Sambodhi 1989 Vol 16

Author(s): Ramesh S Betai, Yajneshwar S Shastri
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 72

the world, are also included in the penalty of sin. Sin is one of the saddest but also one of the most comman phenomenon of human life. It is a part of the comman experience of mankind and therefore forces itself upon the attention of all those who do not deliberatlely close their eyes to the realitics of human life. There are direct statements of Scriptures that point to the universal sinfulness of man.33 And several passages of Scriptures teach that sin is the lieritage of man from the time of his birth, and is therefore present in human nature so carly that it cannot possibly be considered as the result of imitation.34
It is quite impossible to give a unified and comprehensive classification of actual sins. The Old Testament makes an important distinction between sins committed presumptuously and sins comitted unwittingly i.e. as a result of ignoranee, weakness or error.35 The former could not be atoned by sacrifice and were punished with great severity, while the latter could be so atoned and were judged with far greater leniency. Hence Dr. Radhakrishnan does not deal with the concept of sin, it is not necessary to go into the details though it is considered to be of great value by Christian thinkers.
The nature and status of Man :
"And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul." Genesis 2.7. Thus, according to the Bible, man was created in the image of God, and is therefore God-related. As mau is created in the image of God,36 he is distinguished from all other creatures and stands supreme as the head and crown of the entire Creation. The terms 'image' and 'likeness have been distinguished in various ways. Some were of the opinion that 'image' has reference to the body, and 'likeness' to the soul. Augustine held that the former referred to the intellectual, and the latter, to the moral faculties of the soul. Bellarmin regarded 'image' as a designation of the natural gifts of man, and 'likeness' as descriptive of that which was supernaturally added to man. Calvin goes so far as to say that it cannot be denied that the angels also were created in the likeness of God, since as Christ declares, 37 our highest perfection will consist in being like them. But the angels are never represented as Lords' creation in the Bible.
Dr. Radhakrishnan observes that-"Man is made in the likeness of God, in his own image. The vast cosmic impulse has embodied itself in him. He is an active and purposeful force in the world. His duty is not to mark time and wait on chance."38 The unity of God and man is not seen in Christianity. Man is man. He can never be God. He is the crea