Are There Levels To Sin?

[NoIDidn't]

I think there are. Of course, this is my opinion, but I state it based on my interpretation of the scriptures and the differing punishments to be meted out for certain sins.

 

Not every sin meritted death. That suggests a level of trespass, to me. Some sins had death as an instant consequence, some had fees/fines.

 

But that's enough of my opinion on it. I am curious as to what others think.

[saraispiel19]

I thought all sins were equal in the eyes of "God".

 

However, in my opinion being a child molester is much worse than robbing a bank.

[Arise_Serpentor]

if all sins are equal, then thinking about cheating is the same as cheating, so might as well cheat!!!

and every married strip bar patron is a cheater! They aint thinking about music or how shiny those poles are! Might as well stick it in!!!

[NoIDidn't]

if all sins are equal, then thinking about cheating is the same as cheating, so might as well cheat!!!

and every married strip bar patron is a cheater! They aint thinking about music or how shiny those poles are! Might as well stick it in!!!

 

 

Actually the scriptures support this notion. Christ said that looking at a woman and desiring to be with her in your mind was no different than actually doing it. Paul the Apostle took it a step further by explaining that thinking about something plants a seed to actually carry it out.

 

So yeah, might as well, right?

[saraispiel19]

Might as well my ass! Leave sinning aside for a second because morally it's is MUCH worse to follow through with actions!

 

Morals are different than sins!

[Arise_Serpentor]

Might as well my ass! Leave sinning aside for a second because morally it's is MUCH worse to follow through with actions!

 

Morals are different than sins!

 

a sin is a sin is a sin! If desiring is cheating its no worse or better than flat out screwing your neighbors wife for real! no difference! None! According to the conclusion of this thread!

thus every bad intention you CAN'T go through with you might as well say "i committed the sin' and you might as well commit them! Hell, you are truly damned if you do and damned if you don't, because you are damned if you THOUGHT about it apparently...

[saraispiel19]

Oh arise you just love nit pickin at me..it's okay I need a daily challenge.

 

I was dissagreeing with the fact of "following through with it anyways". A sin is a sin plain and simple but I was talking about it in a non-religious manner: that doing so is much worse than thinking it.

 

Psht. last thing I need is another bloke!

[Arise_Serpentor]

"the following through with it anyways" only makes sense if one things all sins are equal! I'm showing how absurd that is!

I dont consider someone masturbating to a woman the same as screwing her. And nobody else does either! they are just goose stepping to what they think the Bible says!

[NoIDidn't]

"the following through with it anyways" only makes sense if one things all sins are equal! I'm showing how absurd that is!

I dont consider someone masturbating to a woman the same as screwing her. And nobody else does either! they are just goose stepping to what they think the Bible says!

 

 

I wouldn't say that I think its absurd to think that all sins are equal, if that's what you are saying.

 

Masturbating is an action. An action that I don't think is a sin unless its a compulsion and from a place of addiction than simply pleasure (don't ask me to explain that logic).

 

One of the Ten Commandments is that of not "coveting", or envy. Desiring what someone else has to the point of lusting after it whether in thought or in deed is a sin, but coveting is number 10.

 

I think people have something mixed up. The ultimate consequences of sin are the same, but I think that there are definite levels of sin.

[disgracian]

The ultimate consequences of sin are the same' date=' but I think that there are definite levels of sin.[/quote']

This borders on a self-contradictory statement. What is the impact or even the point of these levels if they are ignored at the final count?

 

Cheers,

D.

[NoIDidn't]

This borders on a self-contradictory statement. What is the impact or even the point of these levels if they are ignored at the final count?

 

Cheers,

D.

 

I am aware that it borders on it. But its not really.

 

Your sins can be forgiven. If not, then yeah, the ultimate outcome is the same after death. But I'm not interested in discussing what happens after death.

 

OTOH, the ultimate outcome is the same if your sins are forgiven too. So, death is a moot point. No one can sin anymore once they are dead.

 

Thinking of sin as trespass of some sort. There are levels of trespass, are there not. There are sentencing guidelines based on criminal acts. Jail sentences are decided based on the type of crime. We have misdemeanors and felonies. I think sin can be ranked in much the same way, hence the different punishments based on the sin. Sin is sin. Crime is crime. But there is no one size/punishment fits all.

[Arise_Serpentor]

What you say and what you do are two totally different things!

It's silly and naive to think otherwise!!!

[disgracian]

What are the different punishments for differents sins? The only one I'm aware of in Christian mythology is Hell.

 

Cheers,

D.

[NoIDidn't]

What are the different punishments for differents sins? The only one I'm aware of in Christian mythology is Hell.

 

Cheers,

D.

 

 

You're still talking about after death. I'm talking about the consequences while living. I guess, this is more of an Old Testament review than a New Testament one.

 

For example, all those outrageous laws that are quoted in other threads to make Christianity, and for that matter Judaism, seem really sexist and outdated ( the cutting off of a wife's hands for trying to defend her husband, comes to mind). Getting your hand cut off, is not the same thing as being "stoned, outside the gates of the city". Being forced to marry the girl you raped, isn't the same as being forced to marry your rapist or stoned for not screaming if you were in fact raped.

 

There's that old adage about the punishment fitting the crime, I think you used it in the "unconditional love" thread. If a punishment fits the crime, then it stands to reason that there must be levels. To me, that is.

[disgracian]

To me also, it's important to remember that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. If we accept the premise that the universe is governed (and/or was created) by a just being, then this principle also has to hold true for morality as much as anything else.

 

Cheers,

D.

[underpants]

I see into the future far more then may be, at present necessary.

 

What was once "sin" is now "litigated", as that is more civilized.

 

The itch with that is that more and more lawsuits find a way to make the previously 'unreasonable' now somewhat reasonable and ultmately ...expected.

 

This is good for more things then none. As past previous "sins" have come to pass as ignorant prejudices as society deems them.

 

A few opportunist (rotten apples) do spoil the bunch here. IMO.

 

I'm all for worldwide anarchy. We (the world) are just not ready to meld our collective "sins" into tolerable, society driven accpetance mold.

 

It would be pretty sweet if we could.

[saraispiel19]

What you say and what you do are two totally different things!

 

..but isn't saying doing in the end?

[disgracian]

No, it isn't. People say and think things that they never end up doing all the time.

 

Cheers,

D.

[saraispiel19]

No, it isn't. People say and think things that they never end up doing all the time.

 

Cheers,

D.

 

 

yea but isn't saying something just as bad?

[disgracian]

As a general rule, no. While it would be ideal to never think bad thoughts or say bad things, it is still a heck of a lot better to acknowledge the very real difference between intention and deed, and exercise some self control.

 

The notion that the thought is equivalent to the act is, while interesting and certainly has a grain of truth to it (but only a grain), extremely suspect.

 

Cheers,

D.

[NoIDidn't]

We (the world) are just not ready to meld our collective "sins" into tolerable, society driven accpetance mold.

 

It would be pretty sweet if we could.

 

What a nice thread jack.

 

I love Science Fiction. Those wonderful utopian societies that are seen in them are just not possible when some people deem it a virtue to go against the grain in such grand and unnecessary ways. The classic "who made society right" mentality.

 

Society driven as in caring more about community than self, right?

[jcrew]

Erm, I may be taking the OP too literally, but sins can differ in the sense that some are mortal sins and some are venial sins. Mortal sins meaning that what you've done has caused you to turn your back on God, while venial sins are less damaging to the soul.

 

Not sure if that's too uber-Catholic of a response, but that was my first thought when I saw the thread title.

[NoIDidn't]

Erm, I may be taking the OP too literally, but sins can differ in the sense that some are mortal sins and some are venial sins. Mortal sins meaning that what you've done has caused you to turn your back on God, while venial sins are less damaging to the soul.

 

Not sure if that's too uber-Catholic of a response, but that was my first thought when I saw the thread title.

 

I agree. Not too Catholic either.

 

Its mostly what I am trying to say.

[FleshNBones]

There are two types of sin.

There are forgivable sins, and there are unforgiveable sins.

[Tony T]

There are two types of sin.

There are forgivable sins, and there are unforgiveable sins.

 

I don't think there are distinctions here. All are forgivable. To the extent that we forgive the wrongs of others is the degree that our own wrongdoings are forgiven and charmic debt is canceled. When you get older, people start doing many things to you that you once did to others as a younger person. You simply let it go...it's just a human thing. If you have lied to others then you have no choice but to forgive when you are lied to.

 

It's a mistake to categorize sins as some churches do. For instance, the Catholic church has venial sins and mortal sins. And there are subcategories as well. As long as we do our best to be good people and completely forgive others when they slip up, we are doing just fine. Unfortunately, many people are hypocrites and think they can do whatever they want and it's just fine but others can't be forgiven for doing the same thing.

 

"Let he who about us is without sin cast the first stone."

 

As a practical matter, it's not nearly as bad to take a Tootsie Roll from the corner store than it is to kill your neighbor. But both sins are totally forgivable, depending on who's doing the forgiving. And, here on earth, the forgiving part is completely for the benefit of the forgiver. Harboring anger and resentment is bad for the heart and will kill over time. Why give any act that kind of power.

 

As far as a deity may be concerned, forgiving is just a matter of routine. Man was made to be fallible and can screw up big and small. There are so many reasons these sins are committed and in the final analysis it's up to the man upstairs to decide what's a big deal and what's not.