Part I: Original Sin in Christendom. Preface
The father of original sin
The contest for the Western soul
The challenge of the Celts
Scholars and sinners
The forgiveness industry
A peasant's world
All shall be well
The meaning of marrying a nun
John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion
Spreading the word
The Puritan foundation of modern life
Reclaiming Augustine
Part II: Original sin in the modern world. Preface
A Christian enlightenment
The perfect evangelical
Celebrating Christian choice
Adam Smith and market salvation
Imperfect democracy: the founding fathers
Original sin in an age of progress
Freud and the science of self
Staying positive : original sin and contemporary Christianity
The selfish gene
Where to for salvation?
Beyond good or bad : a final judgement on original sin
Appendix: Where did original sin come from?