Spiritual Speculation Space

Sin

March 12, 2025

Discussion Questions

These questions are just to help get the discussion going. They do not need to be discussed in order and conversation outside of the bounds of these questions is welcome.

Apart from formal definitions, how would you personally define "sin"?
Do you think of sin as a personal thing primarily affecting individuals or close relationships, or as a larger phenomenon that has an effect on society? Do you draw a line between personal moral decisions and group injustices? Have we sinned by participating in common societal behaviours that may contribute to injustices (buying clothing that might be made in a sweat shop, air travel in a rapidly changing climate)? Is it possible to avoid these sorts of injustices? If you can't avoid them, how does that shape your view of what it is to be human, and of culpability and atonement for sin?
What causes the vast majority of people across all cultures to agree on some things being immoral (ex. murder) while disagreeing on other things (ex. eating meat)?
On balance, are feelings of guilt or shame helpful or harmful?
There are a variety of perspectives on the idea of "Jesus dying for our sins." Do you have a perspective on this idea? If you have a Christian worldview, do you hold to a specific atonement theology? The Apostle Paul writes extensively about sin and atonement (see Romans 3:9-6:20 for example). What do you make of Paul's views?
What are your thoughts on the interaction Jesus has with the woman about to be subjected to capital punishment in the John 8 passage below?
Have you ever participated in any informal or formal reconciliatory practices related to something you define as sin? (an apology conversation, Catholic confession, carbon-offset donations, Ash Wednesday services, etc).
What is the relationship between privilege, power and sin? Does the Isaiah 10 passage below inform your thoughts on the political era we are currently in? Why are right-wing evangelicals so focussed on a very specific list of culture-war-defined personal sins, but seemingly oblivious to or even supportive of the sort of sin this Isaiah passage is casting judgement on?

Discussion Background Materials

Material listed here is intended to enhance discussion. The inclusion of these materials is not an endorsement of their authors or the organizations publishing them. We encourage you to fact check any claims made in these materials.

John 8 (RSVUE): 1 while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and began to teach them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and, making her stand before all of them, 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. 5 Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, sir.”[a] And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”

Isaiah 10 (RSVUE): 1 Woe to those who make iniquitous decrees,
who write oppressive statutes,
2 to turn aside the needy from justice
and to rob the poor of my people of their right,
to make widows their spoil
and to plunder orphans!.