Sin

In religious context, sin is a transgression against divine law or a law of the deities.^[1] Each culture has its own interpretation of what it means to commit a sin. While sins are generally considered actions, any thought, word, or act considered immoral, selfish, shameful, harmful, or alienating might be termed "sinful".^[2]

Thumb — Depiction of the sin of Adam and Eve (*The Garden of Eden with the Fall of Man* by Jan Brueghel the Elder and Pieter Paul Rubens)

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From Middle English sinne, synne, sunne, zen, from Old English synn ("sin"), from Proto-West Germanic *sunnju, from Proto-Germanic *sunjō ('truth', 'excuse') and *sundī, *sundijō ("sin"), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁s-ónt-ih₂, from *h₁sónts ("being, true", implying a verdict of "truly guilty" against an accusation or charge), from *h₁es- ("to be"); compare Old English sōþ ("true"; see sooth). Doublet of suttee.

Baháʼís consider humans to be naturally good, fundamentally spiritual beings. Human beings were created because of God's immeasurable love for us. However, the Baháʼí teachings compare the human heart to a mirror, which, if turned away from the light of the sun (i.e. God), is incapable of receiving God's love. It is only by turning unto God that spiritual advancement can be made. In this sense, "sinning" is to follow the inclinations of one's own lower nature, to turn the mirror of one's heart away from God. One of the main hindrances to spiritual development is the Baháʼí concept of the "insistent self" which is a self-serving inclination within all people. Baháʼís interpret this to be the true meaning of Satan, often referred to in the Baháʼí Writings as "the Evil One".

Watch over yourselves, for the Evil One is lying in wait, ready to entrap you. Gird yourselves against his wicked devices, and, led by the light of the name of the All-Seeing God, make your escape from the darkness that surroundeth you. — Baháʼu'lláh

This lower nature in humans is symbolized as Satan—the evil ego within us, not an evil personality outside.—ʻAbdu'l-Bahá

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There are a few differing Buddhist views on sin. American Zen author Brad Warner states that in Buddhism there is no concept of sin at all.^[3]^[4] The Buddha Dharma Education Association also expressly states "The idea of sin or original sin has no place in Buddhism."^[5]

Ethnologist Christoph von Fürer-Haimendorf explained, "In Buddhist thinking the whole universe, men as well as gods, are subject to a reign of law. Every action, good or bad, has an inevitable and automatic effect in a long chain of causes, an effect that is independent of the will of any deity. Even though this may leave no room for the concept of 'sin' in the sense of an act of defiance against the authority of a personal god, Buddhists speak of 'sin' when referring to transgressions against the universal moral code."^[6]

However, there are five heinous crimes in Buddhism that bring immediate disaster through karmic process.^[7] These five crimes are collectively referred to as Anantarika-karma in Theravada Buddhism^[7] and pañcānantarya (Pāli) in the Mahayana Sutra Preached by the Buddha on the Total Extinction of the Dharma,^[8] The five crimes or sins are:^[9]

Injuring a Buddha
Killing an Arhat
Creating schism in the society of Sangha
Matricide
Patricide

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Hamartiology

The doctrine of sin is central to Christianity, since its basic message is about redemption in Christ.^[10] Christian hamartiology describes sin as an act of offense against God by despising his persons and Christian biblical law, and by injuring others.^[11] In Christian views it is an evil human act, which violates the rational nature of man as well as God's nature and his eternal law. According to the classical definition of St. Augustine of Hippo sin is "a word, deed, or desire in opposition to the eternal law of God."^[12]^[13] Thus, sin requires redemption, a metaphor alluding to atonement, in which the death of Jesus is the price that is paid to release the faithful from the bondage of sin.^[14] In some forms of Christianity, it also requires reparation (see penance).

Among some scholars, sin is understood mostly as a legal infraction or contract violation of non-binding philosophical frameworks and perspectives of Christian ethics, and so salvation tends to be viewed in legal terms. Other Christian scholars understand sin to be fundamentally relational—a loss of love for the Christian God and an elevation of self-love ("concupiscence", in this sense), as was later propounded by Augustine in his debate with the Pelagians.^[15] As with the legal definition of sin, this definition also affects the understanding of Christian grace and salvation, which are thus viewed in relational terms.^[16]

Original sin

This condition has been characterized in many ways, ranging from something as insignificant as the tendency toward sin, referred to as a "sin nature", to something as drastic as total depravity, the teaching that humans, apart from God's grace, are incapable of choosing to do good.^[17]^[18]

The concept of original sin was first alluded to in the 2nd century by Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyon in his controversy with certain dualist Gnostics.^[19] Other church fathers such as Augustine also shaped and developed the doctrine,^[20] seeing it as based on the New Testament teaching of Paul the Apostle (Romans 5:12–21 and 1 Corinthians 15:21–22) and the Old Testament verse of Psalms 51:5.^[21]^[22]^[23]^[24]^[25] Tertullian, Cyprian, Ambrose and Ambrosiaster considered that humanity shares in Adam's sin, transmitted by human generation. Augustine's formulation of original sin after 412 CE was popular among Protestant reformers, such as Martin Luther and John Calvin, who equated original sin with concupiscence (or "hurtful desire"), affirming that it persisted even after baptism and completely destroyed freedom to do good. Before 412 CE, Augustine said that free will was weakened but not destroyed by original sin. But after 412 CE this changed to a loss of free will except to sin.^[26] Calvinism holds the later Augustinian soteriology view. The Jansenist movement, which the Catholic Church declared to be heretical, also maintained that original sin destroyed freedom of will.^[27] Instead the Catholic Church declares that Baptism erases original sin.^[28] Methodist theology teaches that original sin is eradicted through entire sanctification.^[29]

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Sin (khiṭʾ) is an important concept in Islamic ethics. Muslims see sin as anything that goes against the commands of God (Allah), a breach of the laws and norms laid down by religion.^[30] Islam teaches that sin is an act and not a state of being. It is believed that God weighs an individual's good deeds against his or her sins on the Day of Judgement and punishes those individuals whose evil deeds outweigh their good deeds. These individuals are thought to be sentenced to an afterlife in the fires of jahannam (Hell).

Islamic terms for sin include dhanb and khaṭīʾa, which are synonymous and refer to intentional sins; khiṭʾ, which means simply a sin; and ithm, which is used for grave sins.^[31]

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Judaism regards the violation of any of the 613 commandments as a sin. Judaism teaches that sin is a part of life, since there is no perfect man and everyone has an inclination to do evil. Sin has many classifications and degrees, but the principal classification is that of "missing the mark" (cheit in Hebrew).^[32]^{[better source needed]} Some sins are punishable with death by the court, others with death by heaven, others with lashes, and others without such punishment, but no sins committed with willful intentions go without consequence. Sins committed out of lack of knowledge are not considered sins, since sin cannot be a sin if the one who committed it did not know it was wrong. Unintentional sins are considered less severe sins.^[33]

Sins between people are considered much more serious in Judaism than sins between man and God. Yom Kippur, the main day of repentance in Judaism, can atone for sins between man and God, but not for sins between man and his fellow, that is until he has appeased his friend.^[34] Eleazar ben Azariah derived [this from the verse]: "From all your sins before God you shall be cleansed" (Book of Leviticus, 16:30) – for sins between man and God Yom Kippur atones, but for sins between man and his fellow Yom Kippur does not atone until he appeases his fellow.^[35]^[36]

When the Temple yet stood in Jerusalem, people would offer Korbanot (sacrifices) for their misdeeds. The atoning aspect of korbanot is carefully circumscribed. For the most part, korbanot only expiates unintentional sins, that is, sins committed because a person forgot that this thing was a sin or by mistake. No atonement is needed for violations committed under duress or through lack of knowledge, and for the most part, korbanot cannot atone for a malicious, deliberate sin. In addition, korbanot have no expiating effect unless the person making the offering sincerely repents of his or her actions before making the offering, and makes restitution to any person who was harmed by the violation.^[33]

Judaism teaches that all willful sin has consequences. The completely righteous suffer for their sins (by humiliation, poverty, and suffering that God sends them) in this world and receive their reward in the world to come. The in-between (not completely righteous or completely wicked), suffer for and repent their sins after death and thereafter join the righteous. The very evil do not repent even at the gates of hell. Such people prosper in this world to receive their reward for any good deed, but cannot be cleansed by and hence cannot leave gehinnom, because they do not or cannot repent. This world can therefore seem unjust where the righteous suffer, while the wicked prosper. Many great thinkers have contemplated this.^[37]

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The Shinto concept of sin is inexorably linked to concepts of purity and pollution. Shinto does not have a concept of original sin and instead believes that all human beings are born pure.^[38] Sin, also called Tsumi, is anything that makes people impure (i.e. anything that separates them from the kami).^[39] However, Shinto does not believe this impurity is the result of human actions, but rather the result of evil spirits or other external factors.^[38]^[39]

Sin can have a variety of consequences in Japan, including disaster and disease.^[38]^[39] Therefore, purification rituals, or Harae, are viewed as important not just to the spiritual and physical health of the individual but also to the well-being of the nation.^[38]

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[1]
"sin". Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 4 July 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
[2]
"sin". Oxford English Dictionary. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
[3]
Warner, Brad (2003). Hardcore Zen: Punk Rock, Monster Movies & the Truth About Reality. Wisdom Publications. p. 144. ISBN 0-86171-380-X.
[4]
Warner, Brad (2010). Sex, Sin, and Zen: A Buddhist Exploration of Sex from Celibacy to Polyamory and Everything in Between. New World Library. p. 72. ISBN 978-1-57731-910-8.
[5]
"Buddhism: Major Differences". Buddha Dharma Education Association. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
[6]
von Fürer-Haimendorf, Christoph (1974). "The Sense of Sin in Cross-Cultural Perspective". Man. New Series 9.4: 539–556.
[7]
Gananath Obeyesekere (1990), The Work of Culture: Symbolic Transformation in Psychoanalysis and Anthropology, University of Chicago, ISBN 978-0-226-61599-8
[8]
Hodous, Lewis; Soothill, William Edward (1995). A Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms: With Sanskrit and English Equivalents and a Sanskrit-Pali Index. Routledge. p. 128. ISBN 978-0700703555.
[9]
Rām Garg, Gaṅgā (1992). Encyclopaedia of the Hindu World. Concept Publishing Company. p. 433. ISBN 9788170223757.
[10]
Rahner, p. 1588
[11]
Sabourin, p. 696
[12]
Contra Faustum Manichaeum, 22, 27; PL 42, 418; cf. Thomas Aquinas, STh I–II q71 a6.
[13]
Mc Guinness, p. 241
[14]
Gruden, Wayne. Systemic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, Nottingham: Intervarsity Press, p. 580
[15]
On Grace and Free Will (see Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, trans. P.Holmes, vol. 5; 30–31 [14–15]).
[16]
For a historical review of this understanding, see R.N.Frost, "Sin and Grace", in Paul L. Metzger, Trinitarian Soundings, T&T Clark, 2005.
[17]
Burson, Scott R. (13 September 2016). Brian McLaren in Focus: A New Kind of Apologetic. ACU Press. ISBN 978-0-89112-650-8. ...affirms the total depravity of human beings and their utter helplessness even to exercise a good will toward God apart from God's supernatural, assisting grace.
[18]
Brodd, Jeffrey (2003). World Religions. Winona, MN: Saint Mary's Press. ISBN 978-0-88489-725-5.
[19]
"In the person of the first Adam we offend God, disobeying His precept" (Haeres., V, xvi, 3).
[20]
Patte, Daniel. The Cambridge Dictionary of Christianity. Ed. Daniel Patte. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2010, p. 892
[21]
Peter Nathan. "The Original View of Original Sin". Vision.org. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
[22]
"Original Sin Explained and Defended: Reply to an Assemblies of God Pastor". Philvaz.com. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
[23]
Preamble and Articles of Faith Archived 20 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine – V. Sin, Original and Personal – Church of the Nazarene. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
[24]
Are Babies Born with Sin? Archived 21 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine – Topical Bible Studies. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
[25]
"Original Sin: Psalm 51:5". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
[26]
Wilson, Kenneth (2018). Augustine's Conversion from Traditional Free Choice to "Non-free Free Will": A Comprehensive Methodology. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck. pp. 16–18, 157–187. ISBN 9783161557538.
[27]
"CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Jansenius and Jansenism". Newadvent.org. 1 October 1910. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
[28]
Catholic Church. "The Seven Sacraments of the Church." Catechism of the Catholic Church. LA Santa Sede. 19 November 2019.
[29]
Whidden, Woodrow W. (18 April 2005). "Adventist Theology: The Wesleyan Connection". Biblical Research Institute. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
[30]
"Oxford Islamic Studies Online". Sin. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018.
[31]
Wensinck, A. J. (2012). "K̲h̲aṭīʾa". In P. Bearman; Th. Bianquis; C.E. Bosworth; E. van Donzel; W.P. Heinrichs (eds.). Encyclopaedia of Islam (2nd ed.). Brill. doi:10.1163/2214-871X_ei1_SIM_4141.
[32]
Silver, Jonathan, host. "Podcast: David Bashevkin on Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought." The Tikvah Podcast, The Tikvah Fund, 3 Oct. 2019.
[33]
"Sacrifices and Offerings (Karbanot)".
[34]
Mishnah, Yoma, 8:9
[35]
Simon and Schuster, 1986, Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism, New York: Touchstone book.
[36]
"The Historical Uniqueness and Centrality of Yom Kippur". thetorah.com.
[37]
"Reward and Punishment". Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
[38]
"Shinto Concept of Sin (Tsumi) and Impurity (Kegare)｜TSURUGAOKA HACHIMANGU". www.tsurugaoka-hachimangu.jp. Archived from the original on 11 February 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
[39]
"BBC – Religions – Shinto: Purity in Shinto". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 September 2020.

Bellarmine, Robert (1902). "The Malice of Sin." . Sermons from the Latins. Benziger Brothers.
Deharbe, Joseph (1912). "Chap. IV. The Violation of the Commandments" . A Complete Catechism of the Catholic Religion. Translated by Rev. John Fander. Schwartz, Kirwin & Fauss.
de la Puente, Lius (1852). "On Sin" . Meditations On The Mysteries Of Our Holy Faith. Richarson and Son.
Fredriksen, Paula. Sin: The Early History of an Idea. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2012. ISBN 978-0-691-12890-0.
Granoff; P E; Shinohara, Koichi; eds. (2012), Sins and Sinners: Perspectives from Asian Religions. Brill. ISBN 9004229469.
Hein, David. "Regrets Only: A Theology of Remorse." The Anglican 33, no. 4 (October 2004): 5–6.
Lewis, C.S. "Miserable Offenders": An Interpretation of [sinfulness and] Prayer Book Language [about it], in series, The Advent Papers. Cincinnati, Ohio: Forward Movement Publications, [196-].
O'Neil, Arthur Charles (1912). "Sin" . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
Padua, St. Anthony of (1865). "Book I: First Part (Against sin)" . The Moral Concordances of Saint Anthony of Padua. J.T. Hayes.
Pieper, Josef. The Concept of Sin. Edward T. Oakes SJ (translation from German). South Bend, Indiana: St. Augustine's Press, 2001. ISBN 1-890318-08-6
Schumacher, Meinolf. Sündenschmutz und Herzensreinheit: Studien zur Metaphorik der Sünde in lateinischer und deutscher Literatur des Mittelalters. Munich: Fink, 1996. ISBN 3-7705-3127-2
Spirago, Francis (1904). "Lesson 6: On Sin and its Kinds" . Anecdotes and Examples Illustrating The Catholic Catechism. Translated by James Baxter. Benzinger Brothers.
Slater S.J., Thomas (1925). "Book 4: On Sin" . A manual of moral theology for English-speaking countries. Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd.

The Different Kinds of Sins (Catholic)
"Sin" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911.
Kevin Timpe. "Sin in Christian Thought". In Zalta, Edward N. (ed.). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

[1] [1]
"sin". Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 4 July 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.

[:0-2] [2]
"sin". Oxford English Dictionary. Retrieved 16 September 2013.

[3] [3]
Warner, Brad (2003). Hardcore Zen: Punk Rock, Monster Movies & the Truth About Reality. Wisdom Publications. p. 144. ISBN 0-86171-380-X.

[4] [4]
Warner, Brad (2010). Sex, Sin, and Zen: A Buddhist Exploration of Sex from Celibacy to Polyamory and Everything in Between. New World Library. p. 72. ISBN 978-1-57731-910-8.

[5] [5]
"Buddhism: Major Differences". Buddha Dharma Education Association. Retrieved 13 May 2013.

[6] [6]
von Fürer-Haimendorf, Christoph (1974). "The Sense of Sin in Cross-Cultural Perspective". Man. New Series 9.4: 539–556.

[Obeyesekere-7] [7]
Gananath Obeyesekere (1990), The Work of Culture: Symbolic Transformation in Psychoanalysis and Anthropology, University of Chicago, ISBN 978-0-226-61599-8

[8] [8]
Hodous, Lewis; Soothill, William Edward (1995). A Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms: With Sanskrit and English Equivalents and a Sanskrit-Pali Index. Routledge. p. 128. ISBN 978-0700703555.

[9] [9]
Rām Garg, Gaṅgā (1992). Encyclopaedia of the Hindu World. Concept Publishing Company. p. 433. ISBN 9788170223757.

[10] [10]
Rahner, p. 1588

[11] [11]
Sabourin, p. 696

[12] [12]
Contra Faustum Manichaeum, 22, 27; PL 42, 418; cf. Thomas Aquinas, STh I–II q71 a6.

[13] [13]
Mc Guinness, p. 241

[14] [14]
Gruden, Wayne. Systemic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, Nottingham: Intervarsity Press, p. 580

[15] [15]
On Grace and Free Will (see Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, trans. P.Holmes, vol. 5; 30–31 [14–15]).

[16] [16]
For a historical review of this understanding, see R.N.Frost, "Sin and Grace", in Paul L. Metzger, Trinitarian Soundings, T&T Clark, 2005.

[Burson2016-17] [17]
Burson, Scott R. (13 September 2016). Brian McLaren in Focus: A New Kind of Apologetic. ACU Press. ISBN 978-0-89112-650-8. ...affirms the total depravity of human beings and their utter helplessness even to exercise a good will toward God apart from God's supernatural, assisting grace.

[18] [18]
Brodd, Jeffrey (2003). World Religions. Winona, MN: Saint Mary's Press. ISBN 978-0-88489-725-5.

[19] [19]
"In the person of the first Adam we offend God, disobeying His precept" (Haeres., V, xvi, 3).

[20] [20]
Patte, Daniel. The Cambridge Dictionary of Christianity. Ed. Daniel Patte. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2010, p. 892

[21] [21]
Peter Nathan. "The Original View of Original Sin". Vision.org. Retrieved 24 January 2017.

[22] [22]
"Original Sin Explained and Defended: Reply to an Assemblies of God Pastor". Philvaz.com. Retrieved 24 January 2017.

[23] [23]
Preamble and Articles of Faith Archived 20 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine – V. Sin, Original and Personal – Church of the Nazarene. Retrieved 13 October 2013.

[24] [24]
Are Babies Born with Sin? Archived 21 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine – Topical Bible Studies. Retrieved 13 October 2013.

[25] [25]
"Original Sin: Psalm 51:5". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 19 May 2023.

[26] [26]
Wilson, Kenneth (2018). Augustine's Conversion from Traditional Free Choice to "Non-free Free Will": A Comprehensive Methodology. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck. pp. 16–18, 157–187. ISBN 9783161557538.

[27] [27]
"CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Jansenius and Jansenism". Newadvent.org. 1 October 1910. Retrieved 24 January 2017.

[28] [28]
Catholic Church. "The Seven Sacraments of the Church." Catechism of the Catholic Church. LA Santa Sede. 19 November 2019.

[Whidden2005-29] [29]
Whidden, Woodrow W. (18 April 2005). "Adventist Theology: The Wesleyan Connection". Biblical Research Institute. Retrieved 30 June 2019.

[oxfordislamicstudies-30] [30]
"Oxford Islamic Studies Online". Sin. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018.

[31] [31]
Wensinck, A. J. (2012). "K̲h̲aṭīʾa". In P. Bearman; Th. Bianquis; C.E. Bosworth; E. van Donzel; W.P. Heinrichs (eds.). Encyclopaedia of Islam (2nd ed.). Brill. doi:10.1163/2214-871X_ei1_SIM_4141.

[32] [32]
Silver, Jonathan, host. "Podcast: David Bashevkin on Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought." The Tikvah Podcast, The Tikvah Fund, 3 Oct. 2019.

[jewishvirtuallibrary.org-33] [33]
"Sacrifices and Offerings (Karbanot)".

[34] [34]
Mishnah, Yoma, 8:9

[Schuster_1986-35] [35]
Simon and Schuster, 1986, Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism, New York: Touchstone book.

[36] [36]
"The Historical Uniqueness and Centrality of Yom Kippur". thetorah.com.

[37] [37]
"Reward and Punishment". Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved 1 March 2015.

[:1-38] [38]
"Shinto Concept of Sin (Tsumi) and Impurity (Kegare)｜TSURUGAOKA HACHIMANGU". www.tsurugaoka-hachimangu.jp. Archived from the original on 11 February 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2020.

[:2-39] [39]
"BBC – Religions – Shinto: Purity in Shinto". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 September 2020.

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Sin

Hamartiology

Original sin

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Etymology

Bahá'í

Buddhism

Christianity

Islam

Judaism

Shinto

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Notes and references

Further reading

External links