24 November, 2013

The Problem with Unapologetic and the HPtFTU - PEG 2.0

The Problem with Unapologetic and the HPtFTU - PEG 2.0: One of the central elements of Unapologetic is its discussion of original sin and, in particular, its description of it as the “HPtFTU”, or the “human propensity to [foul] things up.” Spufford’s whole argument for Christianity rests on the HPtFTU. I’ve said that it is genius and I stand by it. It is genius not only because it presents an old, and much-maligned, idea in a fresh new light, and not only because proclaiming God with curse words is sometimes called for.

I think it is genius because it gets at important truths about original sin. Casting original sin as HPtFTU shows how it is something fundamental to who we are. Psychologists will tell you that the most popular way to do wrong is by rationalizing it, and rationalizing it as “I am a good person who happens to have done evil thing X”, but it is the evil thing/circumstances/whatever that is evil, not me. HPtFTU says, no, it is you, or rather it is part of you. And, as they say, the first step is admitting you have a problem.