What are the consequences of believing in "sin"? How does it affect behavior?

Question

Sometimes people ask whether folks would commit crimes (murder, theft, etc.) if there were no chance of getting caught.

I say no, because I would feel guilty for hurting someone, and I would have sinned.

What are the answers of other people, religious and non-religious? Do the concepts of sin and divine judgment make for a better society? Or do you view it as "brainwashing"? What motivates YOU to "behave?'

Thanks.

Answer 1

The main consequence in believing in sin is also believing in virtue, a habitual and firm disposition to do good.

The moral virtues are:

Chastity (courage, purity, opposes the sin of lust) — Courage and boldness. Embracing of moral wholesomeness and achieving purity of thought through education and betterment.

Abstinence (self-control, opposes he sin of gluttony) — Constant mindfulness of others and one's surroundings; practicing self-control, abstention, and moderation.

Diligence (ethics, opposes the sin of sloth) — A zealous and careful nature in one's actions and work. Decisive work ethic.

Liberality (will, generosity, opposes the sin of greed) — Generosity. Willingness to give. A nobility of thought or actions.

Patience (peace, opposes the sin of wrath) — Forebearance and endurance through moderation. Resolving conflicts peacefully, as opposed to resorting to violence.

Kindness (satisfaction, opposes the sin of envy) — Charity, compassion, friendship, and sympathy without prejudice.

Humility (modesty, opposes the sin of pride) — modest behavior, selflessness, and the giving of respect.

+ G. K. Chesterton on virtue:

White is a color. It is not a mere absence of color; it is a shining and affirmative thing, as fierce as red, as definite as black. When, so to speak, your pencil grows red-hot, it draws roses; when it grows white-hot, it draws stars. And one of the two or three defiant verities of the best religious morality, of real Christianity, for example, is exactly this same thing; the chief assertion of religious morality is that white is a color.

Virtue is not the absence of vices or the avoidance of moral dangers; virtue is a vivid and separate thing, like pain or a particular smell.

Mercy does not mean not being cruel or sparing people revenge or punishment; it means a plain and positive thing like the sun, which one has either seen or not seen.

Chastity does not mean abstention from sexual wrong; it means something flaming, like Joan of Arc. In a word, God paints in many colors; but He never paints so gorgeously, I had almost said so gaudily, as when He paints in white.

+ With love in Christ.

Answer 2

People do not need religion to tell them what is morally objectionable. Our morality evolved through evolution. What religious people do is conflate and intertwine dogmas with morality. For instance, sex before marriage. Its not a moral law at all, it's a religious belief. When religious people talk about "morals and values" they are not talking about morals and values. They are talking about dogmas, and are using real morals (that even atheists agree upon) as a cover to preach their dogmas to the world.

Answer 3

The consequences of believing in sin means you have to accept responsibility for your actions. Most people are not willing to do that so they simply say there is nothing wrong with what i did.