‘..if there is no sin, then everything is possible. Thus, the foundation of crimes and the associated cruelty, heartlessness, and malice among people is unbelief, the denial and trampling of every divine law, lawlessness. And there will never be love and compassion for a country where divine law is denied. Christ the Saviour indicated love as the norm of human life. A new commandment I give to you, That you love one another... By this will all know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (Jhn. 13:34-35)”.’ –St. Onuphry (Gagaluk), In Defence of the Christian Faith

Saint Paisios the Athonite on Man’s hereditary inclinations: Anon: ‘Geronda (Γέροντας/Elder), some people think that they don't have what it takes to develop a spiritual life. And so they say you cannot receive from one who does not have. And if they also justify themselves by saying that they are burdened by inherited passions, that is even worse. Geronda, what if someone is indeed burdened with such passions?’ Paisios: ‘Look, let me tell you. Each person has hereditary qualities, both good and evil. One must struggle to be delivered from his weaknesses and cultivate what is good in him in order to become a true grace-filled image of God. The negative inherited traits are not a hindrance to spiritual progress. For when one is struggling, even slightly but with great philotimo (φιλότιμο/love of honour)—then he’s moving in the spiritual realm, in the miraculous, and all the unpleasant inherited traits are dispelled by the grace of God. God is greatly moved and indeed helps the one who may have inherited negative traits, but is struggling with philotimo to fly heavenwards using an atrophied wing—the bad inheritance. I know many people who, with their own small amount of effort and the great help of God, were delivered from their legacies. In God's eyes, these people are great heroes. For what moves God is the work we do on the old man within.’ Anon: ‘Geronda, aren't the bad inherited traits removed by holy baptism?’ Paisios: ‘Holy baptism delivers us from the curse of the ancestral—original—sin, and from all sins. When a person is baptised, he is vested with Christ, delivered from the ancestral sin, and the grace of God abides in him. However, the bad inherited traits remain. Perhaps you don't think that God can remove those as well through holy baptism. He can, but he allows them to remain so that we may struggle and be crowned with victory.’ Anon: ‘Geronda, when I keep falling into some passion, I say, “This is how I was born. This is who I am.”’ Paisios: ‘That's all we needed to hear. The next thing you'll tell us is that your parents have given you all the weaknesses you have. From forefather to forefather, all of the family's weaknesses came down to you and all the gifts went to the others. Are you also blaming God? Whoever says, “This is my personality. This is how I was born. I have inherited repulsive traits. I grew up under these conditions, and therefore I cannot correct myself,” is like saying “Not only are my father and mother to blame, but also God himself!” Do you know how troubled I am when I hear such things? This is how one reviles both their parents and God. The moment one begins to think this way, the grace of God ceases to act.’ Anon: ‘Geronda, some people say that when a weakness is in the very structure of a person it cannot be corrected.’ Paisios: ‘Do you know why they say that? Some people find it advantageous to say that a particular weakness of theirs is a part of their makeup, who they are, just so they can justify themselves and make no effort to be delivered from it. Such people say, “God has not granted me any gifts. It's not my fault. Why do people expect things from me that are beyond my capabilities?” That's how they take advantage of opportunities. They justify themselves content with their thinking, and living their life as they always have. If we keep on lamenting, “These weaknesses are inherited, the other ones are part of my character,” How can we ever correct ourselves? This kind of thinking dispels our spiritual leventiá (λεβεντιά/dignity).’ –Spiritual Counsels, Vol. V: Passions and Virtues