Sin

From an email exchange with one of my oldest, dearest and sweetest friends... whom I love and care for dearly and always will. That being said, we have the profoundest difference of opinion on religious issues... the way many practice and think about the belief structures of traditional Christianity truly astounds and befuddles me. The exchange started off with her forwarding a religious themed "Good News" message, whose intent and offer of comfort I understand, but it reflects such a naivete and narrowness of perspective that it absolutely I lack the ability to not respond to it...

One day I'll be mature enough and have enough perspective to let this kinda thing slide. May not be soon though.

Extracts [the bits in quotes/italics are part of the Good News message, my responses the rest of it]

--

"God has spoken. He has also told us what He expects of us."

Which God? Which time?

I assume you refer to Jehovah/Yahweh/etc, so do you mean the old or new testament? Or to the Koran [same God] or the Book of Mormon [same dude]?

"Some religions just ignore the problem and assume it does not exist, as if there is no sin. Other religions tell us that as long as we can do enough good stuff to offset the bad, we should be ok (although it may require several lifetimes)."

Wow, what an amazingly oversimplified lack of understanding regarding other faiths

"If God is perfect and just, then we can not be good enough to make it on our own."

Being completely and totally forthright and honest and non-snarky here... this is the part I absolutely don't understand. Not even the reasoning used to arrive at it. My question is, if "God is perfect and just" then why didn't he make us so that we could make it on our own? Why would god set up a system where he intentionally hobbled and crippled our capabilities? Sounds like that god would have some serious co-dependency issues, setting up a system that requires us to need and worship him lest we be tortured for all eternity in pain and suffering.

Seriously, explain that to me. [Yeah, really. Anybody, anywhere have an explanation for that? Anybody? Bueller? -Rob]

"The Good News is that God has blotted out our transgressions. God Himself has dealt with our sin. It is no longer our problem."

So he has blotted out the transgressions that he himself first levied upon us. How beneficient of him. And I can't even begin to deal with that last bit of it being "no longer our problem"... considering it's the ultimate get out of jail free card to blow off personal responsibility and honestly, if it's "no longer" our problem, how is that different that the idea of no "sin" amongst the pagan folk?

My ill informed opinion... There is no sin. Sin is a social construct for societal manipulation and control by authoritarian power structures. The concept of original sin is the worst of these. Brainwashing children from the cradle that they are somehow evil, fallen, dirty or corrupt. I can think of little as crippling or as horrible than destroying young minds and psyches that way.

No sin, no punishment. Only not living to you're highest right. Not expanding your consciousness and compassion in the greatest possible way, the real reason you chose to come to this time and this place. "There is no true sin, only 'missing the mark', and this consists of hurting others intentionally." [That's from Fundamentals of Hawaiian Mysticism by Charlotte Berney, btw - Rob]

You require a commandment to tell you what to do? Harm nothing and no one with hatred. You're done.