Ashpenaz Posted February 10, 2022 Posted February 10, 2022 Sin is a troubling word for me. I no longer believe in original sin. I don't think sin in any way "damages" God. I don't think God is offended. God is entirely happy within Himself, and there's nothing I can do to add or subtract from His happiness. I don't believe He feels wrath or anger--He feels concern, like father of the Prodigal Son. I think God knows that when I go against His will, I'm unhappy, and He wants me to stop doing what makes me unhappy. But I don't think He considers anything I do as "against" Him. I hurt myself, not Him. I just don't get the phrase "sin against God." Have other people had trouble with this phrase? How have you resolved it? Quote
PaulS Posted February 11, 2022 Posted February 11, 2022 11 hours ago, Ashpenaz said: Sin is a troubling word for me. I no longer believe in original sin. I don't think sin in any way "damages" God. I don't think God is offended. God is entirely happy within Himself, and there's nothing I can do to add or subtract from His happiness. I don't believe He feels wrath or anger--He feels concern, like father of the Prodigal Son. I think God knows that when I go against His will, I'm unhappy, and He wants me to stop doing what makes me unhappy. But I don't think He considers anything I do as "against" Him. I hurt myself, not Him. I just don't get the phrase "sin against God." Have other people had trouble with this phrase? How have you resolved it? I'm probably not much help Ashpenaz, but I resolve it myself by understanding that an ancient people, who didn't have a better udnerstanding of the world, came to the conclusion that a God or Gods was working behind the scenes, and as a way of explaining why life wasn't all beer and skittles, came up with a theology about being on the wrong side of said God. From a biblical perspective, I think the various authors over the various centuries have wrestled with this idea of sin themselves and it ranges from 'sin' being something to be saved from by a human sacrifice to something we can master ourselves (Gen 4). I think 'sin' is perhaps just a word to describe being out of sorts with what makes our lives feel worthwhile. Quote
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