Born bad, original sin and the making of the western world, James Boyce
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Label
Born bad, original sin and the making of the western world, James Boyce
Language
eng
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references
Index
no index present
Literary form
non fiction
Main title
Born bad
Nature of contents
bibliography
Oclc number
904399301
Responsibility statement
James Boyce
Sub title
original sin and the making of the western world
Summary
"According to the doctrine of original sin, humans are born bad and only God's grace can bring salvation. In this captivating book, acclaimed historian James Boyce shows how these ideas have shaped the Western view of human nature right up to the present. The legacy of original sin takes many forms, including the distinctive discontent of Western people--the feelings of guilt and inadequacy associated not with doing wrong, but with being wrong. As well as an innovative history of Christianity, Boyce offers new insights into the making of the West. Born Bad traces a fascinating journey from Adam and Eve all the way to Adam Smith and Richard Dawkins in this sweeping story of a controversial idea and its remarkable influence."--Book jacket
Table of contents
Part I: Original Sin in Christendom. Preface -- The father of original sin -- The contest for the Western soul -- The challenge of the Celts -- Scholars and sinners -- The forgiveness industry -- A peasant's world -- All shall be well -- The meaning of marrying a nun -- John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion -- Spreading the word -- The Puritan foundation of modern life -- Reclaiming Augustine -- Part II: Original sin in the modern world. Preface -- A Christian enlightenment -- The perfect evangelical -- Celebrating Christian choice -- Adam Smith and market salvation -- Imperfect democracy: the founding fathers -- Original sin in an age of progress -- Freud and the science of self -- Staying positive : original sin and contemporary Christianity -- The selfish gene -- Where to for salvation? -- Beyond good or bad : a final judgement on original sin -- Appendix: Where did original sin come from?
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