Original Sin, or Other Opposition to Optimism? How Harkness Differs from Wesley in the Face of Human Depravity

Responding to the too-optimistic theology of fellow Arminian, John Taylor, Wesley wrote his lengthy treatise on doctrine original sin. In an optimistic effort make personalist theologians’ works accessible, Methodist theologian Georgia Harkness tersely disdained same in her first major book. She soon found liberal “chastened” by interactions with neo-orthodox opponents and experiences depravity—in world events gender-based discrimination reflecting systemic This article examines later for evidence whether modified attitude toward sin innovations she made accommodate both disdain realities depravity.