What is a sin?

Question

What is a sin? The question may be simple but can it be answered without refering to God.

I can restate my question in a different form. What is good and what is bad? If that is the case, who determines what is what? all of us can agree that killing is bad, but can we say that having sex (before marriage) is bad? Isn't that part of nature?

So what is a Sin?

Answer 1

Sin is nothing more than a practice or action that is contrary to a religious teaching. Sins are neither right nor wrong, so to postulate a question on that basis is inherently wrong. Killing is only "bad" in terms of what has been chosen to be acceptable to society. Many societies have glorified killing and being sacrificed for a cause (and generally those societies eventually extinct themselves....) Who determines "what is what" would be an interesting study in sociology. Sometimes it is a charismatic person (Buddha, Jesus, David Koresh) other times it is a commonality between people that naturally binds them together. Many factors determine what we each personally believe (mostly stemming from positive or negative reinforcement.)

Answer 2

Sin is a word that finds it's basis in religion. It has no context outside of religion - since it's very definition rests on the concept of intentionally going aginst God's will.

I believe there are universal truths out there. We all have a thing about other people invading our space. Sure, people can spew forth that stealing is wrong is a realtive concept - but steal from these people and they are the first ones to cry foul. We all seem to have certain concepts of right and wrong, based on our own survival built into us. Religion just seems to build on that.

By the way - I don't believe having sex before marriage is necessarily wrong. But making love is the most intimate way to share yourself with another person, and it should be reserved for someone you are ready to make a commitment too. Take this from someone who tried the whole sex without ties thing. Doesn't work. And I'm not the only one. Seems to be another thing built into nature.

Answer 3

Sin is a term used mainly in a religious context to describe an act that violates a moral rule or the state of having committed such a violation. In monotheistic religions, the code of conduct is determined by God. Colloquially, any thought, word, or act considered immoral, shameful, harmful, or alienative might be termed "sinful".

Common ideas surrounding sin in various religions include:

Punishment for sins, either from other people, from God either in life or an afterlife, or from the Universe in general.
The question of whether or not an act must be intentional to be sinful.
The idea that one's conscience should produce guilt for a knowing sin.
A scheme for determining the seriousness of the sin.
Repentance from (expressing regret for and determining not to commit) sin, and atonement (repayment) for past deeds.
The possibility of forgiveness of sins, often through communication with a deity or intermediary; in Christianity often referred to as salvation.
Crime and justice are related secular concepts.

Answer 4

This of course depends on the source of your morals.

If the source of morals is religion, it's quite easy, you can look it up in a book in most cases.

If the source of morals is your own reasoning, it's a bit more difficult to grasp but it can be done too. You could, for example, reason that we are all part of mankind and we should therefore strive for the common good. That is, we should do no harm to others, or as it is frequently said, treat others as we wish to be treated ourselves. This is a rule which obviously would advance the common good.
(And since sex before marriage does no harm to anyone, it is obviously not bad.)

Answer 5

There are three types of sin

1) Transgression:
Sin is breaking any of the TEN COMMANDMENTS

1st John 3v4Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Someone might accidentally kill another person, this is still a sin of transgression.

2)Iniquity - continuing to work in the habit of sin, condoning it, misleading, and seducing people to break God's Ten commandments is worse for an individual. It is the worse of all sins.


3)Presumptuous sin - This is thinking it is okay to keep sinning in the future, or planning to sin(Pre-meditated) and thinking that God will forgive you.


Having sex before marriage comes under the sin of covetousness or lust, it's not adultery but consistutes sins outside of the boundaries of marriage, and not sanctioned by the Holy Spirit.

If you mess up confess your sins past to present to JESUS and try and live a closer walk with JESUS.

1 John 2
1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Heb 10v15Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

Answer 6

It's the transgression of what is true and good and purely real - all that is God. The human mind distorts and creates a false reality in its selfishness, and brings the sin nature into the world.

Answer 7

A sin is a word, thought or act against the law of God

Answer 8

There is no dichotomy of good, bad, sin. There are things that evolve your life in a positive direction and things that evolve your life in a negative direction. There are choices that will bring peace and happiness. There are thoughts, choices, and actions that bring pain and suffering to oneself and others. Forgiveness only needs to come from within. We create our lives each minute for better or worse. We simply are--neither good nor bad---but our choices determine our environment and our experience.


Oh, and to above, I am glad that my husband had relationships before that he learned and grew from. I don't think either of us would have been ready to have the relationship we have without our past experiences.

Answer 9

You are right the question of what is sin cannot be answered without the inclusion of god.

Bad is anything that harms anything or anyone. Every person of sound mind knows right from wrong. Wrong or harm is done because of selfishness. It is a weakness of character. Of course there are different degrees of harm. I believe that degree of harm is a better rule for making the laws of society and punishment for breaking these laws should fit the crime.

Answer 10

Dear Kevo,

Sin is the transgression of God's law. The entire Bible is God's law. Be careful though when you read the lawbook of God that you do not make assumptions.