Innocence (Christianity)

One who is innocent is in charity with all, harming nobody, with no desire to defraud or deceive and assuming the integrity of others. Three modes are distinguished: (1) The attribute of Christ which is incapable of sin. (2) The childlike harmlessness of those who have never been tempted, who are unaware of good and evil but who have the innate capacity to develop the good; this is innocence in the sense described by Kierkegaard, the state of ignorance sometimes referred to as perfection in which Adam received his instruction not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. There are possibilities which are not understood and which therefore cause anxiety and dread. This dread could be resolved by faith; but humanity responded by making the choice which confirmed it's limited freedom to act but destroyed the state of innocence. (3) The innocence of those capable of sin who have withstood temptation and retained purity of heart; there may be minor weaknesses but the state is essentially Christlike.