We are selfish not because of a “fallen” nature. We are selfish because we live as physically vulnerable creatures in a Malthusian world. It is this situation that tilts the mind toward selfishness, makes us competitive, makes us hoard, or preemptively attack. It is our felt vulnerability that makes us sinful.
This quote from the blog, Experimental Theology; a blog of Professor & Psychologist Richard Beck. His original post is entitled, Original Sin: Part 1, Human Biodegradability in a Malthusian World. (I guess I should give more thought to the title of my posts) 
What are the dangers of this type of thinking? What does this do to the fact of man’s responsibility before God? Why is this important?
After the Fall, it is death that makes us paranoid and self-interested. But this is not, simply, some generalized or diffuse fear of death. It is a Malthusian fear, a fear that seeps into you because you are a biodegradable creature living in a Malthusian world.
How do these thoughts line up with Scripture? Do they? Read this selected passage from Romans 5:
(12-17) v.12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned– 13 for until the Law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15 ¶ But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. 17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
You’ll see a very different Truth there than you’ll find in the blog of Professor Beck’s. I am depraved because I am a descendant of Adam – I have inherited sin, death, judgment and condemnation from him. I am saved because of the grace of Jesus Christ – through Him I have life eternal, an abundant life and one now that has purpose: to glorify & please God.
side note: Beck’s thinking has it’s reaches into the Emerging Church: this blog by Tony Jones rejects the idea of Original Sin.
HT: A Little Leaven – they go into greater depth with answers of what the Bible says about Original Sin there.
