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Religion

In reply to the discussion: Is there such a thing as sin? [View all]

MineralMan

(151,281 posts)
17. The concept of sin is a religious construct...
Thu Mar 29, 2012, 02:50 PM
Mar 2012

There are ethics and behavioral norms established by societies. Sometimes, they are equivalent with some of the "sins" of the dominant religion of that society, but are quite separate from the religion. We don't have books of laws about "sins." We have torts, crimes and misdemeanors.

Sin is a religious construct, designed to keep people from violating the rules of the society where the religion developed. Using fear of retribution from the deity or deities of the religion to frighten people away from transgressions of those societal rules, even when nobody is watching, can be quite effective, but the definitions of the "sins" were created by the society, not by any deity.

Some definitions of crimes and misdemeanors are almost universal. Why? Because they cause some sort of harm to members of the society. Murder, theft, etc. So, those are sins as well as crimes in the religions of the society. Other things, like blasphemy, are purely religious in nature, and are not universal.

Religions are founded to codify the norms of a particular society. Deities are the scary entities that keep people from violating those norms, even if nobody's looking when they do. For millenia, it worked a treat. Today, not so much. Miscreants today aren't much afraid of supernatural punishers. The concept of "sins" has ceased to be useful in industrial and post-industrial societies.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Is there such a thing as sin? [View all] FarCenter Mar 2012 OP
Nope. saras Mar 2012 #1
Sounds like your definition is more metaphorical. Goblinmonger Mar 2012 #4
Why? What did you do now? Ezlivin Mar 2012 #2
The Buddhists do without the concpet of sin, but consider the concept of error. Speck Tater Mar 2012 #3
I like this. I applies only to you as an individual and prohibits you from judging others. cbayer Mar 2012 #9
In it's purest, most original form, Buddhism is about taking care of yourself. Speck Tater Mar 2012 #12
"It's Easier Thank You Think" by Sylvia Boorstein had a profound cbayer Mar 2012 #13
You will find 236 of her recorded lectures here (100% free)... Speck Tater Mar 2012 #15
Great! Thanks. cbayer Mar 2012 #18
My definition, rvt1000rr Mar 2012 #5
Generally agree... immoderate Mar 2012 #6
Sin as an offense against an ethical, moral or legal law is rather different FarCenter Mar 2012 #8
Sin generally means what you stated, hence why I don't use it, I prefer ethical and unethical... Humanist_Activist Mar 2012 #7
if no sin then churches can't extort $$ from you w/threats of eternal hell lol nt msongs Mar 2012 #10
Avoiding the bigots like 10 who believe that the concept of sin is a way for churches to extort$$-- Thats my opinion Mar 2012 #11
When I was a little kid, growing up in a Catholic family Speck Tater Mar 2012 #14
This message was self-deleted by its author MineralMan Mar 2012 #16
The concept of sin is a religious construct... MineralMan Mar 2012 #17
Except that sin as defined seems only to be a concept in Abrahamic religions. FarCenter Mar 2012 #19
There was an ancient Egyptian idea of Final Judgment... onager Mar 2012 #20
I like the Heinlein definintion. "Sin lies only in hurting others unneccessarily. ... TheMadMonk Mar 2012 #21
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