A World Without Sin Would Be Terribly Dull

Many pray for a world without sin, but such a world would never advance to achieve anything noteworthy.   Temptation drives us to strive beyond our basic physical needs.  Greed that drives economies.   Sensual pleasure is behind our luxury accommodations and dining choices.  Power and all that comes with it has been a force behind all human interaction.  Noble values are there but are drowned out by the bright lights and sounds of modern temptations.

 

Removing the temptation does not remove the sin.   Outlawing a human behavior has never stopped anything.  Outlaw booze and more people drink.   Outlaw drugs and the drug deaths skyrocket.  Outlaw medical treatment like abortion --- it will happen anyway and with far more dire outcomes.  The only way to alter behavior is to change the human heart, not by painting the behavior as black and sinful and something all decent people avoid.  Instead we work better when we find positive reasons to alter our actions.

 

Tobacco use has fallen drastically, not because it has been outlawed, but because society found strong positive reasons not to smoking.  Not only is it unhealthy for the user, but finally science proved that it was just as dangerous to all those exposed.  Hotels, restaurants, airlines and rental car companies have discovered the money saving bliss of not having to empty ashtrays, steam clean upholstery and replace items with cigarette burns.

 

One treatment of sinners remains: shunning.   In the past it was believed that a sinner's sin would contaminate anyone who came into contact with the sinner.  It was believed, for instance, that leprosy afflicted the sinful and contact would spread the disease.  Which, of course, was true.  And also totally wrong.  Sin is sin and leprosy (Hansen's Disease) is caused by bacteria.  While we might assume that any shunning of sinners was currently limited to the wacky folks on the Christian right, in fact, there is ample proof that Karenism is the new leprosy.

 

All those people who went out of their way to gain attention while making someone else's life miserable, those now dubbed "Karens," have found their lives upended by a few thoughtless moments in public.   Jobs lost, marriages ended, blocked by friends, ridiculed worldwide with a total loss of anonymity.  They might as well be required to ring a bell and yell "unclean" as they pass through Walmarts.

 

Perhaps the reaction is more than is necessary to make the point, but we must all accept that we live in a world of cameras and microphones.  If you give vent to your innate bigotry and hatred in a public space you should expect it to be recorded and broadcast.  Be sure your outburst is going to be worth it.