A Theology for Artisans of a New Humanity, Volume 5

A THEOLOGY FOR ARTISANS OF A NEW HUMANITY
Volume 1 The Community Called Church
Volume 2 Grace and the Human Condition
Volume 3 Our Idea of God
Volume 4 The Sacraments Today
Volume 5 Evolution and Guilt
For many generations Christians have considered sin almost exclusively in terms of the individual person: ""my sins"" and ""your sins."" These sins, moreover, have been thought to have their roots in our ""fallen human nature,"" the consequence of original sin.
Recently, however, the bishops and theologians of Latin America have begun to speak of ""sinful structures,"" ""sinful institutions,"" and even ""sinful societies.""
These terms sound rather strange to North American ears, but an understanding of them is vital if Christians here are to live up to their calling to be both prophetic and creative agents for change within their communities-global as well as national. These communities are scarred by sinful structures and sinful institutions, if we but had the eyes to see them as they are.
For the love taught and lived by Christ has ""a creative obligation,"" in Segundo's phrase: the obligation to move evolution forward into ever more truly human forms and structures. ""I have come to give life, and that more abundantly.""
Segundo's reflections on the nature and meaning of that life make Evolution and Guilt a signal contribution to pastoral as well as political theology. It is paramount, however, a breakthrough in Christian moral theology, speaking to the major issues of our times.