Language of God 197. Rebecca Copeland | Wicked Problems and Unoriginal Sin
Oct 16, 2025
Rebecca Copeland, an Associate Professor of Theology at Boston University, explores the complex notion of sin in relation to wicked problems like climate change and systemic injustice. She introduces the concept of 'unoriginal sin' to help us recognize our complicity in broken systems and the need for repentance. Copeland emphasizes the importance of collective moral responsibility and practical steps for social action. Her insights bridge deep theological concepts with real-world implications, encouraging a proactive and communal approach to addressing these challenges.
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What Makes Problems Wicked
- Wicked problems lack agreement on what the problem even is and have no final solution point.
- Solutions are temporary and require ongoing negotiation and repeated resolution.
The Imagined 'Only Way' That Upholds Systems
- The "fantastic hegemonic imagination" normalizes unjust systems by telling us no alternative exists.
- Copeland borrows Emily Townes to show this cultural shaping is produced, not inevitable.
A Third Category Between Original And Actual Sin
- Unoriginal sin names intergenerational, communal harms that no single person intended but in which we participate.
- It sits between original sin's inevitability and individual actual sin's deliberate wrongdoing.
