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The Fall to Violence: Original Sin in Relational Theology
In this book, Suchocki argues that the condition of "original sin" is not primarily a "rebellion against God," but a "rebellion against creation." Sin is action that, whether intentionally or not, contributes to the ill-being of earth or its inhabitants. Its underlying root is not "pride," but a triadic structure that involves (1) a human bent toward aggression that easily tends toward violence; (2) the solidarity of human beings with one another and their environing world, so that to some degree each participates in the plight of all; and (3) social structures that invariably influence the consciousness and conscience of participants in those structures.
Given these three factors, to be human is necessarily to be a participant in conditions that make for ill-being as well as well-being. Suchocki concludes her discussion with an interpretation of forgiveness as willing the well-being of victim and violator in the fullest possible knowledge of the nature of the violence. Forgiveness, or living and acting from the will toward well-being, breaks the chain of violence, answering sin with grace.
Given these three factors, to be human is necessarily to be a participant in conditions that make for ill-being as well as well-being. Suchocki concludes her discussion with an interpretation of forgiveness as willing the well-being of victim and violator in the fullest possible knowledge of the nature of the violence. Forgiveness, or living and acting from the will toward well-being, breaks the chain of violence, answering sin with grace.
168 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 14, 2008
best book on evil and sin I know about.
March 10, 2021
An insightful dissection of original sin. Suchocki views original sin as violence/ill-being towards creation manifest on three levels:
1. The human propensity to violence
2. The relatedness of all violence to each of us and creation, the vicarious, direct, indirect contact we each have with violence.
3. The structural violence that supports and perpetuates the illbeing of some to create and maintain wellbeing for others.
She identifies forgiveness as a three fold action of memory -remembering the truth of harm and ill-being, empathy -wishing the wellbeing of both violator and violated and imagination -a hope towards this yet to be realised wellbeing.
Suchocki presents a stunningly abundant and generous view for the human community to heal, to transcend original sin through this understanding of forgivness.
1. The human propensity to violence
2. The relatedness of all violence to each of us and creation, the vicarious, direct, indirect contact we each have with violence.
3. The structural violence that supports and perpetuates the illbeing of some to create and maintain wellbeing for others.
She identifies forgiveness as a three fold action of memory -remembering the truth of harm and ill-being, empathy -wishing the wellbeing of both violator and violated and imagination -a hope towards this yet to be realised wellbeing.
Suchocki presents a stunningly abundant and generous view for the human community to heal, to transcend original sin through this understanding of forgivness.
February 24, 2021
A unique and thorough treatment of sin from a relational perspective. Suchocki lays out the ways we all participate in sin (causing unnecessary harm through violence to others or creation) by our own choices and our complicity in systems of evil and oppression and prevailing social and cultural ideals. Her treatment is a philosophically-dense, at times very metaphysical exploration of how we not only participate in inflicting the trauma of sin, but how we can't help but be traumatized by all of the sin embedded in the world around us. A provocative thesis and a compelling exploration.
July 21, 2023
Really didn’t love this, I can’t lie. There was never a point in this theology that I felt like I was able to dig my Heels into and engage. The use of Niebuhr and Whitehead had some merit, and a lot of the language is my style, but the lofty precepts backed up by nothing really sank this for me. I can also see many many flaws in applying a theology that rejects all revelation against the well being of creation.
April 2, 2024
As much as I enjoyed the points she was making, it was a challenge in itself to understand them before they could be enjoyed. It was a dense read and I often found myself lost in her points and wondering how the train of thought arrived at any given point. If you have time to devote and really dive deep into her words, you might find it more enjoyable than I did.
February 20, 2018
The best book on sin that I’ve read. I loved this book! I hope to come back to it several times.
May 18, 2023
Wonderful! Dense, but deeply insightful exploration of sin and violence.
March 12, 2012
A theology book loaned by a friend, prompted by a conversation about evil. I found the first third of the book finely diced arguments with a whiff of the "dancing on the head of a pin" to it, but stuck with it and found the argument about the nature of sin and original sin very persuasive even without a belief in god as a foundation. The more theology I read, the more intertwined I believe most of the fundamental concepts to be. All are attempts to explain human nature and behavior, the world around us, and the heavens.
One of her central arguments is that sin is not against god, but against creation. (That was the finely diced part.) Original sin is faultless until we reach an age where we are able to choose: sin or not sin. We feel guilt because we can't escape the fact that humans are part of systems (that's the relational part) and many of those systems sin by harming creation. It's unrealistic to believe one can divorce oneself from the rest of humanity. This feels like it could eventually connect with a lot of Buddhist discussion of suffering and its inescapable nature. To be is to suffer. The semantics are different but it feels like the same discussion to me.
I'm no theologian and unwilling to summarize this further, to defend it, or to pick it apart. I found it to be an interesting premise, and it allowed me to see concepts such as sin and guilt apart from how organized religion uses them to bludgeon people.
One of her central arguments is that sin is not against god, but against creation. (That was the finely diced part.) Original sin is faultless until we reach an age where we are able to choose: sin or not sin. We feel guilt because we can't escape the fact that humans are part of systems (that's the relational part) and many of those systems sin by harming creation. It's unrealistic to believe one can divorce oneself from the rest of humanity. This feels like it could eventually connect with a lot of Buddhist discussion of suffering and its inescapable nature. To be is to suffer. The semantics are different but it feels like the same discussion to me.
I'm no theologian and unwilling to summarize this further, to defend it, or to pick it apart. I found it to be an interesting premise, and it allowed me to see concepts such as sin and guilt apart from how organized religion uses them to bludgeon people.
January 1, 2015
A book I wished I'd read a long time ago. Here are some points:
Complex but clear and repetitive in a good way - great summary at the end.
Takes seriously the subject - no religious dogmatism or lazy thinking.
Rational - makes good sense.
Reflects relational theology and takes our interconnectedness seriously.
Radical in that it defines sin as primarily violence against creation which in turn implies violence against God and not the reverse.
One could argue that it lacks specific Christian emphasis. Marjorie recognizes this and invites further development by others. For me Christ and his Cross while not explicit runs through the whole of the text implicitly.
Full of hope for individuals and groups. By Gods grace we do not have to repeat old patterns, we can let go of past mistakes and we can make a positive impact on the world.
Complex but clear and repetitive in a good way - great summary at the end.
Takes seriously the subject - no religious dogmatism or lazy thinking.
Rational - makes good sense.
Reflects relational theology and takes our interconnectedness seriously.
Radical in that it defines sin as primarily violence against creation which in turn implies violence against God and not the reverse.
One could argue that it lacks specific Christian emphasis. Marjorie recognizes this and invites further development by others. For me Christ and his Cross while not explicit runs through the whole of the text implicitly.
Full of hope for individuals and groups. By Gods grace we do not have to repeat old patterns, we can let go of past mistakes and we can make a positive impact on the world.
February 17, 2015
I had long struggled to understand how my acceptance of Evolution could dovetail with my love of scripture, and Jesus. Marjorie has done an amazing work in digging into the very core of this intersection in a way I found extremely helpful, informing, and she left me with a sense of intellectual relief. In some ways I didn't feel like she went far enough in articulating the natural conclusions of her work, they are conclusions I believe most reads will reach on their own.
If you have ever wondered how Genesis and evolution might work together without compromising either, please check out the work that Suchoki has done. It should provide you with many of the steps you need to continue on your joinery of keeping your faith and intellect together. My hope is that within the next century views like hers will become commonplace.
If you have ever wondered how Genesis and evolution might work together without compromising either, please check out the work that Suchoki has done. It should provide you with many of the steps you need to continue on your joinery of keeping your faith and intellect together. My hope is that within the next century views like hers will become commonplace.
July 11, 2015
OMG This is on of the best books I read while doing my Theology degree and one of the books that have a real effect upon as a Christian. Just Awseome read it twice and I'm going to have to read it again
June 23, 2016
Wow! This is a consideration of sin and forgiveness in a relational theology that speaks to much of what happens in our world. I highly recommend it.
March 10, 2020
A definitive constructive work on Sin, Evil, the Human Condition and God regardless of your theological tradition.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews