Louis C.K. is obviously speaking in hyperbole for comedic effect, but he’s really on to something here. He expects the worst of people, believing that – at heart – people act according to what’s best for them. This is the Christian doctrine of original sin, which undermines all notions of progress. Or as St. Paul said “no one does good, not even one” (Rom. 3.12).
The upshot to this very morbid worldview is that Louis C.K. is not caught off guard by anything he sees, in fact he’s genuinely surprised that the world has any civility at all. In other words, the less you expect from people the happier you are; you’re less disappointed by others (and your own) failures. But more importantly – you’re happier with whatever little joy/hope/love one is given.
In fact, he says as much here, ht NL:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r1CZTLk-Gk&w=600]
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4 responses to “Why Aren’t There More Murderers? Louis C.K. on Original Sin”
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wouldn’t the answer to his question, why there aren’t more murderers be God’s common grace?
“From this common grace proceeds all that is good and true that we still see in fallen man. The light still shines in the darkness. The Spirit of God lives and works in everything that has been created. Therefore there still remain in man certain traces of the image of God. There is still intellect and reason; all kinds of natural gifts are still present in him. Man still has a feeling and an impression of divinity, a seed of religion. Reason is a priceless gift. Philosophy is an admirable gift from God. Music is also a gift of God. Arts and sciences are good, profitable, and of high value. The state has been instituted by God…. There is still a desire for truth and virtue, and for natural love between parents and children. In matters that concern this earthly life, man is still able to do much good…. Through the doctrine of common grace the Reformed have, on the one hand, maintained the specific and absolute character of the Christian religion, but on the other hand they have been second to none in their appreciation for whatever of the good and beautiful is still being given by God to sinful human beings.
Sin is a power, a principle, which has penetrated deeply into all forms of created life…. It would, if left to itself, have devastated and destroyed everything. But God has interposed with his grace. Through common grace he restrains sin in its disintegrating and destructive working. But this [kind of grace] is still not sufficient. It subdues, but does not change; it restrains, but does not conquer.”
From Herman Bavinck’s 1894 lecture entitled, Common Grace.