Let's define sin and evil. In reality, we know that evil is a lack of something. It is not an existence - since God created everything. Thus, IF God didn't create evil, then evil is more properly definied as a LACK of something - a lack of God.
This is what the Latins teach (although many lack this understanding of original sin). Original sin is a lack of the Grace of God within a person when first conceived. It is NOT like a sin of commission or omission. "Original sin" is called a sin NOT because we committed it, but because sin is merely a lack of God - and we exist in that state until we are "born anew". That is the whole purpose of being baptized - to receive the life of Christ within us - a life that WASN'T THERE BEFORE. Can you point me to Scriptures or Tradition that do not consider this as the primary reason for being baptized?
By trying to tie original sin with our own individual sins causes many points of confusion between the Orthodox and the Catholics. And while Orthodox may think that the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception somehow takes away from Mary's decision of "yes" (as if God somehow "made" Mary to say yes by His singular blessings), this totally disregards that fact that man has free will. Mary was so blessed that she desired to say "yes" to everything God asked of her - meaning, she didn't sin. But it doesn't follow that Mary is any less honored because of God's special and singular blessing. Mary's free will was NOT overriden as a result of the Incarnation.
Regards
Jo, sin is clearly defined by Geneiss as disobedience, the consequence of which is loss of Grace. Loss of Grace is a punishment. It applies to Adam and Eve as well as to those who are baptized who willingly disobey God's commandments. Just as Adam and Eve were given a chance to confess and repent, so do baptized Christians have a chance to confess and repent and be restored in the future life. It's a ticket!
Because of their refusal to repent, Adam and Eve were cursed. That curse changed their nature which became succeptible to decay and death (absence of Grace). Thus the essence of our absence of Grace is not guilt, macula, spot that has to be removed or washed away, but mortality. And we know that baptism does not remove our mortality.