Christianity is Not About God/Jesus, It's About Sin


On my bookshelf is one I've discussed here many times, "God is Not One." The author, a professor of religion, summarizes what ordinary worshippers in the major religions think their religion is about. That is, he ignores arguments from books and seminaries. Christianity, he says, is about one thing, sin. That is the topic churchgoers worry about and talk about. A commenter used to argue with me saying no, the faith is about forgiveness. That's ridiculous. There is no forgiveness if there is no sin. Everything in Christianity starts with sin.

Today sin was highlighted by a Christian columnist. Eve sinned when she ate the apple. Both Adam and Eve were ashamed of their sinful appearance, naked. They tried to cover up their sinful bodies with leaves but God said no, that's not even cover. Here are proper garments to wear so you don't have to offend me with your sinful naked bodies. Jesus' clothes were removed so his death could be linked with the sin of nakedness. 

Sin is connected to nakedness everywhere. Mormons not only put the hammer down on too much skin showing but require a certain kind of underwear so skin is double covered. Catholics have a version of this with covering women's hair in church. There are so many experts on sin. 

There is an endless stream of Christians on Christian sites condemning abortion. There is another endless stream about the sin homosexuality. Each of these groups has to stretch to find passages in the Bible justifying their dislike. It's easier to just call them "sins." Most every Christian latches onto sin, no clear Bible business needed. 

I wish pollsters would do more polling on sin and less on imprecise questions like "Do you believe in God?" There are huge numbers of Christians who say if someone does not think abortion is murder that person is not a Christian. Same with gay marriage. At any moment, the percentage of people who believe abortion and gay sex is sin is the best index of what percentage is "Christian." Asking someone, are you "Christian" does not tell us nearly as much as "What is a sin?" 


 

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