Sinning, as Jesus and the church say, is good. Turn or burn Christians.

[Sal]

Interesting.

If sin is used in that manner, that is as divorced from Christian theology's 'sin' as to put it on another planet, orbiting a different star, in another galaxy, at the other end of the Cosmos.

I acknowledge the term 'sin' in Gnostic Christianity then.

I usually use an analog of a particular instance from the opposite of compassion. I.e. acts of harm where they aren't warranted, while distinct from malevolence. In essence, an immoral act.

However, 'sin' used in this way is still an anthropomorphism, IMO. A quite useful one, though.

As an esoteric ecumenists, I have learned to keep my definitions wide as that makes it easier for me to see and use analogies. To sin or do evil is a rather clear analogy.

I do see why atheists do not use it though as religions call many normal actions sins.

Regards
DL

As I see it, it's easy for day-to-day Christians who see an atheist use 'sin' in a sentence, as-if, being an admission of guilt in a hidden belief in their version of god (the tired old example used about atheists merely hate god yet still believe in god, is an instantiation of theists thinking this, because they can't imagine that someone else lacks belief).

I don't think a thought not acted upon in any way (and not even in writing that thought down) can be said to be sin, no matter the thought in question. Regardless how vile in graphic gore and imagined evil intentions & malice; but only if it is in the confines of their head. Although, I do admit, I'm agnostic if such evil thoughts can be considered sins or not, I'm atheist about "thought-sins".