For me in a very general way sin is everything that is harmful to others.
For me in a very general way sin is everything that is harmful to others.
Last edited by Danik 2016; 05-25-2016 at 09:04 PM.
"I seemed to have sensed also from an early age that some of my experiences as a reader would change me more as a person than would many an event in the world where I sat and read. "
Gerald Murnane, Tamarisk Row
Yes and although cultures may differ in the details of what constitutes harm, there will always be individuals and societies that can be harmed.
And the harm is not necessarily direct. Lying in bed too long when you should be taking the kids to school is harming them. Getting used to lying in bed can be encouraging a lack of self discipline, which will harm others in the long run. The virtuous thing is to know when it is OK to lie in bed.
Previously JonathanB
The more I read, the more I shall covet to read. Robert Burton The Anatomy of Melancholy Partion3, Section 1, Member 1, Subsection 1
There's a very interesting take on sin in Francis Spufford's book Unapologetic where is calls it the Human Propensity to F**k things Up (or HPtFtF). I wouldn't normally recommed the Daily Telegraph (liberal shudder) but their review is here http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/b...rd-review.html
Spufford bases his apologetic for Christianity on the experience of HPtFtU. He wrote the book in a branch of Costa Coffee and it is a breezy riposte to the New Atheism of Richard Dawkins. Spufford finds all the traditional arguments for reconciling a good God and a cruel universe inadequate, other than God as revealed in Jesus and his death.
I strongly recommend it.
Previously JonathanB
The more I read, the more I shall covet to read. Robert Burton The Anatomy of Melancholy Partion3, Section 1, Member 1, Subsection 1
I think humanity in general has a rare talent for HPtFtF which is being very much used of late. But I didnīt know there was a theory about it.
"I seemed to have sensed also from an early age that some of my experiences as a reader would change me more as a person than would many an event in the world where I sat and read. "
Gerald Murnane, Tamarisk Row
some read the 120 days of sodum by Donetien, Marquis de Sade. "The worst book" of literature, right ? Guess what no. It is
the greatest book of emanzipation ever ! The best way of marriage of humans and nature powered by father Mithras the holy sunwheel of eternal life given by real life. so, why having sex and having fun by doing it should be evil ? the church never beleaved in that kind of pleberian false moral rules. the said them like a joke to public for entertain the stupid ones with their "who survives longer without having sex this month ?" something like, "employee of the month" today. It was only a show entertainment for stupid weak "beleavers", for being occupied their whole life through, without nagging the elite group of society with their neurotic blindness. The real big Churchmen, here in Europa, never raped little boys, they never had to ignore their instincts, so there wasn't the "necessary" to become pedophile. if you want to have sex with your beloved sister, why not, if she let it be in love ? That is the message of Pope Alexander 6, Rodrigo Borja, one of my favorite ancestors on the side of my spanish mother consuelo de borja de Urueņa de Osuna etc. We the legetim heirs of god himself the blood line of Jesus Christ himself. We are all like Cesare Borgia, haleluja !
The theory of HPtFtU is called the doctrine of Original Sin and it is a specifically Christian idea. Buddhism and Hinduism as far as I can make out are worried about delusion not sin. Judaism, Islam and, as far as I can see, Chinese religion are concerned about right conduct: in so far as humans do not behave rightly there is a problem, but people can follow the alternative.
For Christianity, sin is not just failing to do what is right: it is an endemic condition together with mortality, a Propensity to F**k Things Up. That can be a very repressive and pessimistic mindset but it is potentially far more liberating: we are always going to make a mess but God still loves us. We don’t rely on our good behaviour first and there are no grounds for self righteousness.
Last edited by Jackson Richardson; 05-29-2016 at 04:22 PM.
Previously JonathanB
The more I read, the more I shall covet to read. Robert Burton The Anatomy of Melancholy Partion3, Section 1, Member 1, Subsection 1
I have read the Bible, but never concerned myself more profoundly with religious dogmas, J., so I can only give a general answer. What frightens me is the general loss of positive values, like respect for the life and integrity of other people. In the whole world, independent of country or religion, people comit barbarous crimes against inocents without any reason.
Last edited by Danik 2016; 05-29-2016 at 06:54 PM.
"I seemed to have sensed also from an early age that some of my experiences as a reader would change me more as a person than would many an event in the world where I sat and read. "
Gerald Murnane, Tamarisk Row
The Hindus have karma. I suspect the Buddhists do as well. They probably have some interest in sin.
Yeah, YesNo, or, why should anyone else imagine my best friends on my farm ?
Yes, I mean Bremens best symbols of supernatural animal power. Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten.
I live only 45 miles away from Bremen in Oldenburg in Oldenburg, the only ex archdukedom of the independent
German nations with that kind of napoleon complex, perhabs because their duke flet his mini country so scared by mini napoleon's army behind the talls guy around, Zar Alexander first of Russia. that's history, but it's true, too !
Some observations from my study of the Bible:
God is completely good. In fact, attempting to define sin apart from him is impossible. Sin is separations from God, from his goodness and from his way of thinking, feeling, speaking and acting.
bounty suggested "sin is an inner spiritual state indicating a separation from god." I find that a keen observation. Sin is what we are, when we are living and thinking apart from God. As Jesus said, "Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander." What we are leads us to do and say things that are recognized as bad. In fact in worship our congregation (conservative Lutheran) confesses that we are sinful and that we sin in thought, word and deed. Stopping doing bad things doesn't solve the problem (and is in fact impossible).
The Bible does treat the devil as a literal and historic figure (and so, for the record, I believe he is). To allow service that was unforced or coerce, God gave his creatures free will. Yes, God knew what would happen. That doesn't mean he caused it. He also knew what he would do about sin before h formed the world--he would give his own Son as the sacrifice that would pay for the sins of the world.
Christianity isn't about being good. It's about the One who was a Substitute--good in our place but gave us the credit, given credit for our sins and punished instead of us. This is done by God freely. A gift of love that can't be earned. Yes, we seek to thank God by living for him (not sinning), but this 1) is a response to his free gift, 2) could never pay for what was given us and 3) remains a dreadfully flawed endeavor for our entire lives.
Regarding the search for some action universally recognized as sinful, the Bible says God has inscribed his law on our hearts. By nature we have a sense of right and wrong. Is there a culture that does not have these concepts? Sure, there is disagreement about what is right and wrong, but the concepts exist. Further more the Bible acknowledges that the law written on the heart is marred by sin--marred by the inherited sin that corrupts all our abilities and marred by repeated sinful actions and thoughts. Like hands that regularly use a shovel will develop calluses, so that heart that regularly thinks of sin, engages in sinful actions or is surrounded by them, will become hardened to them--less shocked, less hurt, less aware of their sinfulness.
Well, there's a perspective for y'all to chew on. Hope it helps. I'll try to pop back in if you'd like me to clarify point.
you are right togre, my parents define them selves to date and competly
correct as "of God's Grace" leaders of the Guelphen Bloodline, but unfotunately, till
today, heirs like me, born 1991, must pay for one evil and mad emperor, Wilhelm 2, because
he wanted to be like "God of the Gods". I hate him entirely, because he started whole WW1.
He paid Lenin his secret invasion of Russia, because he wanted Lenin to start the october revolution.
He killed his cousin and his family. He murdered my greatgranddaddy, because he, Wilhelm 2, thought
every Monarchy is changing too strong to modern humanism, away with their stupid military uniforms, was to much for
him. the unique woman, who tried to love this bastard was his grandmother, Queen Victoria, because she saw the extrem danger for every country in Europa by this evil and angry crownprince of prussia.
Let's not be too wimpy about our sins. I say that if ten events in your life could be viewed by anyone, you would not be liked or trusted by anyone again, unless your mother is still alive. She might trust you and she might not.
It would only take ten of your "sins" to convince any strangers that you are worthless and not to be trusted and the world would truly be better off without your kind, though you have committed far more than ten despicable acts, my cheerful friends. We only need the ten most despicable of your deeds. Then we are willing to put the farm up against you, whoever and wherever you are.
Somewhere there is an aging preacher man who followed the teachings of the wise one faithfully. From the thousands he counseled, helped and guided, yet ten events can surely be found which gnaw at him as hard as the memories of a murderer. When those that view his events also share his mind during those events, he will be condenmed. He may be given token foregiveness as proscribed by the church, but that is not the same as trusting and believing in him.
Ten events, and no one in their right minds would trust you again, they would only act like they did because they had to. That which is crooked cannot be made straight. Did the bible just make a reference to original sin?
John Wesley's mother:
"Take this rule: whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off your relish of spiritual things; in short, whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind, that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself."
Susanna Wesley (Letter, June 8, 1725)