Original sin: Why this teaching does not endorse punishment or controlling demeanor towards children

The teaching of original sin is one of the most misunderstood and misused Christian teachings. The teaching has been misused widely to keep down minorities, including children. However, there is a proper way to apply the teaching of original sin, and it does not involve the punishment or controlling demeanor towards children.

The Greek root word denoting entitlement in the New Testament, and cross-references the Tenth Commandment, is πλεονέκτης (Latin: pleonektés) and refers to, officially speaking, parental entitlement, which is wanting things from children, to the point of imposition, and unofficially, to wanting anything from children. Want is at the very core of our depraved and entitled sin nature. It is not good to want anything in life, including from a child, but we all want something from children as depraved and entitled adults, and so it is good to fight against wanting things from children to the best of our ability as adults.

The centerpiece of an attached Christian parenting home is Christian Agape love for children, as denoted by the Greek root word αγαπαο (Latin: agapao), and refers to prioritizing children first, and yourself as a parent last, in a fearful and convicted way leading to dutiful and selfless submission to children and their every vulnerable need, expecting absolutely nothing in return from children or others, with children resting safely and securely in the good works of parents. See Colossians 3:20-21 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and grace of parents. Parents should be extensions of Christ, with parents sacrificing for their children, just as Christ sacrificed for His children, with children resting in this sacrifice, and with children being a Godhead for parents to surrender to and submit to. Attachment parenting was the established norm in Ancient Jewish culture. Attachment parenting, in Ancient Israel, was mandated under Jewish customary law. In the Early Church, attachment parenting was mandated under church ordinance. This Greek root word lifts up the attachment parenting context of the Early Church.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or abuse, including child abuse in this context. Child abuse, as defined under biblical law, at minimum, is the slightest of personal offense perceived by the child, including, but not limited to, the slightest of offensive touch or speech perceived by the child. Patrias potestas translates as "power to the father" or else "power to the parent", and was a legal defense under Roman law that allowed for fathers to control their house with as much force as they saw fit. No such law existed under Jewish law, including Christian ordinance, as striking or punishing a child was seen as either theft or kidnapping, with punishment seen as kidnapping in all cases. In the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by bloodletting for kidnapping when they punished their children enough times, with kidnapping being defined as any damages that involved hostage-taking - punishing a child was seen as taking them hostage for something they did wrong. Spanking and punishment of children was a Greco-Roman tradition, not a Christian tradition, meaning the Early Church has its own context in terms of parenting, and that context frowns upon any sort of punishment or controlling demeanor in parenting.

The teaching of original sin, when applied correctly to children, discourages punishment. Anything short of perfection is sin, and children are far from perfect people. But, they don't know any better, and so original sin is a reason to excuse immature and childish behavior, and tend to it when necessary. Immaturity is planned brainwaves in the brain, meaning immature habits come from brainwaves that determine the behavior, and when those brainwaves are repressed from punishment - like any repressed drive - they come out sideways as unruly and defiant behavior that lasts years, when that immaturity would have otherwise been grown out of right away. Thus, punishment stunts growth, and no punishment leads to children reaching maturity later, usually reaching maturity around the time of puberty - when adulthood came in most ancient cultures. Most ancient cultures used attachment parenting, which is the most time-honored parenting resource out there.

Ultimately, however, original sin, as a teaching, was intended for adults, as a means to remind oneself of how one should improve. I myself am a depraved and decadent adult who is entitled to absolutely nothing from children, and is grateful for being forgiven by children for acts of abuse and wrongfulness towards them, because I don't deserve anyone's forgiveness. I deserve everything hateful and resentful from children, and nothing affectionate or forgiving, because I have a depraved and decadent nature that is wicked and evil. I am a pedophile, and choose not to abuse children, and am grateful for the times I get to be around children.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be forever cast into the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared by Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend into the abyss which is the Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!