Excerpt from “Understanding Sin Today” by Richard M. Gula, SS

- Sin: to be disconnected from God through the failure to love.

In the Past: SIN

understood for centuries as being a crime, a transgression of the law and the breaking of a rule. (legal model of sin)

In the Past: SIN

But laws cannot cover all the decisions we have to make - it doesn’t address our attitudes, intentions, and ways of seeing things.

In the Past: SIN

Centered on one’s self. Sin affects me and my salvation.

Leaves out conversion: a change of heart with the intention of following God more faithfully.

Sin’s “New Look”

Responsibility replaces obligation

Dignity of person emphasized

Relational Model: Value of sharing life in society

Sin’s Root Sense

To be disconnected from God by a failure to love

An omission: a failure to do what ought to be done.

Sin’s Root Sense

Loving choices are selfless and based on the needs of others

Sin’s Root Sense

Because loving God & loving neighbor are “all tied together” sin will always be expressed in & through relationships.

“Types of Sin”

Original Sin

Social Sin

Actual SinMortal Venial

Doctrine of Original Sin

There is more evil in the world than that which we cause ourselves.

The face of sin which we recognize as the condition of evil into which we are born.

Doctrine of Original Sin

A condition of being human that makes us feel as if our freedom were bound by chains from the very beginning

We feel the effects of this evil in the pull towards selfishness which alienates us from our deepest selves, from others, from God.

Doctrine of Original Sin

Because of original sin, we will always know struggle & tragedy as part of our lives.

Social Sin: A Life of Its Own

Human-made structures that offend human dignity by causing people to suffer oppression, exploitation or marginalization

A Life of Their Own

Once established, social structures

& systems seem

to take on a life

of their own.

We learn to live in a world with social structures & presume that the social customs which they hold in place are good, traditional customs.

This is What Makes Social Sin So Difficult to Recognize & Change

Conversion from social sin: change own lifestyle,

in word & actionexamining regulations

that affect

human dignity

Actual SinWe All Know It - Personal Sin

An expression of the person in relationship, not simply as disobedience to the law

2 Kinds: Mortal & Venial

Mortal sin: Radical NO to God & Others

Serious break in a relationship of love with God, neighbor, world, & self

Refusal to live in positive, life-giving way

3 Conditions of Mortal Sin

1 pertains to the actionSerious matter

2 pertain to the personSufficient reflection

Full consent of the will

Venial sin: Failing to Show Care for Others

Immoral acts of less importance than mortal sins

Can weigh us down with “the anchor of bad habits”

Submerged in self-interestInconsistent with value

to be for life & love

God is Merciful

God does not want us to be weighed down with a distorted sense of guilt & responsibility.

We are called to participate more fully in the creative power of God calling us to reconciliation, to reconnect with our best selves, with others, with the world & with God.

Sacrament of Penance & Reconciliation

opportunity & invitation to heal the brokenness in our lives & set our relationships right

DEFINITIONS

Obligation: a dutyVocation: a calling to serve God;

purpose in lifeChurch: the people of God; followers

of Jesus across time & spaceDecalogue:

“10 Words” – 10 Commandments

DEFINITIONS

Covenant: a formal agreement between God & the people, with mutual responsibilities

Conversion: a change of heart with the intention of following God more faithfully

SPELLING

actual conversion covenant Decalogue dialogue merciful mortal

SPELLING

obligation omissionoriginal penance pilgrimagereconciliation

relativismsacrament sinsocialvenialvocation

Ch. 2 Test - Morality

Matching T/F Multiple Choice

1. 6. 11. 15. 21.

2. 7. 12. 16. 22.

3. 8. 13. 17. 23.

4. 9. 14. 18. 24.

5. 10. 19. 25.

20.

Sentence Structure

Always being there for them.