Original Sin Is A Lie: How Spirituality Defies Dogma and Reveals Our True Self

by Bob Peck, Scott Standley (Editor)

“Original sin” is a lie. Jesus, a deeply profound teacher of Love and Unity, never said a thing about “original sin”. It’s a doctrine invented by Augustine of Hippo over three hundred years later. While there are certainly issues within institutional religion, upon textual examination and spiritual contemplation; there are also beautiful, enduring teachings of collective harmony and inner transformation. Underneath layers of ego, the real message shines through. “Truth is One, The sages call it by many names.” —Rig Veda In this book, author Bob Peck takes us through his own highlights of the “spiritual buffet line”: from present-embracing Zen Buddhists to insightful Indigenous shamans and compassionate karma yogis. He explores the Avatar doctrine of the Bhagavad Gita , the Work of Byron Katie, new science in relation to spirit, and the true loving message of Jesus. As Peck articulates, the Bible is not infallible, but in certain moments it does point to the Reality of Who We Are; as does Sri Ramana Maharshi, Carl Jung, Anandamayi Ma, the Gospel of Thomas , and A Course in Miracles . From psychedelics to ‘the illusion’, to Peck’s own learnings along the way, Original Sin Is A Lie is here to point us to a rich spectrum of mystic wisdom across the spiritual traditions and ultimately help us uncover our True Nature. What else is there to do?

Genres: Religion, Spirituality, Faith, Self Help

Paperback

Published August 29, 2022

About the author

Bob Peck is a festival award-winning filmmaker, author, lawnmower, meditator, and a spiritual student of Christ, Krishna, the Buddha, and Paramahansa Yogananda. With bachelor’s degrees in Religious Studies & Radio-TV-Film from the University of Texas, he has made ‘conscious films’—spiritual & advocacy documentaries—since graduating in 2011. He’s also a Kriya Yoga practitioner through KYI and a certified mindfulness & meditation teacher. His day job is centered around ads and mindfulness in Big Tech. A native Austinite, he lives with his wife and young son in Austin, Texas.

Original Sin Is A Lie is his first book.

Reviews

[Wade Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodness. This book. It’s like Bob somehow through the collective cosmic consciousness mew exactly what I’d been trying to flesh out for so long.

This book is rich with wit, knowledge and a lasting peace that will bring anyone who considers themselves perennial/mystic/or source seeker.

The information is provided in such a unique way through personal experience and many writings of the teacher taught about.

It is genuinely a book of love, to those that might be afraid that it’s a “shit on” all things not woke, be sure that is the furthest from the truth. It is a beautiful blend of the many truths out there.

As stated in the book mystics believe the truth cannot be stated, but Bob sure does one hell of a job giving but the thimbleful of his experience and it shines.

Namaste, Bob. I hope to connect one day, in this incarnation or the next.

[Vinayak Rao · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bob is an excellent author and I found this book to be informative, fun & incredibly rewarding to read. In this, Bob explores our relationship with religion & spirituality through novel lenses that I’ve never read before. He delicately threads the needle between history, religious studies, spirituality, comparative myth & mysticism all while ensuring his primary thesis still remains in focus: the path to enlightenment lies within us all and our individual relationship with that path is all that matters. As an atheist, I would definitely recommend reading this to fellow non-believers, believers and everyone in between!

[Mikayla Humphrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey not to be dramatic, but uhhh… this book (and Bob) changed the course of my life!

I grew up in a religious cult and pendulum swung straight into devout atheism. Every page of this book began healing my religious trauma and helped me to no longer be repulsed by the Bible or Jesus. I realized all the parts of the Bible that turned me off weren’t even historically accurate anyways, and the parts that DID resonate were the ones that were. His take on “Churchianity” is great.

After that came the spiritual buffet which was 🤌🏻 chef’s kiss. In the cult I wasn’t allowed to learn about any other religions so I really went into this completely blind - so if that’s you you’re in luck! What struck me the most was how every major religion is essentially conveying the same message, just in a different form. I never understood integral spirituality or how people could be interested in so many different spiritual paths because I always assumed them to be so wildly different, but I can totally see it now. I don’t think there’s many other places where you’ll see selections of various holy books all referenced in a way that shows the underlying message they all share. I have such a respect now for other spiritual paths that I didn’t before.

If you’re looking for a more scientific take to prove the existence of God altogether, Bob does touch on this but also makes clear that’s not the *main* point of his book, and includes a list of several books and resources that do elaborate on this.

Great IG content at @originalsinisalie! The memes he posts are 10/10 too so you really can’t lose. He also was a guest on the 11/21/23 episode of Back from the Borderline which is firrrrre if you’re into pods! (Also the 10/19/23 ep of Third Eye Drops!)

The only people I can imagine not liking this book are those who consider anything that falls outside their belief system heresy. I’ll continue wishing them a more open mind because this book is a gem just waiting for them!

I have this in every format and they’re all great. Hardback is nice for obvious reasons but the glossy cover on the paperback is glorious. I got it on Kindle originally which was fantastic but couldn’t resist a paper copy for the cover. (Eventually figured I should complete the fam and got the Audible which Bob narrates and it’s really great as well, especially considering I absolutely could not pronounce a lot of this without Googling, so boom!)

This book sent me down the most phenomenal path and I’ll recommend it to everyone forever ✨

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

Half of me wanted to rate this book 3 stars, and the other half wanted to rate it 5 stars, so I split the difference at 4.

I'll start with the 3 star half. It's very simple: there are grammar mistakes and writing faux pas aplenty. However, these "misses of the mark" (pp. 312 - 13) are not egregious enough to dilute the message of the book.

Now for the 5 star half. First, this is an excellent introduction to comparative religion. I have been wanting to do some reading on the topic for a while, and this well-cited and -researched book did a great job of introducing major topics, themes, and theories while also making its own point. I have a complex trauma background with religion, which meant I found this book challenging but ultimately rewarding and uplifting.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in comparative religion, spirituality, and spiritual self-help. I look forward to reading more from this author!

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the premise and the book. Found myself going slower through the later parts where the author delves deeper into eastern spirituality - felt a bit disconnected from the beginning. Still enjoyed it regardless.

[Rachel Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot say enough how this book is going to be the beginning of huge discoveries for me. It was the dip of a toe into the waters of enlightenment that I have been seeking my whole life.

[Antonio Rosario · Rating 5 out of 5]

great introduction to spirituality and mysticism that handles the potentially sensitive subject matter with care and respect

[Jordan Tate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feels like a hug. So good for those deconstructing or on a spiritual path.

[Jithendra Jithu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: Original Sin Is A Lie: How Spirituality Defies Dogma and Reveals Our True Self

by Bob Peck

Rating:5/5

Review:

👉In Original Sin Is A Lie, Bob Peck masterfully challenges the conventional ideas we often associate with religion, bringing forward a fresh, inclusive perspective on spirituality. 🌌 Peck’s journey through the “spiritual buffet line” takes readers on an exploration of Zen Buddhism, Indigenous wisdom, karma yoga, and the mystical teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. His writing reflects a deep reverence for the teachings of spiritual figures like Sri Ramana Maharshi, Carl Jung, Anandamayi Ma, and even Jesus—reminding us that the core of all spiritual traditions points to a universal truth within us all. 😍🔥💫

👉Peck’s belief that the Bible, while not infallible, reveals glimpses of a divine reality helps readers view religious texts with open eyes and hearts. Peck discusses how dogma often clouds the true purpose of these teachings and instead introduces us to figures like Byron Katie, along with new scientific perspectives, as ways of finding deeper spiritual understanding and love. His approach is not only illuminating but empowering, encouraging readers to seek their own truths beyond rigid doctrines.

👉One of the most striking aspects of Original Sin Is A Lie is how it connects the dots between seemingly disparate teachings to reveal a unifying message of love and self-discovery. From his insights into psychedelics to the profound impact of the “illusion” concept, Peck draws readers into an exploration of the self and spirit that’s easy to grasp but deeply transformative. This book feels like a guide, showing us how different traditions all share one goal: to help us find our true selves and understand that the divine has been within us all along. 💝🔥

👉For anyone beginning their spiritual journey or already deep in their search, this book is a must-read. It provides not only a wealth of knowledge but also a sense of relief—relief from the confines of traditional dogma, and a warm embrace of love that transcends labels.

Happy reading 😁😁

#bookreview

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this excellent book on why original sin is arguably a lie just as I always suspected it was, and now I will have to buy a hard copy so that I can annotate the hell out of its beautiful words. Bottom line: All the mystics agree that you should savor the present because that’s all there is. While there, love everyone and everything everywhere with the knowledge that you are a timeless spirit in a meat suit for a finite amount of time. Love looks like gratitude. Love looks like forgiveness. Love looks like humility. Love isn’t always easy. But it’s what makes this place a better world. It takes practice. It’s goals. No big! We got this!

[Gráinne Fallon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book. 10/10.

Bob Peck is the teacher we didn't know we needed, bringing us into the next phase of truth, and this books helps us to connect with our true nature.
Bob does the spiritual donkey work for us here, and the work gone into this book is so evident on every page, comparing the ancient texts and the spiritual sages down through the ages.
Bob looks at what they said and didn't say, in a very digestible way, bypassing bible study for us who are really in the ancient wisdom texts and bibles that we haven't studied (thanks Bob).

This makes this book an important book right now. A modern day universal bible that everyone and anyone can relate to, regardless of beliefs.

A good read for those of us looking for the explanation of the universal truth that they innatley know to be true. This is it.

Grá mor Bob, agus go raibh mile maith agat,
Grá 💞

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The reading of “the prodigal son” in this book brought me to TEARS as it reawakened my old Christian “love for God” with a fresh perspective given my deconstruction & current mystical beliefs. The story had me weeping in deep appreciation for being loved by the Creator & revitalized my devotion.

What an excellent amalgamation of spiritual doctrine & mystical experience. A truly holistic representation of our divine nature: we are Love.

[Cara Isenhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommend to those whom grew up in the Christian faith who’ve turned away from Christ due to the atrocious misinterpretations of the Bible by institutional Christianity or are just struggling to really believe certain teachings. This book validates what I’ve felt for many years. I wish I had this five years ago.

[Troy Zaslove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful summary of many of the world’s mystic philosophies. Peck is HILARIOUS. I recommend this book especially to anyone who has deconstructed their Christian identity and still wants to be a student of Christ, among other spiritual traditions.

[Bethany French · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye and mind opening

[Vanessa Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!!!
This is a MUST read if you are ready to be more open minded, seek truth, growth, and enlightenment.
Bob breaks it down to help you understand.
Wholeness
One with!!!!!