"Sin"- religions-straw-man.    Written by - Lilly Black

http://new.exchristian.net/2013/04/sin-religions-straw-man.html

In Christianity (and other religions), sin is a huge problem. It forms the backbone of the entire belief system. We have sinned, and thus need a savior of some kind to save us from our sin and the punishment for it. People who follow that belief must overcome "sin" with the help of the deity. Without this sin, there is no need for the deity or the religion.

It's a straw man: It creates a problem that doesn't exist so that we need a deity with a solution that is not needed. Sounds a lot like politics, actually. We are saved from a problem that does not exist, and thus we think we are free- even if we have actually been bogged down with more restrictions.

When I was a missionary in Scotland, we took classes on evangelism so we could witness on the street. One thing we learned was that "The cure is worthless until people understand the disease." Before we talked about the "gift of salvation", we had to make people understand that they were sinners, otherwise they wouldn't want Jesus. We would ask people if they considered themselves a good person. If they did, we would take people them the 10 Commandments to show that they were indeed NOT a good person after all, in god's eyes. Then we would explain the cross and how Jesus came to save us.

Without sin, this whole belief falls apart. There is no need for god, no need for hell.

I no longer believe in sin. And honestly, I have never felt more free in my life. I once thought Jesus set me free, but in reality I was just being brought into a system where most of the things I wanted to do were wrong. I no longer have to worry for my "unsaved" friends because there's nothing for them to be saved from, they are wonderful just as they are. I can be happy for my gay friend's marriage, and I don't need to witness to people in the attempt to make them like me.

I can have friends that are not "projects": people to be eventually won to god through "friendship". I don't have to hand out gospel tracks on the streets or feel guilty for being bored during long sermons. I can watch Game of Thrones, listen to Lady Gaga and Adam Lambert, read romance novels, and love every minute of it. Atheists don't threaten me, and I no longer shy away from logic or science.

I am truly free- and I love it!

5 comments:

Chatpilot said...

I actually have a post on my blog about how sin is imaginary. The definition of sin is anything that goes against or offends God. Since God does not exist then sin is in fact an imaginary problem.

You can read about my view on original sin and the fall of man here http://chatpilot-godisamyth.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-doctrine-of-original-sin.html if you haven't done so already.

Great post Steven, it is direct and to the point. Keep up the good work my friend.

Steven Bently said...

Thanks Chat My Friend, I found this on exchristian, it came across to me as profound especially from someone I had never heard of before, Lilly Black, I still enjoy reading your blog, please don't get discouraged like me, but I believe religions are winning and I've been somewhat depressed about it, especially the power it has over the human psyche.

Chatpilot said...

There's nothing to be discouraged about my friend. Maybe you should change your focus. My blog is more about helping other atheists who have not experienced religious fundamentalism to understand it. And to help theists who want to find information on getting out. I share my experiences and how hard it was for me to get out.

I don't ever think that Christianity will go away for several reasons. The main reason is culture. It has been my experience that Hispanics and Blacks are raised in societies where Christianity takes precedence as a basic belief.

As long as there are gullible people in the world there will be religions to accommodate their ignorance. The psychological crutch will continue to prop up those to whom reality is too much to bear.

Steven Bently said...

"The psychological crutch will continue to prop up those to whom reality is too much to bear."

I wonder about that, I find reality to be the experience of life itself, not what I expect it to be, nor what I wish for it to be because I have never believed in wishing and hoping for things to come, that's like a bottomless pit of self-defeatism, which xtianity is based on.

Chatpilot said...

False hopes in the ridiculous beliefs that some dead man will come back in the future and take them to what they believe would be a better life of eternal bliss.

This magnificent pile of shit destroyed by the god of lightning!!!

This magnificent pile of shit destroyed by the god of lightning!!!
Big Butter Jesus, Destroyed!! In the twinkling of an eye....LOL

Divine Justice?

Divine Justice?
Jebus is in hell...!

This eyesore off of I-75 in Ohio finally gone, Praise Tha Friggin Lord...LOL

This eyesore off of I-75 in Ohio finally gone, Praise Tha Friggin Lord...LOL
Ahh... that looks much better! Thank You!, Thank You!, Jeebus!..LOL