What is up with the whole "sinning" thing?

Question

Why do people want to believe they are sinning by doing things that don't hurt others, like masturbating, or smoking pot, or having protected pre-marital sex? If it isn't hurting anyone, and only provides pleasure, why would anyone feel guilty about these things?

But many do!

Masturbating is actually very healthy!

Cannabis, when eaten or used as a salve is a worthy medicine and sacrament that causes no physical harm and releases stress!

Sex is fun!

I understand feeling guilty when you steal, kill, etc- things that hurt others. But many things people consider "sins" seem rediculous to me. And unhealthy!

His glory, if it isn't rape, it's okay. That's her choice.

Jesus- I bring up masturbation because it's a very healthy behavior that is seen as a bad thing by many because of religion.

Answer 1

I am atheist. I cannot sin.

.

Answer 2

What is it that makes "sin" so evil, if it is not the harm it causes?
Masturbation isn't a sin, in itself. Of course, if the person has an unhealthy obsession with another person, it could get nasty.
Using marijuana is certainly not a sin. Smoking pot is not good, since the smoke can damage your lungs. Better to cook with it.
Pre-marital sex, now that one is a little harder to pin down. I am glad you specified "protected", at least you are showing some responsibility...but you do know that protection isn't always effective? I am living proof that you can get pregnant using protection...five of my seven babies were conceived while on birth control...in fact, the baby came along after I had a tubal ligotomy...yep, I said AFTER my tubes had been tied.
I am not the one to try to tell anyone else how to run their life, but I would definitely suggest not having sex with anyone you don't want to have a baby with.
Sin is sinful because it hurts, in that you are absolutely correct. But I would trust God to know what hurts His creation, since He is so much wiser than we are. He never said that masturbation is a sin, nor did He ever mention the use of marijuana. However, He is quite explicit about sex. From the experience I've had in my fifty six years of life, He is right. Trust Him, and you won't get hurt.

Answer 3

Your presumption that things must hurt others to be sins is a key flaw. Most of the 10 Commandments are for your own benefit, not that of people around you. Jesus Himself expanded the "sins listing" by classifying thoughts about sins as sins. Why? It's bad for your relationship with God, and it's bad for your physical and emotional health.

Masturbating: Never covered in the Bible (likely because a boy would be married by the time he would be masturbating). Some have declared it a sin, but the rest of us don't consider it anything.

Smoking Pot: This is a sin -
1: Bad for you.
2: Clouds your judgement - (Drinking isn't a sin but being drunk is. The difference is that your judgement is clouded.)
3: Illegal. Smoking pot is illegal and shows no respect for the government over you.

Pre-marital sex:
Not good for your future relationships. When you marry, your spouse shouldn't need to worry about "who else you're thinking about in bed". Promiscuousness also causes and spreads a vast number of diseases.

Well, two of the things you brought up have actually hurt ALOT of people. So even by your ridiculous standars, they should be considered sins.

Answer 4

To sin literally means "to miss the mark" not the acts, but missing the mark set for us by God.

A) Maturbating. In biblical terms can lead to lusting after women, including other men's wives. This is as bad as, according to Jesus, actually sleeping with the woman. Masturbating in and of itself is not a sin, but can easily lead one into lust which is a sin.

B) Smoking pot. I believe the results are in on smoking. Marijuana produces much of the same harmful products as tobacco when smoked. Granted they are the natural ones, not the artificial additives, but carbon monoxide and tar production is higher in marijuana than tobacco. Also, most cigarettes are filtered where pot isn't. Also, pot impairs judgement which may lead to doing things that hurt other people. Driving while high is about the same as driving drunk. Now, that having been said, I do go along with the medical use of marijuana. If that is what works for your symptoms, you should be allowed to use it.

C) Pre-marital sex. Ok, first even protected pre-marital sex has unwanted pregnancies as a byproduct even if at a reduced rate. Aside from that, sex tends to intensify emotional connections. How many relationships blossom into something more than casual dating? How much heartache happens when such relationships end? The heartache is increased with the intensity of emotional attachment by one of the parties. Shouldn't one wait for someone who is willing to make a lifelong commitment before making a relationship intimate?

Anyway, good question. Keep seeking answers, and may those answers lead you toward God.

Bless you.

Answer 5

Ok, here's the poop: FOLLOW THE MONEY!
Figure out whether or not there is harm, in the form of LOSS,
emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually, materially, or maybe, wasting time. Is someone being exploited in this pleasurable experience? If not, fine. If so, who? Who suffers that you did not consider? Was, or is, there a money transaction involved in bringing you pleasure that you did not consider? (if so, you may be promoting whores) Who had to work that you could play? Are you partying when you should be resting? Can your finances afford excessive abuse? Answer these honestly, and see how expensive your habits are, for yourself AND for others.
Don't forget to read up on doctors reports about sleep deprivation, and drug abuse...
these reports are not popular in the media; you'll have to work to find them...and you may not like what you discover.
Did you ever notice that the 'rewards cards' at the grocery stores never seem to 'reward' you for anything healthy? And 'health' foods cost more than junk?
FOLLOW THE MONEY! Do some healthy investigation! (before you get fed-up, sick, and tired of it all...)

Answer 6

Cannabis, when eaten or used as a salve is a worthy medicine.

While this is an interesting point, your first post said smoking it. I know people who have smoked for 30-40 years and it has definately affected them badly. And to say that pre-marrital sex hasn't hurt anyone, especially after they break up from their relationship is also a bit naive.

Answer 7

The sin you list is common in the private
sector of life.
So why is it in a private place first of all?
Because no one wants to offend rather
than feel guilty.
But if there caught they may feel more
shame than guilty.
The main reason people feel guilty is because they are taught that all these things
you list are not right to do and they grow up
structuring there lives being aware of that
wrong moment, and when they do these things then they feel guilty like a drunk falling
off a wagon.

Answer 8

Sin is rebelling against God---it's a violation of His law.
Think about the first sin----believing the devil instead of God and eating a fruit! Sin is serious to God.
We inherited a sinful nature from Adam.
Even most 2 year olds know when they do something wrong.
You think that because something is pleasurable it is not hurting anyone? That's not always true. God's laws are given to protect us. And one must admit to being a sinner as the first step in being reconciled to God.

Answer 9

Imagine a dot in the center of a circle. The dot is a person. The circle is God's law.

Now imagine that the person drew a smaller circle inside of the circle of God's law. The person tries really hard to stay in the smaller circle and if they leave the smaller circle they still do not break God's law.

This is why some people make the law "tighter" than it actually is.

Since I am a Christian I am saved by Grace, not righteous actions.

1 Corinthians 6:12 - All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

That is the difference between an Atheist and me, neither of us can sin but when I die I go to heaven.

Answer 10

Its because the bible told them how to think & they dont think for themselves because they think god & the bible are the answer to everything.They are taught to believe that all people are born into sin,but really is a baby a sinner i dont think so it can only be taught to be a sinner.There is no explanation or proof that god is real.When people pray they are being passive and not taking action.They believe the world today can be changed by praying and never actually putting forth the effort of actually changing anything and living toward the past instead of the present.Well i tell you the past world isnt certain so you better live your life the best way you can today for tomorrow isnt promised!Do what satisfies you as long as it doesnt hurt others then it has to be alright!

Answer 11

Sin isn't just disobedience to your own standards of morality based on your individual "conscience". Sin is a willful disobedience to God’s commandments, whether you understand the reasons for the commandments or not. However, just because you may not understand a reason for a commandment doesn't mean there isn't one. I'm sure there are reasons for every commandment, and every commandment at its very core is calculated to exalt mankind. I just thought I'd share with you some of my thoughts on this subject. God bless you.

Truly yours

Arthur :)