Sin and holiness

Abstract

Sin seems to be quite a serious topic, particularly for Christians. But no one who reflects on sin is indifferent to it. Even advertisements indicate this. Perhaps you might have seen an ad which goes something like: 'Drink Maxwell Coffee - It Tastes So Good It's Sinful'. Today when belief is undergoing an enormous amount of critical inspection, the notion of sin, like most doctrines of faith, has come under severe re-examination. Hence a thorough re-thinking of the concept of sin has become one of the most urgent concerns of moral theology and such related human sciences' as psychology and sociology. But sin is a negation, and a negation has meaning only in relation to the positive it negates. Thus any discussion of sin would be lacking and perhaps even depressing unless it is considered in the context of grace which redeems and saves. In other words, it makes little sense to speak of sin without remembering man's call to holiness. The concern to discern the ferments of good and evil within modern man has long caused many people to direct at him and his environment a questioning gaze. It is the gaze of historians and sociologists, theologians and psychologists but above all of pastors. However, as a psychologist vitally interested in spirituality, I would like, in this article, to consider the theme of sin and holiness from a psycho-theological perspective. Discernment of the particular sins requires a full study of the corresponding virtues themselves. Therefore while looking at the question of sin in general, we shall also explore as Christians, what we are called by God to be and to become.