What is 'sin'?
Sin is any deliberate or accidental thought, word or deed that goes against God or breaks God's laws.
The official definition of sin, from the Catechism is:
'Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as "an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law.
Sin is an offense against God: "Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight." Sin sets itself against God's love for us and turns our hearts away from it. Like the first sin, it is disobedience, a revolt against God through the will to become "like gods," knowing and determining good and evil. Sin is thus "love of oneself even to contempt of God." In this proud self- exaltation, sin is diametrically opposed to the obedience of Jesus, which achieves our salvation.' (Catechism 1845-1850)
Sin weakens, or even destroys the gift of charity (mercy). Mortal sin completely destroys charity, therefore destroying a person's relationship with God, while venial sin weakens charity, weakening your relationship with God.
The official definition of sin, from the Catechism is:
'Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as "an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law.
Sin is an offense against God: "Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight." Sin sets itself against God's love for us and turns our hearts away from it. Like the first sin, it is disobedience, a revolt against God through the will to become "like gods," knowing and determining good and evil. Sin is thus "love of oneself even to contempt of God." In this proud self- exaltation, sin is diametrically opposed to the obedience of Jesus, which achieves our salvation.' (Catechism 1845-1850)
Sin weakens, or even destroys the gift of charity (mercy). Mortal sin completely destroys charity, therefore destroying a person's relationship with God, while venial sin weakens charity, weakening your relationship with God.
Three conditions for sin
We can determine whether our action was a sin by asking ourselves three simple questions. It is important to answer these honestly.
1) was the thought or action against God's law?
2) did I know that it was against a law of God?
3) did I freely choose to go against God's law? (did I do the action deliberately? )
1) was the thought or action against God's law?
2) did I know that it was against a law of God?
3) did I freely choose to go against God's law? (did I do the action deliberately? )
Deliberate and Unintentional Sin
Deliberate sin is knowing that a thought, word or deed is against the law of God, but still carrying it out. It is doing something against God on purpose. The term full knowledge means doing something wrong, but it is not classified as a sin. Things that are full knowledge include human sacrifice in religion - it breaks the 5th Commandment and is morally wrong, but it is not classified as a sin because the people did not know any better. Another example is slavery. Slavery is wrong and also breaks the 5th Commandment, but the people did not know this, so it is not a sin. To avoid doing wrong, it is a good idea to learn about God's laws so you don't do wrong or sin.
Genuine ignorance is the failure to find out if an action is wrong or carelessness.
Consent is committing a sin without consent from yourself to do it. If this happens, it is not classified as a sin. Examples of this include a person who is forced to commit a robbery because a gun is held against their head and taking another person's property without realising it. A person has sinned, however, if they break one of God's laws while drunk, go into a situation in which they know others will face them to break a law of God, or take drugs knowingly and breaks a law while under the influence of drugs.
Genuine ignorance is the failure to find out if an action is wrong or carelessness.
Consent is committing a sin without consent from yourself to do it. If this happens, it is not classified as a sin. Examples of this include a person who is forced to commit a robbery because a gun is held against their head and taking another person's property without realising it. A person has sinned, however, if they break one of God's laws while drunk, go into a situation in which they know others will face them to break a law of God, or take drugs knowingly and breaks a law while under the influence of drugs.