Understanding Sin in Christianity

• Following Christ involves adhering to His Passion as "the Way, the Truth, and the Life," not just fulfilling norms.
• Morality, for Christians, is fulfilling God's plan for human perfection.
• Biblical understanding sees perfection as wholehearted service to God, selfless love of neighbor, and discipleship to Christ.
• Accepting sin's reality requires conversion, growth in grace, and life in the Spirit.

Reasons for Avoiding the Topic of Sin

• The word "sin" feels too personal for some.
• Past legalistic distinctions around sin are unappealing.
• There's a belief that humans are incapable of failure.

Definition of Sin

• Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience.
• It represents a failure in genuine love for God and neighbor due to attachment to certain goods.
• Sin directly opposes God.
• At the core of every sin lies a free, intentional human decision.
• Sin is evil intentionally committed, alienating the individual from God.

Concept of Sin in the Old Testament

• Sin is seen as a transgression of God's law and will.
• Disobedience against the Decalogue.
• Hatred towards God, with sinners seen as those who hate Yahweh.
• Forgetfulness of God and the covenant.
• Turning away from God and ingratitude.
• Adam and Eve's sin represents infidelity and wanting to be like God, breaking the relationship with God.
• Cain and Abel's story shows separation from God leading to separation from others.
• The tower of Babel illustrates how arrogance leads to confusion and alienation.
• Sin is a rupture of the covenant bond.
• Rejection of a vocation, a rebellion against the Lord who chose Israel.
• Ultimately leads to spiritual and physical death.

"Missing the Mark"

• Focuses on the offense inflicted on another by failing to meet obligations.

Depravity and Perversity

• Refers to the defect of character that weighs the sinner down.

Rebellion and Transgression

• Pictures sin as a choice destroying positive relationships.

Shifts in Emphasis on Sin in the Old Testament

• Stain or feeling unclean before God.
• Crime as a willful violation of Yahweh's covenant.
• Personal rejection of a love relationship.

Sin in the New Testament

• Sin is seen as an ungrateful desertion of the Lord.
• It is the antithesis of charity.
• St. Paul adds the concept of wickedness, denying God's glory.
• Sinners live in enmity against God.
• It's a desecration of one's own body.
• True justice resides in the inner person.
• Lack of belief is the most radical sin.
• Sin hurts the entire body of believers.
• Sin is lawlessness.
• Loving darkness rather than light.

Core Factors of Sin

• Pride
• Sensuality

Social Dimensions of Sin

• Sin affects human solidarity.
• Sin attacks human rights and freedom.
• Sin affects relationships among communities.
• Sinful structures are consequences of sinful choices.
• Responsibility for sins committed by others exists through direct participation, ordering, advising, or failing to disclose/hinder.

Mortal Sin

• A deliberate reversal of our option for God and others.
• Full knowledge, gravity, and deliberate consent are required.
• Destroys charity in the heart and represents a turning away from God.

Venial Sin

• A negligence in fulfilling God's will.
• Weakens charity.
• Deprives us of our friendship with God.

Conversion

• An ongoing process of transformation.
• Conversion implies total reconciliation.
• Requires sacrifice and effort.
• Demands humble admission of sin, readiness for renewal, openness to grace, and sacramental enactment.

Metanoia

• Not only turning away from sin, but turning back to God.

Three Levels of Temptation

• Invitation
• Enticement
• Seduction

Four Traps of Temptation

• Attention
• Attraction
• Attachment
• Addiction

Three Lower Consciousness Centers in Sin

• Pleasure center
• Power center
• Security center

Punishment of Sin

• Separation from God is the consequence of sin.

Sex

• Refers to biological and physical characteristics that define humans and other animals.
• Includes sexual activity/intercourse.

Sexuality

• A person's identity related to gender(s) to which they are attracted.
• More complex, includes orientation (heterosexual, homosexual, etc.), behavior, emotional connections, and social roles.

Sexuality and Integrity

• Human sexuality is associated with manhood and womanhood.
• Sexuality cannot be separated publicly and privately from one's attitudes.
• Expression of sexuality must be freely chosen.

Aspects of Sex and Sexuality

• The public aspect is concerned with the overt effects of sex on others.
• The private aspect is concerned with sexual relations between consenting adults.

Manifestations of the Nature/Purpose of Sexuality

• Pleasure and satisfaction
• Procreation and multiplication
• Expression of love and commitment
• Expression of friendship.

Research Findings on Sexuality

• Sexuality as practiced doesn't adhere to societal moral pronouncements.
• Limited and unsatisfying relationships due to societal taboos.
• Sexuality is extremely important to human living and relationships.
• Sexuality is a way of "becoming" of a man or a woman.
• Moral challenge is the integration of sexuality.
• Lack of integration leads to personality problems.

Church Teachings on Sex

• Sex is sacred.
• Meant for procreation and marital unity.
• Premarital sex and cohabitation are opposed.
• Artificial birth control is sinful; natural family planning is allowed.
• Marriage is indissoluble.
• The church opposes premarital sex and cohabitation
• Divorce and remarriage without annulment are not permitted.

Forbidden Sexual Activities

• Premarital sex
• Adultery
• Homosexual acts
• Pornography and masturbation
• Contraception
• Church views sex as centered on morality, love, and respect for human dignity.