If much of modern thought aims to redefine the concept of original sin, or to diminish the actual sinfulness committed by Adam and Eve, Augustine maintains the absolute conviction that full responsibility to fall into disgrace belongs to humanity. This view is so consistent, in fact, that Augustine perceives humanity as eternally locked in the shame he initially created. This in turn allows for political and institutional relationships and interpretations; since the enormity of sin arises from humanity's direct defiance of God, both Church and State must work together to prevent man's inevitable turn to sin, as it will. It is a stance based on a profound and troubled acceptance of original sin as permanent. In the following, then, the essay will illustrate how the theory of original sin contained in Genesis 1-3 is interpreted by Augustine; how Augustine's perception of original sin applies directly to the Catholic Church and the Roman Empire; and how and why Elaine Pagels connects Augustine's reading of Genesis 1 - 3 to define "the politics of humanity." He traces Augustine's personal path of debauchery and misery, identifying this as fueling his relentless insistence on humanity's need for adequate government. Augustine uses Gen. 3 to demonstrate that all human beings require both spiritual and political discipline (Prof. Guynn, slide 9), and this is by no means an entirely effective remedy: "One of Augustine's favorite images for the leaders of Church... is that of the doctor, providing care to those who have been baptized but, like him, are still sick, each infected with the same ineradicable disease contracted as a result of Original Sin.” (Elaine Pagels, The Politics of Paradise, page 89) In short, the wickedness of original sin as the persistence and expression of human error is such that the best one can hope for, as Pagels interprets it, as the best efforts of humanity to limit its own unfortunate course. Ultimately, Pagels defines the “Politics of Heaven” as “religious intuitions coincide with political realities and ideological goals.” (Prof. Guynn, slide 8) In other words, Pagels illustrates the Augustine's idea of ​​denying the isolation of the Church in terms of original sin to create an image of involvement of politics The Church should