Original Sin

Armstrongism rejects the Augustinian doctrine of original guilt—the idea that all humans inherit Adam's guilt and are born sinful before committing any personal sins. Instead, it teaches that human nature, while influenced by the carnal mind and the default enmity toward God, does not incur guilt until individuals actually transgress God's law.

Humanity is born with a carnal, self-centered nature hostile to God's law, and the flesh tends toward sin. However, moral responsibility begins only when an individual understands God's law and chooses to disobey. Each person is responsible only for their own sins, not for Adam's. This framework preserves moral accountability while explaining the universal human tendency toward sin as a product of the fallen condition inherited from Adam rather than imputed guilt.