Is a sin still a sin when it's forced upon you?

Question

For example (just an example, I can think of hundreds more):

A 17 year old girl has to get an abortion, because her dad makes her do it, even with brutal violence if needed.

Answer 1

Sin is very relative.

Some people believe in "original sin". That means that even if they did not act out the sin they are still guilty. According to original sin, ALL people are guilty from The Fall and must work to make themselves un-sinful.
Similarly, even if she was forced to do something she did not want to, her own belief and guilt as a participant would make her a sinner. Many people believe in original sin and guilt beyond choice.

If she does not believe in original sin then she is only responsible for things she has willingly done. Was her life in danger? This is definitely a gray area. She could be entirely forced and therefore sin-less. She might be allowing herself to live instead of dieing to stop a sin; that is sinful.

Do THEY both believe abortion is a sin? What if they are not Catholic. Can you force a belief of sin upon them if you think they have done something sinful but they do not?
Abortion is legal. Violence to a daughter is not (especially if she is as old as 17; she could have just left). Neither are mortal sins. Age is a LEGAL matter. Age of consent (marriage) in the time of the bible was 14.

Answer 2

The sin is upon the father for taking away the choice of freewill and for using violence.

However sin is a very debateable issue. Sin is doing what you know within is incorrect. The sin that you have shown here might of started in action and thoughts through many generations and is still in the process of needing correction. At some point there will be a member born within this cycle that will see the error of these actions and be the one to change it. This is why we are taught not to judge, but instead to be the one to change the cycle. In other words the 17 year old will know that the action is inccorrect. If the correct influences come within her lifetime, she will pass this knowledge on when the lessons reappears.

Answer 3

This is kind of a hard one in a way..however, sin is anything we do wrong...but there is a thing called accountability involved in it too..if the girl really had no choice..I mean if there was nothing she could do like run away, go to the police, go to a judge and say that she did not want to do this..it would still be a sin but the father would be also held accountable for that sin too I believe..because in forcing someone to get an abortion, he has also sinned. But look, we have a loving God, who sent His only Son to die in our place for the punishment that we should receive for our sins....this same Son is the way to the Father whereby we can go to God and tell Him how sorry we are that we sinned and ask Him to forgive us..GOD WILL...He will forgive any repentant person..and the person, in His eyes, will be as if they had never sinned. Plus, if people have been placed in that horrible position, such as the girl, God will help her through what she is going through of having to do such a thing.

Answer 4

A sin canot be forced on anyone. For every temptation to sin, God has promised a way out. A 17-year-old, if mature enough to understand sin, would also understand that all sins in this world have already been overcome by the blood of Jesus, and the power to overcome them all has been given to us by Christ. All we need to do is ask for this power from God and He will provide it. It really doesn't matter which of the Trinity Godhead you are more comfortable with, it is the same God and He never breaks His promises. NO ONE HAS TO SIN - WE ALL SIN BECAUSE WE CHOOSE TO, OR CHOOSE TO FEAR HUMAN BEINGS INSTEAD OF GOD.

Answer 5

My question is "How did the 17 year old unmarried young woman get pregnant in the first place?" If she was rapped, be it by her father or some other "you know what", and then was forced by her father to have the abortion she is completely innocent of the ordeal. However, if this young woman went out and with full knowledge had sex with someone and got pregnant, then the sin would be fornication on her part and murder on her fathers part.

Answer 6

Absolutely not. According to the canons of the ancient Church, if someone is forced to 'sin,' even through threats of violence or confiscation of property, they are NOT guilty of any sin. For example, some Christians were threatened with torture if they refused to offer incense to the deified Emperor. In these cases, the Christian was not guilty of any sin, even when they offered the incense. Only those who voluntarily offered incense without any threat were considered guilty of sin.

Answer 7

I don't think your scenario is a good example, but to answer your question, if someone absolutely has to sin,(which I can't imagine why they would HAVE to), I am sure that sin can be forgiven just like any other sin; through the blood of Christ.

Answer 8

Abortion is a debatable issue. But taking your question itself, think of those who tried to force people to disobey God and how the people reacted in the book of Daniel. Would you consider it "force" to ask someone to bow down and worship a gold statue or be burnt alive? Or how about telling someone to pray to nobody except the king or else be used as cat food? How about those in Revelation who submit to the mark of the beast because otherwise they cannot buy or sell?

Answer 9

The law of the land could protect her. Even if we are forced into doing something we consider wrong, we still have the freewill to do what we think is best and right.....to answer the question. how would she feel after the abortion is the answer.

Answer 10

If you are forced to do something, you did not choose to do it, so it's a sin.

Rape victims, for example, do not sin because they did not choose to commit a sexual act.

Your example is somewhat troublesome because you could argue that she could have run away or told the doctor or something.