Original sin and love

The inescapability of this reality means there is no cure; there is only a balm, one balm. Love.

Original sin is often dismissed simply because it has heavy religious connotations, but as a concept it has great value even in a secular sense.

Original sin is the recognition that we are all in some way broken, in some way flawed or in need of improvement. The fact that brokenness is so universal among the human race is best described by the doctrine of original sin, because it states one of human nature's inherent aspects is brokenness. We are all born broken in some way, and as we exist we become more or less broken depending on our choices, morals and the things we experience.

The inescapability of this reality means there is no cure; there is only a balm, one balm. Love. And not the diamond ring kind of love sold to us on Valentine’s day, but a love that is freely chosen because it is what is right, and is not experienced solely for pleasure. Love is willing the good of the other, and creates an imperative to help someone regardless of circumstance. Love, often, is more action than feeling. It is the kindness to help someone even at detriment to yourself, the humility to recognise your own flaws and to work against them, the patience to not give in to anger and more.

Too many people think that actions follow love, but in fact love follows actions. This belief, so widespread, comes from a selfish definition of love; or that we love only for our own gain. This ‘love’ is the same ‘love’ we have for a fish. We love a fish because of how it tastes when we eat it or, more accurately, we love it only because of what it gives us.

Love is in fact heavily bound up with morality, and is a good in itself. Love is also a practice, one we should all attempt to master.