Sin

In areligiouscontext,sinis a transgression againstdivine lawor a law of thedeities.^[1]Eachculturehas its own interpretation of what it means to commit a sin. While sins are generally considered actions, any thought, word, or act considered immoral, selfish, shameful, harmful, or alienating might be termed "sinful".^[2]

Etymology

From Middle English sinne, synne, sunne, zen, from Old English synn ( "sin" ), from Proto-West Germanic *sunnju, from Proto-Germanic *sunjō ('truth', 'excuse') and *sundī, *sundijō ( "sin" ), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁s-ónt-ih₂, from *h₁sónts ( "being, true", implying a verdict of "truly guilty" against an accusation or charge), from *h₁es- ( "to be" ); compare Old English sōþ ( "true"; see sooth). Doublet of suttee.

Bahá'í

Baháʼís consider humans to be naturally good, fundamentally spiritual beings. Human beings were created because of God's immeasurable love for us. However, the Baháʼí teachings compare the human heart to a mirror, which, if turned away from the light of the sun (i.e. God), is incapable of receiving God's love. It is only by turning unto God that spiritual advancement can be made. In this sense, "sinning" is to follow the inclinations of one's own lower nature, to turn the mirror of one's heart away from God. One of the main hindrances to spiritual development is the Baháʼí concept of the "insistent self" which is a self-serving inclination within all people. Baháʼís interpret this to be the true meaning of Satan, often referred to in the Baháʼí Writings as "the Evil One".

Watch over yourselves, for the Evil One is lying in wait, ready to entrap you. Gird yourselves against his wicked devices, and, led by the light of the name of the All-Seeing God, make your escape from the darkness that surroundeth you. —Baháʼu'lláh

This lower nature in humans is symbolized as Satan—the evil ego within us, not an evil personality outside.—ʻAbdu'l-Bahá

Buddhism

There are a few differing Buddhist views on sin. AmericanZenauthorBrad Warnerstates that in Buddhism there is no concept of sin at all.^[3]^[4]The Buddha Dharma Education Association also expressly states "The idea of sin or original sin has no place in Buddhism."^[5]

Ethnologist Christoph von Fürer-Haimendorfexplained, "In Buddhist thinking the whole universe, men as well as gods, are subject to a reign of law. Every action, good or bad, has an inevitable and automatic effect in a long chain of causes, an effect that is independent of the will of any deity. Even though this may leave no room for the concept of 'sin' in the sense of an act of defiance against the authority of a personal god, Buddhists speak of 'sin' when referring to transgressions against the universal moral code."^[6]

However,Anantarika-kammainTheravada Buddhismis a heinous crime, which throughkarmic processbrings immediate disaster.^[7]InMahayana Buddhismthese five crimes are referred to aspañcānantarya(Pāli), and are mentioned inThe Sutra Preached by the Buddha on the Total Extinction of the Dharma,^[8]The five crimes or sins are:^[9]

Injuring aBuddha
Killing anArhat
Creatingschismin the society ofSangha
Matricide
Patricide

Christianity

Hamartiology

The doctrine of sin is central to Christianity, since itsbasic messageis aboutredemptioninChrist.^[10]Christian hamartiologydescribes sin as an act of offense againstGodby despising hispersonsandChristian biblical law,and by injuring others.^[11]In Christian views it is anevilhuman act, which violates the rational nature of man as well asGod's natureand hiseternal law.According to the classical definition ofSt. Augustine of Hipposin is "a word, deed, or desire in opposition to the eternal law of God."^[12]^[13]Thus, sin requires redemption, a metaphor alluding to atonement, in which the death of Jesus is the price that is paid to release the faithful from the bondage of sin.^[14]In some forms of Christianity, it also requires reparation (seepenance).

Among some scholars, sin is understood mostly as a legal infraction or contract violation of non-binding philosophical frameworks and perspectives ofChristian ethics,and sosalvationtends to be viewed in legal terms. Other Christian scholars understand sin to be fundamentally relational—a loss of love for theChristian Godand an elevation ofself-love( "concupiscence", in this sense), as was later propounded by Augustine in his debate with thePelagians.^[15]As with the legal definition of sin, this definition also affects the understanding ofChristian graceand salvation, which are thus viewed in relational terms.^[16]

Original sin

This condition has been characterized in many ways, ranging from something as insignificant as the tendency toward sin, referred to as a "sin nature", to something as drastic astotal depravity,the teaching that humans, apart from God's grace, are incapable of choosing to do good.^[17]^[18]

The concept of original sin was first alluded to in the 2nd century byIrenaeus,Bishop of Lyonin his controversy with certaindualist Gnostics.^[19]Other church fathers such asAugustinealso shaped and developed the doctrine,^[20]seeing it as based on theNew Testamentteaching ofPaul the Apostle(Romans 5:12–21and1 Corinthians 15:21–22) and theOld Testamentverse ofPsalms 51:5.^[21]^[22]^[23]^[24]^[25]Tertullian,Cyprian,AmbroseandAmbrosiasterconsidered that humanity shares in Adam's sin, transmitted by human generation.Augustine'sformulation of original sin after 412 CE was popular amongProtestant reformers,such asMartin LutherandJohn Calvin,who equated original sin withconcupiscence(or "hurtful desire" ), affirming that it persisted even afterbaptismand completely destroyed freedom to do good. Before 412 CE, Augustine said that free will was weakened but not destroyed by original sin. But after 412 CE this changed to a loss of free will except to sin.^[26]ModernAugustinian Calvinismholds this later view. TheJansenistmovement, which the Catholic Church declared to be heretical, also maintained that original sin destroyedfreedom of will.^[27]Instead the Catholic Church declares that Baptism erases original sin.^[28]Methodist theologyteaches that original sin is eradicted throughentire sanctification.^[29]

Islam

Sin (khiṭʾ) is an important concept inIslamic ethics.Muslimssee sin as anything that goes against the commands ofGod(Allah), a breach of the laws and norms laid down by religion.^[30]Islamteaches that sin is an act and not a state of being. It is believed that God weighs an individual's good deeds against his or her sins on theDay of Judgementand punishes those individuals whose evil deeds outweigh their good deeds. These individuals are thought to be sentenced to an afterlife in the fires ofjahannam(Hell).

Islamic terms for sin includedhanbandkhaṭīʾa,which are synonymous and refer to intentional sins;khiṭʾ,which means simply a sin; andithm,which is used for grave sins.^[31]

Judaism

Judaismregards the violation of any of the 613 commandments as a sin. Judaism teaches that sin is a part of life, since there is no perfect man and everyone has an inclination to do evil. Sin has many classifications and degrees, but the principal classification is that of "missing the mark" (cheit in Hebrew).^[32]^{[better source needed]}Some sins are punishable with death by the court, others with death by heaven, others with lashes, and others without such punishment, but no sins committed with willful intentions go without consequence. Sins committed out of lack of knowledge are not considered sins, since sin cannot be a sin if the one who committed it did not know it was wrong. Unintentional sins are considered less severe sins.^[33]

Sins between people are considered much more serious in Judaism than sins between man and God.Yom Kippur,the main day of repentance in Judaism, can atone for sins between man and God, but not for sins between man and his fellow, that is until he has appeased his friend.^[34]Eleazar ben Azariahderived [this from the verse]: "From all your sins before God you shall be cleansed" (Book of Leviticus,16:30) – for sins between man and God Yom Kippur atones, but for sins between man and his fellow Yom Kippur does not atone until he appeases his fellow.^[35]^[36]

When theTempleyet stood in Jerusalem, people would offerKorbanot(sacrifices) for their misdeeds. The atoning aspect ofkorbanotis carefully circumscribed. For the most part,korbanotonly expiates unintentional sins, that is, sins committed because a person forgot that this thing was a sin or by mistake. No atonement is needed for violations committed under duress or through lack of knowledge, and for the most part,korbanotcannot atone for a malicious, deliberate sin. In addition,korbanothave no expiating effect unless the person making the offering sincerelyrepentsof his or her actions before making the offering, and makes restitution to any person who was harmed by the violation.^[33]

Judaism teaches that all willful sin has consequences. The completely righteous suffer for their sins (by humiliation, poverty, and suffering that God sends them) in this world and receive their reward in the world to come. The in-between (not completely righteous or completely wicked), suffer for and repent their sins after death and thereafter join the righteous. The very evil do not repent even at the gates of hell. Such people prosper in this world to receive their reward for any good deed, but cannot be cleansed by and hence cannot leavegehinnom,because they do not or cannot repent. This world can therefore seem unjust where the righteous suffer, while the wicked prosper. Many great thinkers have contemplated this.^[37]

Shinto

The Shinto concept of sin is inexorably linked to concepts of purity and pollution. Shinto does not have a concept of original sin and instead believes that all human beings are born pure.^[38]Sin, also calledTsumi,is anything that makes people impure (i.e. anything that separates them from thekami).^[39]However, Shinto does not believe this impurity is the result of human actions, but rather the result of evil spirits or other external factors.^[38]^[39]

Sin can have a variety of consequences in Japan, including disaster and disease.^[38]^[39]Therefore, purification rituals, orHarae,are viewed as important not just to the spiritual and physical health of the individual but also to the well-being of the nation.^[38]

Notes and references

^"sin".Oxford University Press.Archived fromthe originalon 4 July 2017.Retrieved28 August2017.
^"sin".Oxford English Dictionary.Retrieved16 September2013.
^Warner, Brad(2003).Hardcore Zen: Punk Rock, Monster Movies & the Truth About Reality.Wisdom Publications. p. 144.ISBN 0-86171-380-X.
^Warner, Brad(2010).Sex, Sin, and Zen: A Buddhist Exploration of Sex from Celibacy to Polyamory and Everything in Between.New World Library. p. 72.ISBN 978-1-57731-910-8.
^"Buddhism: Major Differences".Buddha Dharma Education Association.Retrieved13 May2013.
^von Fürer-Haimendorf, Christoph (1974). "The Sense of Sin in Cross-Cultural Perspective".Man.New Series 9.4: 539–556.
^Gananath Obeyesekere (1990),The Work of Culture: Symbolic Transformation in Psychoanalysis and Anthropology,University of Chicago,ISBN 978-0-226-61599-8
^Hodous, Lewis;Soothill, William Edward(1995).A Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms: With Sanskrit and English Equivalents and a Sanskrit-Pali Index.Routledge.p. 128.ISBN 978-0700703555.
^Rām Garg, Gaṅgā (1992).Encyclopaedia of the Hindu World.Concept Publishing Company. p. 433.ISBN 9788170223757.
^Rahner, p. 1588
^Sabourin, p. 696
^Contra Faustum Manichaeum,22, 27;PL42, 418; cf.Thomas Aquinas,SThI–II q71 a6.
^Mc Guinness, p. 241
^Gruden, Wayne. Systemic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, Nottingham: Intervarsity Press, p. 580
^On Grace and Free Will(seeNicene and Post-Nicene Fathers,trans. P.Holmes, vol. 5; 30–31 [14–15]).
^For a historical review of this understanding, see R.N.Frost, "Sin and Grace", in Paul L. Metzger,Trinitarian Soundings,T&T Clark, 2005.
^Burson, Scott R. (13 September 2016).Brian McLaren in Focus: A New Kind of Apologetic.ACU Press.ISBN 978-0-89112-650-8....affirms the total depravity of human beings and their utter helplessness even to exercise a good will toward God apart from God's supernatural, assisting grace.
^Brodd, Jeffrey (2003).World Religions.Winona, MN: Saint Mary's Press.ISBN 978-0-88489-725-5.
^"In the person of the first Adam we offend God, disobeying His precept" (Haeres., V, xvi, 3).
^Patte, Daniel. The Cambridge Dictionary of Christianity. Ed. Daniel Patte. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2010, p. 892
^Peter Nathan."The Original View of Original Sin".Vision.org.Retrieved24 January2017.
^"Original Sin Explained and Defended: Reply to an Assemblies of God Pastor".Philvaz.Retrieved24 January2017.
^Preamble and Articles of Faith Archived20 October 2013 at theWayback Machine– V. Sin, Original and Personal – Church of the Nazarene. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
^Are Babies Born with Sin?Archived21 October 2013 at theWayback Machine– Topical Bible Studies. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
^"Original Sin: Psalm 51:5".Catholic News Agency.Retrieved19 May2023.
^Wilson, Kenneth (2018).Augustine's Conversion from Traditional Free Choice to "Non-free Free Will": A Comprehensive Methodology.Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck. pp. 16–18, 157–187.ISBN 9783161557538.
^"CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Jansenius and Jansenism".Newadvent.org.1 October 1910.Retrieved24 January2017.
^Catholic Church."The Seven Sacraments of the Church."Catechism of the Catholic Church.LA Santa Sede.19 November 2019.
^Whidden, Woodrow W. (18 April 2005)."Adventist Theology: The Wesleyan Connection".Biblical Research Institute.Retrieved30 June2019.
^"Oxford Islamic Studies Online".Sin.Oxford University Press. Archived fromthe originalon 16 January 2018.
^Wensinck, A. J. (2012). "K̲h̲aṭīʾa". In P. Bearman; Th. Bianquis; C.E. Bosworth; E. van Donzel; W.P. Heinrichs (eds.).Encyclopaedia of Islam(2nd ed.). Brill.doi:10.1163/2214-871X_ei1_SIM_4141.
^Silver, Jonathan, host."Podcast: David Bashevkin on Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought."The Tikvah Podcast,TheTikvah Fund,3 Oct. 2019.
^^a ^b"Sacrifices and Offerings (Karbanot)".
^Mishnah,Yoma,8:9
^Simon and Schuster, 1986, Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism, New York: Touchstone book.
^"The Historical Uniqueness and Centrality of Yom Kippur".thetorah.
^ "Reward and Punishment".Jewish Virtual Library.Retrieved1 March2015.
^^a ^b ^c ^d"Shinto Concept of Sin (Tsumi) and Impurity (Kegare)｜TSURUGAOKA HACHIMANGU".tsurugaoka-hachimangu.jp.Retrieved23 September2020.
^^a ^b ^c"BBC – Religions – Shinto: Purity in Shinto".bbc.co.uk.Retrieved23 September2020.

External links

The Different Kinds of Sins (Catholic)
"Sin".Encyclopædia Britannica(11th ed.). 1911.
Kevin Timpe."Sin in Christian Thought".InZalta, Edward N.(ed.).Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

[1] "sin".Oxford University Press.Archived fromthe originalon 4 July 2017.Retrieved28 August2017.

[:0-2] "sin".Oxford English Dictionary.Retrieved16 September2013.

[3] Warner, Brad(2003).Hardcore Zen: Punk Rock, Monster Movies & the Truth About Reality.Wisdom Publications. p. 144.ISBN 0-86171-380-X.

[4] Warner, Brad(2010).Sex, Sin, and Zen: A Buddhist Exploration of Sex from Celibacy to Polyamory and Everything in Between.New World Library. p. 72.ISBN 978-1-57731-910-8.

[5] "Buddhism: Major Differences".Buddha Dharma Education Association.Retrieved13 May2013.

[6] von Fürer-Haimendorf, Christoph (1974). "The Sense of Sin in Cross-Cultural Perspective".Man.New Series 9.4: 539–556.

[7] Gananath Obeyesekere (1990),The Work of Culture: Symbolic Transformation in Psychoanalysis and Anthropology,University of Chicago,ISBN 978-0-226-61599-8

[8] Hodous, Lewis;Soothill, William Edward(1995).A Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms: With Sanskrit and English Equivalents and a Sanskrit-Pali Index.Routledge.p. 128.ISBN 978-0700703555.

[9] Rām Garg, Gaṅgā (1992).Encyclopaedia of the Hindu World.Concept Publishing Company. p. 433.ISBN 9788170223757.

[10] Rahner, p. 1588

[11] Sabourin, p. 696

[12] Contra Faustum Manichaeum,22, 27;PL42, 418; cf.Thomas Aquinas,SThI–II q71 a6.

[13] Mc Guinness, p. 241

[14] Gruden, Wayne. Systemic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, Nottingham: Intervarsity Press, p. 580

[15] On Grace and Free Will(seeNicene and Post-Nicene Fathers,trans. P.Holmes, vol. 5; 30–31 [14–15]).

[16] For a historical review of this understanding, see R.N.Frost, "Sin and Grace", in Paul L. Metzger,Trinitarian Soundings,T&T Clark, 2005.

[Burson2016-17] Burson, Scott R. (13 September 2016).Brian McLaren in Focus: A New Kind of Apologetic.ACU Press.ISBN 978-0-89112-650-8....affirms the total depravity of human beings and their utter helplessness even to exercise a good will toward God apart from God's supernatural, assisting grace.

[18] Brodd, Jeffrey (2003).World Religions.Winona, MN: Saint Mary's Press.ISBN 978-0-88489-725-5.

[19] "In the person of the first Adam we offend God, disobeying His precept" (Haeres., V, xvi, 3).

[20] Patte, Daniel. The Cambridge Dictionary of Christianity. Ed. Daniel Patte. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2010, p. 892

[21] Peter Nathan."The Original View of Original Sin".Vision.org.Retrieved24 January2017.

[22] "Original Sin Explained and Defended: Reply to an Assemblies of God Pastor".Philvaz.Retrieved24 January2017.

[23] Preamble and Articles of Faith Archived20 October 2013 at theWayback Machine– V. Sin, Original and Personal – Church of the Nazarene. Retrieved 13 October 2013.

[24] Are Babies Born with Sin?Archived21 October 2013 at theWayback Machine– Topical Bible Studies. Retrieved 13 October 2013.

[25] "Original Sin: Psalm 51:5".Catholic News Agency.Retrieved19 May2023.

[26] Wilson, Kenneth (2018).Augustine's Conversion from Traditional Free Choice to "Non-free Free Will": A Comprehensive Methodology.Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck. pp. 16–18, 157–187.ISBN 9783161557538.

[27] "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Jansenius and Jansenism".Newadvent.org.1 October 1910.Retrieved24 January2017.

[28] Catholic Church."The Seven Sacraments of the Church."Catechism of the Catholic Church.LA Santa Sede.19 November 2019.

[Whidden2005-29] Whidden, Woodrow W. (18 April 2005)."Adventist Theology: The Wesleyan Connection".Biblical Research Institute.Retrieved30 June2019.

[oxfordislamicstudies-30] "Oxford Islamic Studies Online".Sin.Oxford University Press. Archived fromthe originalon 16 January 2018.

[31] Wensinck, A. J. (2012). "K̲h̲aṭīʾa". In P. Bearman; Th. Bianquis; C.E. Bosworth; E. van Donzel; W.P. Heinrichs (eds.).Encyclopaedia of Islam(2nd ed.). Brill.doi:10.1163/2214-871X_ei1_SIM_4141.

[32] Silver, Jonathan, host."Podcast: David Bashevkin on Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought."The Tikvah Podcast,TheTikvah Fund,3 Oct. 2019.

[jewishvirtuallibrary.org-33] "Sacrifices and Offerings (Karbanot)".

[34] Mishnah,Yoma,8:9

[Schuster_1986-35] Simon and Schuster, 1986, Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism, New York: Touchstone book.

[36] "The Historical Uniqueness and Centrality of Yom Kippur".thetorah.

[37] "Reward and Punishment".Jewish Virtual Library.Retrieved1 March2015.

[:1-38] "Shinto Concept of Sin (Tsumi) and Impurity (Kegare)｜TSURUGAOKA HACHIMANGU".tsurugaoka-hachimangu.jp.Retrieved23 September2020.

[:2-39] "BBC – Religions – Shinto: Purity in Shinto".bbc.co.uk.Retrieved23 September2020.

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v t e Seven deadly sins
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Describing the sins	Evagrius Ponticus John Cassian Pope Gregory I Dante Alighieri Peter Binsfeld
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