Humans born intrinsically bad?

[Puck]

I’ve heard before that the basis for Satanism was that humans are not born “good”, but rather intrinsically bad. You have to teach a child to share and to play nice and to obey, and that when they grow up, the alleged “Conscience” claimed by Christians, is nothing but layers of these teachings and society built up on the person’s intellect. I feel rather silly asking this, as I kind of know the answer, but I don’t know how to put it into words that make it sound vaguely intelligent. ;D
Responses?

 

[dmar198]

I’ve heard before that the basis for Satanism was that humans are not born “good”, but rather intrinsically bad. You have to teach a child to share and to play nice and to obey, and that when they grow up, the alleged “Conscience” claimed by Christians, is nothing but layers of these teachings and society built up on the person’s intellect. I feel rather silly asking this, as I kind of know the answer, but I don’t know how to put it into words that make it sound vaguely intelligent. ;D
Responses?

The doctrine of original sin holds that people are born without the intrinsic holiness we are meant to have. Instead, we tend toward selfishness and sin. But the Church also teaches that the moral law is written on our heart, and we must struggle to follow it. The fact that we are born tending toward bad is no excuse for worshiping Satan, any more than being born with a genetic predisposition for alcoholism means it is okay to get drunk.

 

[grannymh]

I’ve heard before that the basis for Satanism was that humans are not born “good”, but rather intrinsically bad. You have to teach a child to share and to play nice and to obey, and that when they grow up, the alleged “Conscience” claimed by Christians, is nothing but layers of these teachings and society built up on the person’s intellect. I feel rather silly asking this, as I kind of know the answer, but I don’t know how to put it into words that make it sound vaguely intelligent. ;D
Responses?

Our human nature is good; but due to original sin, our nature is wounded. Our good human nature is flawed not destroyed.

 

[Puck]

The doctrine of original sin holds that people are born without the intrinsic holiness we are meant to have. Instead, we tend toward selfishness and sin. But the Church also teaches that the moral law is written on our heart, and we must struggle to follow it. The fact that we are born tending toward bad is no excuse for worshiping Satan, any more than being born with a genetic predisposition for alcoholism means it is okay to get drunk.

Our human nature is good; but due to original sin, our nature is wounded. Our good human nature is flawed not destroyed.

Great. I’ve got a solid go-to now! Thanks!

 

[thistle]

I’ve heard before that the basis for Satanism was that humans are not born “good”, but rather intrinsically bad. You have to teach a child to share and to play nice and to obey, and that when they grow up, the alleged “Conscience” claimed by Christians, is nothing but layers of these teachings and society built up on the person’s intellect. I feel rather silly asking this, as I kind of know the answer, but I don’t know how to put it into words that make it sound vaguely intelligent. ;D
Responses?

One of the great heresies condenmed by the Church:

Gnosticism (1st and 2nd Centuries)

“Matter is evil!” was the cry of the Gnostics. This idea was borrowed from certain Greek philosophers. It stood against Catholic teaching, not only because it contradicts Genesis 1:31 (“And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good”) and other scriptures, but because it denies the Incarnation. If matter is evil, then Jesus Christ could not be true God and true man, for Christ is in no way evil. Thus many Gnostics denied the Incarnation, claiming that Christ only appeared to be a man, but that his humanity was an illusion. Some Gnostics, recognizing that the Old Testament taught that God created matter, claimed that the God of the Jews was an evil deity who was distinct from the New Testament God of Jesus Christ. They also proposed belief in many divine beings, known as “aeons,” who mediated between man and the ultimate, unreachable God. The lowest of these aeons, the one who had contact with men, was supposed to be Jesus Christ.

 

[Puck]

One of the great heresies condenmed by the Church:

Gnosticism (1st and 2nd Centuries)

“Matter is evil!” was the cry of the Gnostics. This idea was borrowed from certain Greek philosophers. It stood against Catholic teaching, not only because it contradicts Genesis 1:31 (“And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good”) and other scriptures, but because it denies the Incarnation. If matter is evil, then Jesus Christ could not be true God and true man, for Christ is in no way evil. Thus many Gnostics denied the Incarnation, claiming that Christ only appeared to be a man, but that his humanity was an illusion. Some Gnostics, recognizing that the Old Testament taught that God created matter, claimed that the God of the Jews was an evil deity who was distinct from the New Testament God of Jesus Christ. They also proposed belief in many divine beings, known as “aeons,” who mediated between man and the ultimate, unreachable God. The lowest of these aeons, the one who had contact with men, was supposed to be Jesus Christ.

Also from Calvinism, if I’m not mistaken?