Does anyone get it about original sin.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Original sin is there because priests needed a way to say even someone who lived a blameless life was doomed to Hell unless they bought the snake oil the loafers were pushing in the churches. If you're a good person you still need to go to church, and DONATE TO THE CHURCH, to be saved from a mythical death sentence.

And that's the least cynical way I can phrase it.

[Baruch]

MagetheEntertainer - Lex Talonis was an improvement ... and actually happened in old Babylon long before the Bible was written.  See Code of Hammurabi.  Prior to that, the natural response to social offense was unlimited retaliation ... leading to Hatfield/McCoy vendettas.  As the OT was being written, ethical thinking gradually advanced to the position that no family member should be punished for the offense of another family member .. including spouse and children of the accused.  Under rabbinic law, it became almost impossible to execute someone for a capital crime, because you had to have two eye witnesses, and punishment for perjury was severe.

Gawdzilla Sama - It was explicit dogma, even before Constantine, that there was no salvation outside the church, no matter how good you were ... and that if you did transgress, penance was available to compensate for the offense to the church.  So yes, it was a racket.  Constantine made it worse.

[SkyChief]

Original Sin is a construct of believers.

Which can be easily dismissed.