Tired of being considered a sinner.

[Darren]

Since I am not an adherant to christianity, I am not a sinner. Christians steadily refer to non-christians as sinners, but we are not - indeed we could not be.
I think it is important to make the distinction, because I for one do not want to be judged by their twisted and impossible system of right and wrong. I think christians would do well to remember that non-christian = non-sinner.

[McCulloch]

Since I am not an adherant to christianity, I am not a sinner. Christians steadily refer to non-christians as sinners, but we are not - indeed we could not be.
I think it is important to make the distinction, because I for one do not want to be judged by their twisted and impossible system of right and wrong. I think christians would do well to remember that non-christian = non-sinner.

You have to realize that there is no single unambiguous unequivocal definition of sin.

If sin is a transgression of divine law, then it must be interpreted within the context of the various versions of divine law. Christians are all sinners according to the divine law claimed by Islam. Protestants are all sinners according to the divine law as believed by the Roman Catholics. Liberals are all sinners according to the divine law held sacred by the evangelicals and fundamentalists. No one is a sinner if you recognize no divine law.

This makes sin sound so relativistic where the promoters of religion would claim that morals are absolute. So then sin must be a transgression of the One True and Holy Divine Law unchangeable from the foundation of creation 4004 BCE, All Rights Reserved. As soon as the Theologians can agree among themselves just what that is, then we can discuss sin meaningfully.

[Darren]

You have to realize that there is no single unambiguous unequivocal definition of sin.

Perhaps I was a bit unclear. What I take issue with is the fact that christians, who are taught that all humans are sinners (original sin), think that I am a sinner. Since I follow no divine law, I cannot be a sinner. If I murder, rape and cheat on my taxes, I am still not a sinner. I may be a criminal, but not a sinner.
I hope that makes it more clear.

[Openmind]

Ah yes.

Unfortunately, Christians believe God's Law is not up for negotation. One cannot say "I don't accept it, it doesn't apply to me".

Christians believe that everyone, willing or not, is bound by the notion of sin and God's Law.

Ridiculous, I know, but in answer to your question, yes you are a sinner.

[Darren]

I know that is the current thought, but I am not bound by gods laws. In fact, he or she is bound by my laws.

[McCulloch]

Unfortunately, Christians believe God's Law is not up for negotiation. One cannot say "I don't accept it, it doesn't apply to me".

Christians believe that everyone, willing or not, is bound by the notion of sin and God's Law.

Ridiculous, I know, but in answer to your question, yes you are a sinner.

Unfortunately, Muslims believe Allah's Law is not up for negotiation. One cannot say "I don't accept it, it doesn't apply to me".

Muslims believe that everyone, willing or not, is bound by the notion of sin and Allah's Law.

Ridiculous, I know, but in answer to your question, yes you are a sinner.

Unfortunately, Pastafarians believe FSM's Law is not up for negotiation. One cannot say "I don't accept it, it doesn't apply to me".

Pastafarians believe that everyone, willing or not, is bound by the notion of sin and FSM's Law.

Ridiculous, I know, but in answer to your question, yes you are a sinner.

[MikeH]

Sin simply means less than perfect, so unless you claim that you are perfect, you are inevitably a sinner.

[Metatron]

Sin simply means less than perfect, so unless you claim that you are perfect, you are inevitably a sinner.

Not quite. A sin is a transgression against divine law. If I add 2 + 2 and get the answer of 5, I've proven that I'm not perfect but I have not broken divine law and therefore have not sinned. The imperfection has to have a moral component.

[MikeH]

Sin simply means less than perfect, so unless you claim that you are perfect, you are inevitably a sinner.

Not quite. A sin is a transgression against divine law. If I add 2 + 2 and get the answer of 5, I've proven that I'm not perfect but I have not broken divine law and therefore have not sinned. The imperfection has to have a moral component.

Ok, I'll update the definition to include a moral component. Even from a purely relativistic viewpoint, anybody who ever did something they considered wrong but did it anyways would be a sinner.

[Vanguard]

Ok, I'll update the definition to include a moral component. Even from a purely relativistic viewpoint, anybody who ever did something they considered wrong but did it anyways would be a sinner.

MikeH has nailed it on the head. I prefer to go one step further and say that we are all transgressors but are only sinners when we act against or in favor of an impulse that we believe we should or should not have done. That Darren does not recognize a God in no way frees him from not having to pay heed to the "moral compass" he's been given from that same "non-existent" entity.