Sin and Evil?
I received an email today titled “Beware of Oprah”. Apparently she is working with Marianne Willamson to bring a radio show together for a New Age course called “A Course in Miracles”.
I’m not sure what it’s all about and I’m not sure I care. What interested me is that the author of the email claims that the course encourages people to believe that there is no sin or evil. It seems that I have heard this point of view frequently these days.
I believe an open consideration of ideas is the best way to improve our minds and faith. So I’m wondering what you think. What do you think sin and evil is? Do you believe there is sin? Do you believe there is evil? Why do you think what you think?
P.S. Leavin for MN in the morning. Please pray.
Published by angelawd on January 30th, 2008 tagged What Do You Think?
January 30th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
I love solipsist claims like “there is no sin or evil.” I have no other way to define evil than that which damages other people. There is almost nothing we can do that does not affect others on earth, and the things that have typically been labeled “sins” are things that hurt others. No matter what their source, those sorts of rules help society run better.
Also, those emails seem to come from people who don’t have all the information.
January 30th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Whoa, Sarah, I actually had to look up solipsist…thanks for adding to my vocab!
For the rest of the class, Wikipedia says, “Solipsism (Latin: solus, alone + ipse, self) is the philosophical idea that “My mind is the only thing that I know exists.” Solipsism is an epistemological or metaphysical position that knowledge of anything outside the mind is unjustified.” I think this translates into “What I know is the only reality I can believe in.” Sarah, PLEASE correct me if I’ve misunderstood.
I totally agree about “those emails”. I don’t have all the information about the radio show or the course, either. What’s more interesting to me is whether people believe in things like sin and evil. And why they believe what they believe.
January 30th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Ooh, maybe this is the definition you meant (from Dictionary.com):
sol·ip·sism /?s?l?p?s?z?m/ 2. extreme preoccupation with and indulgence of one’s feelings, desires, etc.; egoistic self-absorption.
I didn’t know the word for that concept that I see so often. Thank you for that!
January 30th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Sure I believe there is sin, and I believe there is evil as well. I’m not a theologin, but my belief of evil comes from the understanding that it comes from satan (a whole other post, eh). When I allow myself to stray from what I know is God’s will for my life, then that’s satan, who is evil, and my allowing it is a sin. I do it all the time.
Pshh…I almost give up on myself sometimes, but then I think about people like my sister who have gone before me. I think about the catching up we’re going to be doing one day and I think about the life I’d be proud to tell her I led. It’s not a very theological point of view, but it’s the best I have. xoxo
PS–praying.
February 2nd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Wow. What a little question for such a big topic!
I do believe in sin. And I believe that evil does indeed exist - could there be another reason why humanity commits such terrible crime against humanity?
I watched Evan Almighty the other night with my girls. While it is not the best example of a fine film (HAHAHA), it was perfectly family friendly.
The thing that I took away from the movie was this:
This is the scene: God (Morgan Freeman) is talking about prayer and answering prayer. He is talking to Evan’s wife (who’s name I don’t remember. She’s the mom in Gilmore Girls.) about prayer - he says something to this effect: When you pray for a happy family, God doesn’t give you a happy family. Instead, He gives you the opportunity to create a happy family. Likewise, when you pray for peace, God doesn’t give you peace. Instead, He gives you the opportunity to find peace.
I think that it is that choice - that opportunity to choose happiness or peace - the original sin, if you will - that opens the door for sin and evil. We simple humans have to make a choice. I know that God is waiting for us to make the best choice that we can - and I know that God does not want us to dance with Sin and Evil. They are not good dates!
Do I think evil leads to sin? No, I believe that I sin because I am human. I also believe that as a child of God, I will be forgiven if I seek forgiveness.
Do I think that means I can run amok and swim in evil and create sin in my wake because all I have to do is ask to be forgiven? No. I think it is important to live by example. Sharing my faith with others by the life I lead and the choices that I make while living that life.
I don’t think that I will ever intentionally choose to revel in the temptations of evil, but I know that I have dipped my toe in that well. I’m sure many have - sex, drugs, lies. I don’t have the power to put an end to sin and evil - that’s why I await the second coming of Christ - but I do have the responsibility to behave in a way that I am proud of.
I have the opportunity to choose happiness and peace.
February 2nd, 2008 at 12:38 pm
OK, I left another comment on your last post - but email me if you need anything. We’re in St.Paul - don’t know where you’re headed, but sometimes just knowing there is a friend around when family is the destination helps…
also, I noticed your ticker - you go!!! I’ll meet you there.
February 9th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Your only problem with the belief in sin is going to come when you ask “what the hell is it for?” To keep you afraid of God, sure but to a reasonable mind that doesn’t make any sense. Why would you want to be afraid of the Source of all creation?
A Course In Miracles doesn’t say there is no sin and evil. It says if you think there is then God doesn’t know about it because He creates only the perfect and the eternal. So if you think sin and evil are real ( and I know you do) then you need to look in your own mind and ask why. Here is Jesus from A Course In Miracles;
“All the separated ones have a basic fear of retaliation and abandonment. This is because they BELIEVE in attack and rejection, so this is what they perceive and teach and LEARN. These insane concepts are clearly the result of their own dissociation and projection. What you teach you are, but it is quite apparent that you can teach wrongly, and therefore TEACH YOURSELVES WRONG. Many thought that I was attacking them, even though it is quite apparent that I was NOT. An insane learner learns strange lessons.”
God Bless
February 9th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Oh, P.S. I wanted to add, just for the record, Oprah doesn’t teach A Course In Miracles.
February 11th, 2008 at 7:37 am
“Your only problem with the belief in sin is going to come when you ask “what the hell is it for?”’ Tony, what a peculiar question. Sin is one result of our free will.
I know that, unfortunately, there are a lot of churches that teach us to be afraid of the judgement of God, but the bible says that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.
My sinfulness, when I exercise my free will and go my own way, points out ever more clearly to my need for God. It doesn’t frighten me away from God. However, the quote that you gave talked about the “separated ones”, and I know I am not separated from God.
By the way, I tried to make it clear in my post that I wasn’t representing the content of A Course in Miracles; I was only the using email I received as a jumping-off point into a discussion on sin and evil. I also didn’t say that Oprah was teaching the course; sorry if that wasn’t completely clear.