A moral principle is a generally accepted STANDARD of goodness or rightness in conduct or character. Sin is a willful ACTION (and we can include both behavior and thoughts here) that involves the breaking of a moral principle. Thus, sin cannot serve as an "explanation" of an action: it IS the action that needs to be explained.
A proper explanation of sin would consist of a factor or factors that underlie sin. Would these be natural or supernatural factors? Since it appears that science can study only the former (this is because an empirical science must have something to observe; and we cannot observe a process or entity that is outside of nature), then the science of psychology could explain sin only when the sinful action was due to natural factors. Any speculation about supernatural causes of sin should be kept separate from the science of psychology. This seems to me to be no different from what psychology does now. Adding the concept of sin to psychology is merely a relabeling of the types of behaviors psychologists now study. The problem with this label is that it presupposes a particular set of moral standards. Since it could be expected that there would be disagreements about which behaviors to label as "sinful" in regard to these standards (e.g., behaviors leading to abortion?; homosexual behavior?) as well as to the standards themselves, an undue amount of time would be spent in controversies about the labels and the standards. What would be the benefit of this? Thus, the status quo in psychology (i.e., ignoring the concept of sin) seems to me to be most expedient way to proceed. Jeff -- Jeffry P. Ricker, Ph.D. Office Phone: (480) 423-6213 9000 E. Chaparral Rd. FAX Number: (480) 423-6298 Psychology Department [EMAIL PROTECTED] Scottsdale Community College Scottsdale, AZ 85256-2626 Listowner: Psychologists Educating Students to Think Skeptically (PESTS) http://www.sc.maricopa.edu/sbscience/pests/index.html --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
