The Church Initially Did Not Believe in Original Sin
It is interesting to note that prior to Augustine (an early Church leader born around 354), Church doctrine stated that death was a natural part of the human experience, not a result of the sins of Adam and Eve (Elaine Pagels, Adam, Eve and the Serpent, 1988). Most Christians, even if they did except the concept of original sin, felt that it was washed away upon baptism - all baptized people were sinless. The idea that there was no sin to speak of fell in line with what St. John wrote: Whosoever... Sign in to see full entry.