None of us is without sin - What do you think?

[stephanie_craxford]

An excerpt from a reply in this forum included the following

None of us is without sin

One of the many definitions of sin is as follows:

Sin has been a term most usually used in a religious context, and today describes any lack of conformity to the will of God; especially, any willful disregard for the norms revealed by God is a sin. The word is from the old English synn, presumed to be from Germanic *sun(d)jō (lit: "it is true"). [1] It is recorded in use as early as the 9th century. The most common formal definition is an infraction against religious or moral law. Colloquially, any thought, word, or act considered faulty, shameful, harmful to oneself or to others, or which alienates self from others and especially from God, can be called a sin. Through sin, guilt is incurred; and according to guilt, punishment is deserved. Compare Impiety and Crime. Atonement is a concept of justice and mercy, and "payment" for one's sins. An example is found in traditions of animal sacrifice (as found in early Judaism, for example). Atonement for one's sins thought through the agency of a Messiah became the central idea of many forms of Christian theology. Repentance is the act of turning from and ceasing from sin. It also implies rectifying past sins, insofar as reasonably possible.

So what do you think, are none of us without sin?

Steph

P.S.  I should clarify...  I personally do not believe in any form of god, deity, or supreme being, whose laws, or religion we should or ought to follow.  I have my own convictions and I try to live by them without causing hurt to others.

[HelenW]

To err is human, so, I suppose, Yes.

The intersting thing is, though, that whatever the sin was, it is self-defined.  The scriptural texts of all religions post moral and ethical rules but they only apply if you agree with them.  Of course there are some rules that practically everyone agrees with so they acquire the veneer of absolutes.

The idea of how we have sinned in the past is also fluid.  I used to think that my feelings of wanting to be feminine were sinful and now I see the fallacy of that belief so where I felt guilty before I now accept my difference.

I once heard a definition of integrety to be the desire and effort to live up to one's highest ideals.  I like to subscribe to that definition.  Because I fail in that effort sometimes, I feel that I have "sinned" but that the acknowledgement of the error along with the desire to avoid the same in the future expiates the transgression.

that's my nickel's worth (inflation, you know!)
helen

[Shelley]

Colloquially, any thought, word, or act considered faulty, shameful, harmful to oneself or to others, or which alienates self from others and especially from God, can be called a sin.

With a description that broad it is hard to se how anyone could be without sin. Personally everytime I get cutoff in heavy traffic I thinksins. LOL

Shelley

[Kimberly]

Personally "sin" and "hell" and other such concepts have always struck me as "stories to keep unruly children in line."

So, as I see it the question is moot.

Or failing that, um, sure why not? I seriously doubt ever thought a person has had has been lilly white and with the very best selfless intents.

[Jillieann Rose]

Hi Steph,
Yes I believe none of us are without sin. The Wikipedia has a good definition of what sin/ sins are.
Here is another from realtime.net

The Bible uses the word "sin" to refer to any activity or pattern of thinking that is independent of God's standards or of His provisions for human life. God loves you, and He has your best interests in mind all the time. Because He has always known what is best for any individual, and for our communities and nation, He has laid out standards by which people can have lives of great happiness and productivity. These standards are known as the Plan of God, or the Christian Way of Life.

God as a just and righteous God requires us to be perfect (are soul, spirit, inter-self).
If we are not perfect, that is without sin, then we pay the fine. The sentence is death that is eternal separation from God and  everything.
The Lord Jesus Christ bore the penalty for all the sin of the human race, by dieing the most horrible kind of death ever image.
Wikipedia definition of Crucifixions:

Crucifixion was hardly (if ever) performed for ritual or symbolic reasons; usually, its purpose was only to provide a particularly painful, gruesome, and public death, using whatever means were most expedient for that goal. In fact, crucifixion is only one of a much wider spectrum of slow, cruel and painful execution methods, including various forms of impalement, hanging from hooks, burning at the stake, exposure to wild beasts, etc.

His death on the Cross was substituted for our death, making it possible for everyone to become spiritually alive now and live forever. The sin issue is resolved for all of us by the work of Christ.
So for us the issue of sin is dealt with and paid for by a simple faith in Christ and in His payment, for or sins, by his death. John 3:18,36.
Sin is still an every day problem for me. The price has been paid for the penalty but I still sins. So what do I do to stop sinning. For me everyday I have to regular read the Bible and ask for the constant direction and power of the Holy Spirit (Gods Spirit).

Jillieann

[Kimberly]

I find it interesting the thoughts that your post has invoked Jillieann, thank you.

[Jillieann Rose]

Your welcome Kimberly.
It's what I believe. I call it a relationship with God and not a religion about God.

Jillieann

[rana]

from a poem

Oh Thou, who Man of baser Earth
didst make,
And who with Eden didst devise the
Snake;
For all the Sin wherewith the Face
of man
is blacken'd, Man's Forgiveness give
--and take!

The concept of sin is beyond my abilities to argue or fully inderstand.
Its somthing to do with free will I believe

[Andre]

I'm trying that my luck doesn't expand on account of other people's luck..but most often somebody is not satisfied..my conscience is at first place..one should be most critic to his own actions.

[Sarah Louise]

You have sinned, if you have gone against whatever code of conduct you believe in.  I don't care if it is your own understanding of what is Moral, if you have gone against it at some point, at that point, you have sinned.

Sarah L.

[rana]

that is as good a description of sin as any     I have been taught that only two people know if you have sinned.  Yourself and God   - nobody else

[andy]

Sin...(sigh)  My mother attempted to raise me catholic, and it did not work at all.  I don't believe in any God and I do not believe that any of us are going to heaven or hell, as it may be, for our sins or good deeds.  On the other hand, I do believe that most of us are fairly altruistic beings who really do want to do good things for others, just for the good feeling we get from these deeds.  I am my own worst critic if I do something I feel is not o.k. 

[Terra]

Sin is both tailored to you and is not. My personal take is the the bible is more like the road driving booklet they give you so you learn the rules of the road. However, the stories will not cover every situation so there you must kind of 'wing it'. ...Of course as spiritual as I am, I haven't actually read the book, so take what I say with a grain of salt.

However, it is well documented just how political th church is, it is equal if not surpassing that of most countries. It is becouse of this I really don't trust the church. I trust God, Jesus, and all that they stood and fought for, but if they hide documents to 'protect' us...

Are we with sin? Yes, because we are human.

[jan c]

oh boy. Now, the idea that Christ BORE THE BURDEN for all of us, that (ultimate?) redemption is possible ONLY Thru BELIEF in that idea...
Two-sided blade here: is that burden borne in full? How can it be? [I fully understand the metaphor (in fact I've had that very 'visitation', seen the bleeding feet of Christ, heard that sound, taken in that aroma, whole 9 yds)], but, as it is told, IS A STORY FOR CHILDREN. It erases sin, as it is told, but it does not. TO WIT: "His death on the Cross was substituted for our death, making it possible for everyone to become spiritually alive now and live forever. The sin issue is resolved for all of us by the work of Christ." NB: I am spiritually alive now, and suspect that I 'live forever'. (I also suspect that this Just Might Be A One-Shot Deal. Not simple? Oh well...) This does not mean that any issue has been 'resolved' for me or for anyone by the Romans having tortured a guy to death 2k yrs ago. 
We get into an area of: you've sinned if you have exceeded a 'personal code of conduct' versus, when you have exceed the Authority of something written (and perpetually revised) according to apparent visionaries of 20 centuries ago, or what-have-you, name your preferred text.
My very BEING is a sin, almost certainly, to such a mindset. My sexuality damnable, my music criminal. My will, NOT FREE.
QUESTION AUTHORITY.
The authoritorial aspect of established religion always puts me in mind of S/M ritual, 'now you must PAY FOR YOUR SIN. Assume the position...'

[andy]

Sin is a human creation.