02-05-2005, 08:07 AM
Bismillah,
Ronniv,
You don't really need to teach me about what Christianity teaches about the original sin, I know that. But that is also why I was surprised to read what you wrote, that Catholics believe that Mary was cleansed from sin.
Truly Ronniv, this is not a straight path to look at these issues, and I appreciate that you try to explain them. It is not the first time I have discussed these issues, I have also read some, so just to spare your time and mine, you are free, according to Islam, to believe whatever you like. Your choice, as I have mentioned earlier. I will leave this issue, since it is not proper to discuss Christianity in depth here, I think it is better suited on a Christian forum. There it can be fully exploited.
You know, Islam teaches that everyone is born sinless, like an unwritten book, like a newborn baby you come to this world, with no weights on your shoulders. That make sense to me, a lot of sense. We are born innocent knowing nothing about the world around us. But from start we begin to learn, bit by bit, we stumble, we make mistakes and we can correct them. When we get a bit older and have learnt a lot, we ALSO have to begin to take responsibility for WHAT we do. THEN we are able to distinguish between what is right and what is wrong. And it is THEN, not before, that Allah, SWT begins to closely look at what we are up to.
How can you be sinful before you have the knowledge? In Islam you are not, when you have learnt and got knowledge then you take your full responsibility before Allah, SWT for what you do, or what you abstain from doing (your duties towards Him for ex like fasting).
Considering Allah, SWT is Omnipotent and Merciful, He would never burden us from start, when we have no knowledge whatsoever.
Regards