Admitting You're a Sinner

[SteveII]

Christians do not think "that we are all evil and have no moral compass". That's a straw man argument. In fact it's the opposite. There is an entire natural theology argument that starts with the premise that everyone believes in moral truths. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxiAikEk2vU&t=9s

That's fine Steve, and I accept than many Christians are on board with you. But, anecdotally I have met Christians that say they have no moral compass unless corrected by the atoning blood of Christ.

I wasn't trying to present a straw-man, but it is difficult for those of us outside to recognise what is true to your beliefs when their is little homogeny.

My main problem is that sin is an inconsistent idea, whilst evolutionary behaviour and aberrant behaviours can be explained naturally, albeit imperfectly.

Sin is a religious construct to me. Actions are available to moral interpretation without any God required.

I would agree that sin is a religious term describing a religious concept within a religious worldview. If you do not adhere to that worldview, generally speaking, there is no sense describing behavior with such terms. However, there is nothing logically wrong with me calling your (or anyone's) moral shortcomings 'sin'. Most atheists will bristle at such a thing. However, it is entirely consistent that I would interpret any human's actions through the lens of my worldview. The complaint at this point is that Christian's 'judge' others but what is really happening is that Christians are using a different measuring stick coupled with a foundational belief in the spiritual effects of sin. Like I said before: worlds apart. 

It is necessary to understand these doctrines or atheists and Christians will just keep talking past each other.

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.. the real doctrine is not about 'our method/definition of morality is better because it's God's instructions from the Bible', it is about addressing and solving  the cosmic consequences of sin.

Wow, you really think the actual harm we do one another is secondary to "cosmic consequences"?  Oh yeah, you mean pie in the sky afterlife rewards vs dum-te-dum-dum hell.  

Another way xtianity warps morality is the honus it puts on them to be morally exceptional, as if morality should be an all consuming pursuit of the highest scores possible.  That's no way for people to live.  Rather than lift people up, that makes them less than they could be.  Of course, the fact that getting 'saved' is said to come from grace rather than acts and the ready availability of death bed confessions pretty much guarantees that the prisons will be stocked with at least their share of malcontents.  It is pretty apparent that the avoidance of cruelty and indifference in and of it self doesn't play a very big role in the lives xtians lead; how we treat each other is just for score keeping for the sake of "cosmic consequences" for your lot.

Thank you for being Exhibit A in my point above.