The stupidity of sin

[robvalue]

@Rob Value

I actually went to a Christian university for a graduate program in conflict resolution and reconciliation. Now, the main understanding that I gained throughout my studies was that Christianity is based in peace, acceptance, and mutual understanding.  In particular, I-Thou and I-It relationships, conceptions of Martin Buber, were highly emphasized and linked to the peacemaking concepts in our courses.  In a nutshell, in I-Thou relationships, people embrace tolerance, mutual respect, acceptance, and understanding and regard one another as unique ends in themselves, and from a religious perspective, this is because everyone is interconnected to a greater reality of love (God); therefore, establishing I-Thou relationships is a way to put this love or God's love into practice.  On the other hand, in I-It relationships, people treat others as objects to serve their own ends.  Regarding Christianity, I-It relations can cause its practitioners to impose their personal truth and normalcy onto their faith and onto others, which can result in fear, dehumanization, hostility, and disconnection; thus, contradicting the principles of peace, love, humanness, and connection espoused by Christianity.

Now, I have mentioned these ideas for the following reason: would you say that the concept of sin is a product of I-IT relations?  Do you think Christianity would be more effective if its practitioners behaved in an I-Thou manner? Thanks for your time and attention, sir. 


References

Buber, Martin.  I and Thou.  Simon & Schuster: New York, 1970.

I've read your post again more carefully

I agree that sin does indeed sound like I-IT. It is imposing rules on others under assumed authority. It's like a dictatorship, where the leader is unseen. If it was entirely a personal thing, that would be different, but it's almost always used to judge others in my experience.

I think Christianity would certainly be better as in more moral if it used I-Thou more. I don't think it would be as effective regarding surviving as an institution. It's built on fear tactics and indoctrination mainly, as far as I'm concerned. Both are very much I-IT, and are in line with the bible. Any sort of I-Thou reading of the bible requires so much editing that you might as well just forget about being Christian and draw inspiration from certain parts of the bible you find appealing instead.

That's my take!