Augustine. (1982). Ancient Christian
writers: The literal meaning of Genesis (Vol. 2). (J. Quasten, W. J.
Burghardt, T. C. Lawler, Eds., & J. H. Taylor, Trans.) New York: The Newman Press.
St. Augustine writes that Original Sin resulted in humanity “[becoming] subject to disease and death” like the animals who had been placed in the garden with Adam and Eve. However, this aspect of Original Sin goes a bit deeper than introducing death and disease into the world. Because humans became subject to death, the need arose to procreate. From there, it was necessary for men and women to desire each other, and lustfulness entered the human heart.
In Perelandra, Ransom discovers that the planet lacks lustfulness despite the nakedness of its inhabitants. Perhaps this represents humanity before the introduction of evil and death into the world, because Adam and Eve did not have the need to reproduce and therefore did not lust for each other. Thankfully, Ransom was able to prevent Weston from corrupting the inhabitants of Perelandra. Therefore, they did not experience a “fall” in the same way that humanity did and did not lust after each other.
In Perelandra, Ransom discovers that the planet lacks lustfulness despite the nakedness of its inhabitants. Perhaps this represents humanity before the introduction of evil and death into the world, because Adam and Eve did not have the need to reproduce and therefore did not lust for each other. Thankfully, Ransom was able to prevent Weston from corrupting the inhabitants of Perelandra. Therefore, they did not experience a “fall” in the same way that humanity did and did not lust after each other.
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