Christians, can you give me an Empirical definition of the word "sin"?

Question

For your elucidation, the word Empirical is defined as;
em·pir·i·cal (m-pr-kl)
adj.

1. Relying on or derived from observation or experiment.
2. Verifiable or provable by means of observation or experiment.
3. Of or being a philosophy of medicine emphasizing practical experience and observation over scientific theory.

So, no examples that aren't backed up with observation or experiments ok?
Personal experience does not count either.
You see, my theory is that "sin" as defined by christians, is subjective, not objective. Just like morality. One cannot have objective morality anymore than one can have an objective opinion.
But I'm willing to read what you have to say.

Bidia,
Do you play Settlers of Catan?
LOL!

Answer 1

To a good degree, you are correct. Christians (and I'm including Muslims) can only go by what's written in their faith books. And that's just a matter of personal belief to accept it.
But once it is accepted, they now have a guideline as to what they recognize as "sin."
And importantly, what is sin in one religion may not be a sin in another.

Answer 2

Dear Yoda,

You argument, if I may summarize, is that sin is subjective, and therefore unknowable or undefineable, except as personal experience.

It seems like you have a contradiction in your question. You have disallowed personal experience as an acceptable mode of argument, but desire empirical evidence through observation or experiment. How is it possible to discuss observation without using personal experience?

One might say that the worsening physical condition of the environment is an example of the sin of consumerism (i.e., Americans consume more resources per person and produce more waste than other countries with greater population), which would fit in the classical Christian model as the sin of worshipping an idol over God.

But, then you could dismiss that not as an observation, but personal, subjective, claims.

-j.

Answer 3

I might be sinful, and exceedinly sinful, but I cannot fathom the real meaning of sinfulness.

Argument base on Observation:

What the eyes see, are repflected in the mind of man whether be good or bad. It all started from a simple look that goes to the mind. thats why ...

Watch your thoughs, they become words
Watch your words, they become actions
Watch your actions, they become habits
Watch your habits, they become character
Watch your character, IT becomes your destiny.

Arguments base on Experiments

Did you know that, you are what you are right now Not what you would like to be, Nor what you ought to be, Nor are you what you used to be. You are what you are today.

Today the real you is shown by what you do and by what you think about in your heart, and what you meditate on.

Furthermore: The things that you allow your heart to dwell on today is building what you will be for tomorrow and the tomorrow after that. Your inner life is an accurate representation of the real you no matter what services you perform for God, or what you appear to be to others. The important things is the purity of your inner-self.

Luke 6:45 "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good: an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil for al the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh."

Does this answer suffices your requirements?

Answer 4

"Provable by means of observation or experiment" is a concept that should be reserved for mathematics or science.

Extending that concept to things beyond mathematics or science is, at the end of the day, unscientific.

What you're doing here is a clever word play -- you're trying to bait us into attempting to define something (in this case, sin) within a parameter in which it does not fit and does not belong.

It's sort of like asking someone to lose weight while limiting their diet to cake, cookies, potato chips, and Coke -- and then telling them that they have to eat at least 5,000 calories' worth of these food every day.

Sin is defined by God. He defines it as a willfull turning-away from Him due to acts that He has deemed, for our betterment, to be harmful to us and to society.

Sin is an act which declares, in effect, that we do not want God in our lives.

Answer 5

You are absolutely correct in the statement that sin is subjective. This is because more than anything else, sin has to do with attitude.

There is no action, in and of itself, that is sinful. Killing is not sinful if it is done in self defense. Killing out of anger or out of disrespect to the life of another person is sinful.

Sin is any action or inaction, word, or thought that is not loving towards God or your fellow man.

Sin can be thought of as a violation of the Divine Law of "You shall love your God with all of your heart, mind, and soul, and your neighbor as yourself"

Answer 6

Sin is transgression of the law of God.

(1 John 3:4) Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Answer 7

the definition of sin Websters dictionary;transgression of divine law moral depravity; an offense in general-vi(sinning,sinned) to violate the divine law or any rule or duty. Divine law meaning the Ten Commandments

Answer 8

humanity's rejection of God and opposition to him. When you are dealing with the realm of Ideas, you can't really give a tangible definition, except personal eperience, or the definition of one who is given authority to define. Good luck with your experiment, I suggest an Epistomology course.

Answer 9

Sin is a deliberate thought, word, deed, or omission contrary to the eternal law of God.

With love in Christ.

Answer 10

I could not give you an empirical definition, but then again you could not give am empirical definition for many words.

Sin: To do wrong in accordance with biblical teachings.