If Genesis is a metaphor, where did humans acquire original sin?

[DC Al Fine]

What exactly would original sin be a metaphor for?

[DC Al Fine]

What exactly would original sin be a metaphor for?

The fact that there is something inherently and inescapably wicked about human nature, that we all experience from our earliest moments of consciousness, and that we can try to combat but can never entirely eradicate (at least, in a religious perspective, not without God's grace).

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding you. You're arguing that original sin is a metaphor for... original sin?

I think we can tame and control this part of ourselves, especially through the development of a culture and a civilization that encourages the noblest traits of humanity. I think this can get us very far toward a society without war, crime and exploitation. But do you really think we could, by ourselves, fully extinguish something that is so deeply ingrained in our psyche? If there is a way to extinguish it (which I doubt), following the guidance of a being infinitely greater, better and purer than ourselves (which doesn't have to imply the absence of human agency, although I guess in DC's Calvinist view it does) strikes me as a sensible one.

In the Reformed view, the lack of human agency mainly deals with Depravity, Election etc. Sanctification on the other hand has a major human component.

[DC Al Fine]

In the Reformed view, the lack of human agency mainly deals with Depravity, Election etc. Sanctification on the other hand has a major human component.

Can you expand on this? The exact relationship between election and sanctification wasn't adequately taught in my Intro to Christian Traditions class last year.

Sure. This is a common misconception of Reformed theology. Teachers tend to just talk about TULIP when introducing Calvinism, either due to lack of time or theological bias. This gives the false impression that Reformed theology is purely deterministic.

The Reformed view is that all humans, elect and reprobate are dead in their sins, unable to love God of their own free will. The Holy Spirit then moves in the elect, regenerating them so that they can repent. While the regenerate person is now freed to repent and possesses all the assurances one associates with Calvinism.

However, they are not completely free of their old self and therefore can still choose to do evil. In fact at this point, our view resembles Arminianism, except for the perseverance of the saints. The regenerate soul is from then on 'at war' with the old self, and begins to overcome it via his own effort, prayer, and discipline, with the aid of the Holy Spirit. Sanctification therefore, is a joint effort with both human and divine components.