SIN

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

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

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

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.

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.)

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.

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.

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.

The Hebrew Scriptures

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...”

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.

 

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

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

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

“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)

  

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.educatingforjustice:Social Sin.• Nolan, Albert. God in South Africa: the Challenge of

the Gospel. Cape Town: David Phillip, 1988.