When we ascribe evil to the supernatural, we feel a tad safer watching from the natural side of the TV screen. What such TV treatments typically do is confuse the split between the natural and the supernatural with the split between good and evil. Evil also garners a theological interpretation by Kate O”Hare. Evil even garners it’s own television series.

“It was hard to hear the gospel as good news when most sermons centered on sin and hell.” Even if the topic of sin is unpopular, I find that we simply cannot understand human nature without the concept of sin. “Memories of church from my youth summon up feelings of fear and shame,” complains Philip Yancey. Daniel Fincke says “sin is a morally bankrupt and and biologically backward concept.” In contrast to Fincke, I believe the concept of sin is one of the brightest lights the public theologian can shine into the darkness of racism, jingoism, family abuse, and our daily fare of maligning rhetoric.Įven so, sin-talk can itself be toxic. (Painting by Heteronomous Bosch)Īs you undoubtedly know, sin is not popular. Oh no! Not more on sin! Yes, it’s sin again. We cough, lie, and sin only in the name of the good. If our conscience absorbs sin, we cough and then tell a lie. If our bronchioles absorb polluted air, we cough.

Just as our lungs are programmed to inhale oxygen at all cost, you and I inhale the good at all cost.

Sins of new eden