[stuartcr]

Outside of biblical references, how would one be able to tell that we are born with a sinful nature?

[timeflies]

From the first time you lie yourself out of a paddling.

[Graybeard58]

Outside of biblical references, how would one be able to tell that we are born with a sinful nature?

The author brought up the subject of the Bible, on those grounds she was refuted.

"Sinful natures", is indeed a biblical concept, as is the concept of sin itself. I'm not aware of any place else that speaks of sin out side of a religious meaning. Sin being the disobediance or breaking of God's law must be spoken about from a "God angle".

[Vigilanteman]

Like the Lincoln and preacher story, I'm not so sure if it is a sinful nature or sinful nurture. Lying to avoid punishment is a learned behavior, albeit very early in life.

It is an interesting theological/philosophical debate. But I'm not so sure that it makes a great deal of difference since babies are born into a world which is so corrupt, it is only a matter of time before the nurture dominates the nature anyway.

[metmom]

Outside of biblical references, how would one be able to tell that we are born with a sinful nature?

Because no one needs to teach a child how to be bad.

All the teaching and training is to teach them to be good, to overcome the badness.

[Truthsearcher]

You missed the point, the Bible does not say that their sinful nature prevents people from telling right from wrong. It only prevents only from doing right over wrong.

We know what’s right, we do the wrong any way,

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

Outside of biblical references, how would one be able to tell that we are born with a sinful nature?

By watching the nightly news.