Saturday 19th August

We are in the Twenty-first Century for Christ’s sake (no joke intended).  The whole idea of ‘sin’ should be consigned to the dustbin of History.  Yes, there are criminals out there – many, incidentally, in the City of London, happily laundering money, taking the profit and asking no questions.  But what exactly was a ‘Sin’?  It was inextricably linked with Religion and Obediance to some Almighty God, who frowned on the wayward ways of mankind (mind you – he was supposed to have made us in his image, some image…).   And still Christians often begin their prayers with the words “Forgive me Father, for I have sinned.”  – and this is the daft bit, even if they haven’t.  The whole concept is that we are so imperfect that we have already ‘sinned’, even though we didn’t do it consciously, can’t remember specifically what we did wrong, but he is a wrathful God who must be appeased (human sacrifices disallowed– so we bow our heads and ask forgiveness for our sins.  Or does it all go back to the Garden of Eden?  The Original Sin of Eve?  Sexual guilt.  A woman actually wanting and instigating sex?  My, that apple tasted good, pips, core and all.  But ever since we have had to say sorry and that we have sinned.

Well.  I believe in laws passed by men – imperfect as they may be.  And when a crime is committed it is dealt with.  It is called a crime, not a sin.

So, let’s throw the whole concept of sins in the ‘sinbin’ – all seven, ancient and modern.  Let us grow up and be humans, imperfect – yes, sometimes breaking the law, yes – but sinners?  Sorry, but I don’t buy that one anymore.