Aren't we all?

[AtheistCrusader]

No. No we are not.
In order to be a sinner, one would have to subscribe to or acknowledge the doctrine behind 'sin', which I do not.

That's why I react badly when people start proselytizing about how I need to be saved from my sins. I don't have any to be saved from.

Not my monkey, not my circus.

How about you? Do you recognize the concept of sin?

[TreasonousBastard]

1. I recognize "a" concept of sin...

that carries no religious baggage.

It's just a very convenient word.

[phil89]

2. I totally agree with you.

And I reject the notion that people are horrible and doomed and deserving of torture, and also the idea that a human sacrifice from thousands of years ago absolves me of sin or "saves" me. It's all outdated, unsupported nonsense imo. I can never get used to the profanity of a crucifix supposedly representing hope or salvation. Scientology makes as much sense.

[edgineered]

3. The movie "Stone" would have us think so.

Last edited Thu Sep 18, 2014, 10:09 PM - Edit history (1)

The radio preacher tells his audience, you are not sinners because you sin, you sin because you are sinners.

That's something like the nuns scared us with as children, preparing us so we could receive communion. After explaining to us kids how to confess to the priest I had to ask what if you haven't done anything wrong? WELL, being told that was impossible, when it came time for my confession I had to lie. That's right, the church taught me how to lie.

So in answer to the question, yes, I recognize the concept.

Here's the link for the movie: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_%282010_film%29 - it will make you think about the role of faith in one's life and how that role changes

[tazkcmo]

4. I did the same thing!

I was 8 when I went into the confessional. My oldest brother told me tell the priest I masturbated. I asked my brother what it meant and he just laughed and told me not to worry about it, just say it. 10 Our Fathers and 5 Hail Mary's later I was good to go!

[edgineered]

5. Ha! Good going, paying in advance

It sounds like your brother would either love or hate "Letters from the Earth". It would hinge on how evil his intentions were.

[tazkcmo]

7. Lol

I never looked at it that way! Funny! My my brother meant well, he's one of the good ones. He'd love anything from Twain as I would. I'm going to read it right now! I'm sure he already has. Was not aware of it, thanks!

[edgineered]

9. There is some humor to be found in the priest's interpretation of your confession

A possibility exists that in the mind of the priest it is odd for an eight year old to mention masturbation.

Would he begin to think in terms of what has this child heard of it, and from where, about who?

Is it in reference to the church, or to me?

Also what would that priest be thinking if he was gay, a pedophile, a voyeur, etc?

I'll bet it f'ed with his head, got me thinking of Twain's book.

[rug]

6. A common definition of sin is "An immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law."

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/sin

It is also defined as "An act regarded as a serious or regrettable fault, offense, or omission." Note the absence of any reference to a divine law.

Omitting any reference to any deity, do you think there are immoral acts or acts regarded as a serious or regrettable fault, offense, or omission?

[DeadLetterOffice]

8. I'm not really sure you CAN omit the deity reference.

I know the definition you cited does, and I'm not going to pick a fight with the Oxford Dictionary. But -- I'm just not convinced that the word means the same thing once you delete the "divine law" concept. Without the whole god thing, 'sin' just becomes 'transgression' or 'weakness' or 'failing' or 'fault.' And I don't think those words carry the same emotional baggage as the word 'sin.'

Just my $0.02.

[edhopper]

10. It's like calling

Some writing is "sacred text".
Without the divine part, is there the sacred?

[AtheistCrusader]

20. I have other words i can use without the religious baggage. Error, mistake, regret, injury.

[edhopper]

11. I recognize the concept

I just don't accept it.

[Bjorn Against]

12. If there is a way to seperate the word sin from religion then I agree with the general concept

I think everyone aside from the youngest of children is occassionally guilty of at least some level of wrong doing, and I think in that sense we can say that we are all sinners. I do not however believe that there is a god who judges us for our sins, I am an atheist and I have no time for people who insist we are going to burn for our sins. I do think we should all try to realize our imperfections and being able to recognize our sins and trying to atone for them is a good way to live life. We can do that out of a basic understanding of right and wrong we do not have to believe in any sort of God to understand that.

I know someone will be along to tell me that my definition of sin is not correct, but my personal opinion is that religion is not correct and I will hold my own view on what sin is.

[cbayer]

13. All that means to me is that we are not all perfect

and that there is always room for improvement.

You can put a religious gravy on it or not, it still means the same thing, imo.

Why would it be a big deal if some people call it sin and others just call it personal weakness or failing?

[mr blur]

14. I understand the concept of "sin" but I reject it completely. Or to put it another way,

(obviously I don 't mean "your" as in you!)

[cbayer]

15. What is the word you use when you do something that you

later realize was the wrong thing to do?

Or perhaps that never happens to you. But it does happen to most of us. I don't call it sin, but I think it's the same thing as what other people call sin.

Here's another super cute graphic from the site you got this one from:

[trotsky]

16. What's more offensive?

That "super cute graphic", or the fact that Muslims offended by cartoons of Mohammed have actually killed someone?

Clearly I can see which one you're more upset by.

[LeftishBrit]

17. I wouldn't use the word 'sin' as it has so many religious implications...

but I would say 'we all have our faults' or, at a deeper level 'the human race has too much of a tendency toward violence'. Similar at some level perhaps?

[LiberalAndProud]

18. If the question means, "Aren't we all human?" then

No duuh!

But sin goes beyond imperfect, doesn't it? If the notion is that we are born evil, then Sin is an imaginary disease that was invented to sell you an imaginary cure.

Somebody said that somewhere on the internet. I didn't make it up but it's the right answer in this case.

[goldent]

19. I recognize the concept of sin

and I think that everyone is a sinner. As a Catholic, every week I state publicly that I have sinned through my own fault. I think doing that is good for your psyche.

[Cartoonist]

21. Sin is the religious term

Offense, harm, crime and some other words some here have suggested are the secular terms. I was taught that there are Mortal sins and Venial sins. In other words, high crimes and misdemeanors. Being an atheist, I am sinless and Jesus did not die for me. I may have broken or skirted the law in my life, but even Jesus can't grant me a pardon.