframing that helped show me another perspective. She focuses on things like traditional Eastern interpretations, Jewish readings, and the other places in Scripture where words are used. She also covers the ways that an original sin mindset corrupts our view of God.

The most important point she makes is that if you see Jesus as a means to avoid damnation, you lose out on seeing Him as an example and an ally.

Highly recommend.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

The theology of original blessing is extremely important. It was a new concept for me and I’m blessed by having read this book.
I would have given it 5 stars if not for the fact that the last couple of chapters seemed to be rushed and rambling. Also after the first section the points are repeated too many times. I understand the importance of repetition but this author overdoes it.
Still, a worthwhile read.