SIN

1
SIN
2
Sin is a theological/religious concept. From a
biblical perspective, sin

• is unfaithfulness to the covenant sin is that
  which opposes God and Gods will for creation.
  Sin both enslaves humanity and corrupts the
  created order. Sin is universal among human
  beings, individual, and collective.

3
The various words used in the Bible for sin
mean a variety of things, among them

• to miss the mark (as in failing to attain a
  goal)
• rebellion (against parents, against political
  superior)
• breach of an agreement
• dissolution of a community
• disorder

4
The Root of sin according to the Hebrew
Scriptures

• lack of knowledge of God, with lack of knowledge
  meaning refusal to know God, refusal to accept
  the reality of God.

5
The Root of sin according to the Hebrew
Scriptures

• In the Bible, sin arises from an evil heart, it
  is a deliberate and willful act for which human
  beings bear responsibility.
• (There is no conception of compulsion, neurosis,
  or social failure which excuses sin in the
  Bible.)

6
Origin of sin in human history according to
Hebrew Scriptures

•  
• is found in the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis
  3, in which sin is attributed to the free will
  and choice of human beings who have the power to
  resist temptation but choose otherwise.

7
Origin of sin in human history according to
Hebrew Scriptures

•  
• The sin of Adam and Eve involves wanting
  something which is not theirs. The result of sin
  is breaking the relationship between humans and
  God.

8
Origin of sin in human history according to
Hebrew Scriptures

•  
• The sin of Adam and Eve--and all sin-- leads to a
  curse upon humanity, death, discord, disaster and
  destruction.

9
The Hebrew Scriptures

• identify that sins may be due to failure,
  ignorance, or deliberate intention.

10
The doctrine of original sin is, so to speak, the
"reverse side" of the Good News that Jesus is the
Savior of all men, that all need salvation and
that salvation is offered to all through Christ.

• Catholic Catechism

11
In the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke)

• the emphasis is on the forgiveness of sin by
  Jesus, not on sin. Jesus associates with sinners
  and calls sinners to repentance. Forgiveness is
  given by Jesus to all who seek it.

12
In the Gospel of John

• sin is understood in terms of lawlessness and
  unrighteousness and those who sin are slaves of
  sin. Sin is opposed to truth and the result of
  sin is death. Jesus is the sinless one whose
  death on the cross atones for the sins of the
  world.

13
The Catholic moral tradition

• classifies sins into two types, based on the
  gravity of the sin mortal sin and venial sin.
• A sin is mortal if three conditions are present
  grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate
  consent.

14
The Catholic moral tradition

• classifies sins into two types, based on the
  gravity of the sin mortal sin and venial sin.
• Venial sin constitutes a moral disorder that does
  not deprive the sinner of sanctifying grace,
  friendship with God, and eternal happiness.

15
The Catechism of the Catholic Church

• defines sin as an offense against reason, truth,
  and right conscience it is a failure in genuine
  love for God and neighbor...

16
In 1967, Pope Paul VI used the term sinful
structures in reference to inequalities between
rich and poor nations in the encyclical Populorum
Progressio. This encyclical noted that such
inequality was created by structures of trade and
finance. 
17
Personal Sin Sin is an offense against God.
Personal sin is an offense against reason, truth,
and right conscience it is a failure in genuine
love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse
attachment to certain good. It wounds the nature
of human beings and injures human solidarity.
Personal sin requires freedom and is the starting
point of all sin. 

• Populorum Progressio

18
Social Sin Social sin is the result of the
accumulation and concentration of many personal
sins. It results from situations which promote
individual acts of selfishness which impact the
wider society, and it highlights a failure of
individuals to take personal responsibility for
the impact of their actions.  

• Populorum Progressio

19
Structural Sin Sin gives rise to social
situations and institutions that are contrary to
the divine goodness. Societies create
institutions and structures that are established,
shaped and sustained by individuals. Sins can
become institutionalized. Structural sin refers
to structures that oppress human beings, violate
human dignity and create gross inequalities. 

• Populorum Progressio

20
All sin is both personal and social at the same
time.all sin is personal in the sense that only
individuals can commit sin, only individuals can
be guilty, only individuals can be sinners.
However, all sins also have a social dimension
because sins have social consequences. In this
sense, then, sins become institutionalized and
systematized in the structures, laws and customs
of a society. (Nolan 1988 43)  
21
Principle source consulted

• Actemeier, Paul J., ed. Harper¹s Bible
  Dictionary. San Francisco, CA Harper Row,
  Publishers, 1985.
• Catechism of the Catholic Church. New York, NY
  Paulist Press, 1994.
• McBrien, Richard P. Catholicism Study Edition.
  Minneapolis, MN Winston Press, 1981.
• McKenzie, John L. Dictionary of the Bible. New
  York, NY Collier Books, 1965.
• Rahner, Karl and Herbert Vorgrimler. Dictionary
  of Theology. 2d ed. New York, NY Crossroad,
  1985.
• Feeley, Katherine, SND. Educating for Justice
  www.educatingforjusticeSocial Sin.
• Nolan, Albert. God in South Africa the
  Challenge of the Gospel. Cape Town David
  Phillip, 1988.