What is Sin?
Sin: An Immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law.
Well, Who Created the Law?
That all depends what you choose to believe…
Be it some sort of God, or simply a construct of the human mind; what this boils down to is that sin is simply a breach of the moral code we have chosen to comply with.
I ask you this: Is your code one you have created or at least fully validated through reflection, or is it one that someone else has told you is right?
Either way you have chosen to agree.
This is more a question of if this choice was consciously made, or something you were told when you were young but have never fully interrogated the rationale.
Personalisation
So considering the different methods of creation for the accepted moral code that frames your definition of Sin, what we can say is that the definition you hold is fundamentally personal.
This mean it only exists as a construct of your individual mind.
And if your moral code is a construct of your mind, so too must be any transgression of this code.
Isn’t Sin Bad Though?
What really is good or bad?
Something positive or negative?
Positive in the sense that it elevates our well being and moves us towards our goals, and negative being that it detracts?
I will share a little story to ponder:
A long time ago, a poor Chinese farmer lost a horse, and all the neighbours came around and said, “well that’s too bad.” The farmer said, “maybe.” Shortly after, the horse returned bringing another horse with him, and all the neighbours came around and said, “well that’s good fortune,” to which the farmer replied, “maybe.” The next day, the farmer’s son was trying to tame the new horse and fell, breaking his leg, and all the neighbours came around and said, “well that’s too bad,” and the farmer replied, “maybe.” Shortly after, the emperor declared war on a neighbouring nation and ordered all able-bodied men to come fight—many died or were badly maimed, but the farmer’s son was unable to fight and spared due to his injury. And all the neighbours came around and said, “well that’s good fortune,” to which the farmer replied, “maybe.” And so the story goes.
The joys of hindsight give us the impression that we know what events or actions are good/bad for us, but really, in the moment, we can never be 100% certain.
The Takeaway
So we know not what is good or bad, and we decide our own moral code which determines sin.
So why not be kind to ourselves, accept our mistakes as opportunities to learn, and define a rule set for living that enables a life of wonderous joy.
Focus on what we can control and accept what we cannot.
-Ramsey Bond
Enjoy, for now.
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