The standard definition of original sin which was first developed by St. Augustine, is the idea that all men inherit the guilt of Adam. This definition of original sin is the fountainhead of Calvinist theology. Without it the Calvinist system of theology falls apart.
Since the idea that children inherit guilt from their fathers is not a commonly held belief in any society, theologians have posited 2 major theories for how this could actually be. One says that all men actually pre-existed in Adam's loins and thus we were actually doing the sinning with Adam. Another says that Adam is legally the federal head of all mankind and therefore all mankind is legally held liable for the sin of their federal head.
Charles Finney was an aggressive activist against this idea of original sin and was very lucid in his objections. Finney was such an avid activist against original sin, because he saw the doctrine as an attack on the justice of God and as a hinderance to the salvation of men.
Finney taught that men sin and rebel against God because they freely choose to. The doctrine of original sin teaches that men sin because they are constrained to by a necessity of their sin nature which they inherited at birth. Finney observed that this idea gave men the opportunity to pass the blame of their own sin and guilt on to their ancient forefather.
Finney held that the Bible and Biblical doctrine must adhere to sound reasoning. Sinners would point out that, if their sinful state and guilt was inherited, then God had no reasonable grounds on which to judge them responsible for their sins.
I have found that the most ardent defenders of the doctrine of Original Sin (besides Calvinists) are sinners who lover their sin. They constantly and fervently insist that their sins are acceptable because "they are only human." Their guilt is appeased because they have been reassured by the Christian community that they are only doing what comes naturally to them.
I believe that the Bible teaches that Adam,s "original sin" did in fact affect the world and the lives of his children. (It is commonly accepted that the sins of fathers invariably affect the lives of their children). But, the Bible is absolutely insistant that GUILT is NEVER inherited or passed from father to son. God holds men responsible for their own sins and NEVER for the sins of their fathers.
The entire 18th chapter of Ezekiel is a rebuke to those that teach otherwise. (Eze 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. )
