On Sin

On Sin    Sep 1, '07 11:55 PM

What follows are neither my final nor my first thoughts on the subject. While essentially formed, they are not set and subject to (probably minor) revisions.

Our dear friend Linda Anderson died Monday of ALS -- a nasty disease. I cannot really imagine the horror of a good mind trapped in a non-responsive body. We will miss her terribly, but... Dr. Jack Kevorkian may have committed illegal acts, but you'll not convince me he did anything wrong or sinful.

I beg forgiveness if what follow causes pain to any of her friends or family, but her funeral was horrid. Her minister was, undoubtedly, sincere and his emotion was manifest, but to mention Linda and sin in the same sermon, much less the same sentence, makes me shake my head in wonder bordering on anger.

I admit to being ambivalent about the whole God thing (I tried to join a church, once; the Rev said, "Bob, that's flattering, but really, you need to stay away from organized religion."), but what I absolutely reject is the whole concept of sin. Sin exaggerates minor flaws, errors in judgment, and foibles, and discounts true evil.

Let's start with Original Sin (I don't think that's just a Catholic concept, although I think they're bigger on it than at least some other Christian sects -- I went to a Lutheran baptism a while back; they clearly believe in OS.). I look at my granddaughter, or my nephew, or great nephew, or children of friends and there's no way they are infected with sin. They are not capable of sin. And what is that original sin, anyway? They're to be punished because they are the product of sex?? Their parents made love and that somehow tarnishes their innocence and goodness? Rejected.

I recognize evil, I recognize human frailty and error, I recognize selfishness, poor judgment, all of that. But sin? Sin is the arbitrary assessment of organized religion to control human behavior and to establish itself as the moral authority to control their members (and, potentially, even their non-members, if their members actually achieve power). Don't believe me? According to Kevin Horrigan in his column (3/16/08--that link is gone, I guess you'll have to pay the Post Dispatch to read that...) the Catholic Church has updated its list of 7 deadly sins. Whether it represents an expansion of the list or a move to more political sins (pollution, causing poverty, social injustice, etc.), I don't know, but I appreciate their validation of my position on sin! Of course, this could lead to me to a long discussion/rant about the connection between religion and politics (Is it not clear to others that religions were used as tools by those in power to stay in control or by those NOT in power to try to gain control?)

I understand that religion offers hope and peace to (some/many/probably most) people, but just because it has some positive results doesn't mean that was, or is, the primary goal.

Modified and edited, 3/16/08
BB