Are some sins unforgivable?

[Soph0571]

Within a theological and biblical context, God can and will forgive all sins, other than blasphemy. Within a religious context we are all in the same boat when it comes to sin and all sins can be forgiven, however this is very different when we look at it in human terms. One might ask, does a belief in God’s forgiveness take power and control for forgiveness away from the victim?

Of course, it seems inevitable that any examination of sin and forgiveness gets wrapped up in a religious context. One might suggest that when religion came along man looked left, looked right and decided what seemed right and what seemed wrong and codified these behaviours and labelled them either sins or moral behaviour. If we take sin and remove it from a religious framework, we can all recognise that there can be some transgressions on societies, social groups or individuals that are hugely problematic in terms of forgiveness, as the perpetrator of the transgression does not show any insight or understanding of what happened. If one does now own their transgressions can you forgive them? After all, if they do not wish to accept your forgiveness, as they do not feel they have done anything wrong, what happens to the forgiveness?

If we take God out of the forgiveness equation then the only person necessary to do the forgiving is the victim of the sinful behaviour. Is there any sin that is too big to forgive? Probably not. We cannot tell people NOT to forgive. On the other side of the coin, of course, is that there is no obligation to forgive either, that is the victims decision.

To forgive, or not to forgive, that is the question.

[vlyons]

1. Buddhism doesn't teach original sin

On the contrary, Buddhism teaches that all sentient beings have a "Buddha-nature," but is obscured from us my confusion and delusion. We certainly have an ethical code. We teach that compassion and forgiveness are virtuous.

[MineralMan]

2. I imagine that's an individual thing, really.

People's ability to forgive varies, I think.

[Voltaire2]

3. It is just plain goofy that the only

misbehavior the Christian tooth fairy can’t forgive is not believing in the tooth fairy.

Seems petulant and egotistical to me.

[Igel]

7. For most hierarchies, that's the case.

The one unforgiveable wrong is denying the legitimacy of the organization and working against it.

Sedition and treason, in other words.

You want to find an idol, find the person, group, or organization that cannot be insulted without triggering an immediate reaction founded not on the claims but on the very idea that somebody is daring to insult that idol, person, group, or organization.

It's usually met with expulsion from the group.

[in2herbs]

4. IMO forgiveness is about how the victim of the transgression responds to the event

and does not involve any emotion toward the perpetrator of the transgression. It is difficult to accomplish, but when positive lessons are learned from negative experiences new perspectives are achieved that changes one’s life in a positive way. This change can’t be achieved if you wait for the perpetrator to apologize for the transgression s/he committed against you. When you can forgive your transgressor without feeling any need to understand why the transgressor did what s/he did, you will free yourself of any negative feelings towards the transgressor, and in turn, free yourself of anger and hate, and restore your ability to love. IMO because some transgressions are extremely painful this act of forgiveness may take many lifetimes, hence reincarnation.

[Mariana]

5. It's interesting that the one unforgivable sin, blasphemy

is one that has no victim. Several other thoughts are classified as sins, even if there is no action and no harm to anyone.

On the other hand, Jesus is supposed to have led a sinless life. Yet, the story describes how he violently attacked the money changers at the temple, drove the animals out into the street, and vandalized the place. If someone did that today, he would rightly land in jail with a stack of charges against him.

It's all very confusing.

[Igel]

8. The OP got it a bit wrong.

For most Xians, you can call God a dick and evil and that's forgivable.

What can't be forgiven is specifically "blasphemy against the holy spirit", which is considered the power that God provides (or the person, if you're trinitarian) that helps us to overcome. It denies not God's goodness, but his power and ability to fix what's broken in you.

(For many Xians it's not an issue, because "God didn't make junk" and many Xians already consider themselves perfect, except for the occasional butt pimple. They'd sent the apostles and Jesus off to the church psychologist--yes, larger more liberal churches often have trained psychologists on staff.)


"Sinless" does not mean "non-violent" or "pacifist" any more than we obligatorily charge LEOs who cuff somebody with assault and battery or ambulance drivers with reckless driving.

[Major Nikon]

14. Eventually Jesus was tried and convicted

Ironically several of the charges involved blasphemy.

[Ferrets are Cool]

6. Yes

Voting for tRump.

[NeoGreen]

9. That is a question for christians, and since...

...noboby has provided a universal definition of what constitutes a christian, it is an unanswerable question.

'Sin' is a made up concept, another bad idea proffered by religion where we already have sufficient secular terminology such as crime and law.

[MineralMan]

10. And then there's "Original Sin," which you are born with.

A guy can't get a break...

[Voltaire2]

11. Luckily it washes off during a simple exorcism.

[MineralMan]

13. I thought circumcision got rid of it.

What do I know?

[Act_of_Reparation]

12. There's no such thing as sin.

The only laws down here are the ones we make for ourselves. No divine law, no sin.