Morality+&+Sin

Morality Morality is described by the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy as: to refer to a code of conduct that given specified conditions would be put forward by all rational persons; in layman’s terms the way a person chooses right from wrong. Morality, most commonly associated with religious groups, is changing in today’s American Society as we move away from the ideal of God fearing church-goers to worship that now need our more modern needs. Churches around the country can now be seen moving towards being accepting of all even if that means losing some of the strict guide lines of right and wrong. “We have a counseling ministry here… we have our pro-life group. We have our single parents group-single parents who minister to other single parent…We have women counselors who counsel women in the prayer room.” (Wolfe 129) 

Until recently gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and all other types of non-heterosexual relationships have been condemned by the majority of churches. Catholics, Mormons, and Southern Baptist being among the top apposes. Now with the number of people going to church in decline we see church leaders doing “whatever it takes” to keep people walking in the doors. This includes being more accepting of all people, even those identifying as a part of the [|LGBT community]. For some churches this is not a pressing issue because they have always accepted same sex couples, such as Utilitarian’s, but others are now beginning to question the morality of churches.

Another uprising in churches recently is the idea of a woman leader. Conservative Christians, especially women, are quick to critics the stigma of woman leadership. The original idea of Conservative churches was men preach while women entertain and encourage. Now there is a shift in power occurring nationwide as women are now seen as church elders, small group leaders, and even pastors. It is also noted that in many churches where men are still fully in charge the women of the church claim they allow this because “men are too insecure to be directly challenged by assertive women”. (Wolfe 130) Below is a chart showing the recent trend in woman clergy leaders.
 * Denomination || Total Clergy In 1994 || % Female Clergy ||
 * American Baptist Churches || 5758 || 12% ||
 * Assemblies of God || 18,570 || 8% ||
 * Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) || 5469 || 18% ||
 * Church of God (Anderson, IN) || 2955 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">10% ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Church of the Brethren || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">1163 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">12% ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Church of the Nazarene || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">3413 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">11% ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Episcopal Church || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">11,314 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">12% ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Evangelical Lutheran Church in America || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">13,225 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">11% ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Free Methodist Church || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">1878 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">1% ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">14,578 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">19% ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Southern Baptist Convention || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">35,130 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">4% ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Unitarian-Universalist Association || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">1236 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">30% ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">United Church of Christ || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">7297 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">25% ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">United Methodist Church || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">20,617 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">15% ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Wesleyan Church || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">2190 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">11% ||

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Many people now wonder if the gender role is clearly expressed in the Bible and why men predominantly ran the church for so long. Feminist influence on Conservative churches can be found in organizations like[| CBE]and [|EEWC] but is more dominantly found in real-life experience with evangelical women. Not all though are supportive of this feminist movement. Catholic’s stand firm in the belief that men are to be spiritual leaders. Pope John Paul the Second stated that “Only a baptized man (vir) receives sacred ordination. The Lord Jesus chose men (//viri//) to form the college of the twelve apostles, and the apostles did the same when they chose collaborators to succeed them in their ministry. The college of bishops, with whom the priests are united in the priesthood, makes the college of the twelve an ever-present and ever-active reality until Christ’s return. The Church recognizes herself to be bound by this choice made by the Lord Himself. For this reason the ordination of women is not possible.”

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 120%;">In conclusion we see that church as a whole is shifting. The morality of old concepts is being questioned as religion turns to fit America’s ever changing needs. No longer do people accept without questioning, and the fear of God installed into our great-great grandparents is now being replaced by the idea of a loving, accepting God who cares for including the LGBT community, women, and anyone else who seeks him out.

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">Sin <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Sin is the absence of morality. The problem with this concept is as we see from the article above morality is controversial. There is no set of right and wrong that is mutual for all religion. The closest society gets to a set moral standard is laws and even those don’t carry from one country to a next. Leaving the concept of sin widely different depending on who you ask. <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">In a recent study at a Christian college two-thirds of the students presented with the opportunity to cheat would take it. Even more surprising is the fact that of those two-thirds of people over seventy percent of them admitted what they were doing was wrong but not a sin. Yes, it’s wrong to cheat but if everyone’s doing it it’s not that big a deal and I won’t do it next time. Is a common answer students would produce if asked about the cheating. The idea is something so trivial couldn’t possibly be a sin, especially if everyone is doing it, right? This is the question many ask when faced with the realization that just being a man makes you a sinner. Man’s very nature is sinful. At least that it what Christians believe. In order to be a true Christian you have to admit to God you are a sinful creature and ask for forgiveness to all these sins. A simple enough idea until the actual concept of sin comes in. What is sin? American Pentecostal have considered all of the following things at one point or another a sin: bands, baseball, boating, bowling, circuses, fireworks, football, loitering, parades, skating, valentines, and zoos. This list discludes many other thoughts, actions, and decisions but it does leave one to consider what is so sinful about skating. Other denominations take a more intangible approach considering things such as homosexuality, premarital sex, and abortion sins compared to the Pentecostal idea that telephones, ice cream socials, and automobile joy rides are transgressions. Each sub-faith has it’s own list or idea of things considered immoral or sinful.

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">To address this concept of sin some faith groups have taken to the idea that making themselves beautiful on the outside to help them take on the inner journey to a life free of sin. They claim that if they radiate happiness, confidence, and wholesomeness that others will be attracted to it and together they can all make the journey to inner happiness and a strengthened relationship with God. Criticizers counter argue that God finds sex appeal, personal altercations and drawing attention to yourself a sin making the whole program more harmful than helpful. Other denominations have found more formal ways to give away their sin such as visiting a confession box or spending a designated amount of time praying for forgiveness. Some groups take it so far as to say the blood of animals must be shed before sin is cleared off their names. Many denominations and religions focus heavily on the idea of forgiveness for their sins versus not committing sin at all. Most comply to the idea we are sinful creatures by nature so why try and combat that, instead live by the motto it is easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission. This is a change for we see that in olden days people were petrified of God and worried that if they sinned he would punish them by means of drought, famine, sickness, or warfare. Now we view God as forgiving, understanding, and a pal. Never a strict villianis character, which is who we now associate as the devil.

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Morality shifts as our time changes and we are now seeing the same trend in sin. What is morally wrong is sin. Sin is being redefined as our standards move due to influence such as celebrities, technology, and time in general. Neither sin nor morality will ever be a concrete standard and will continue to fluctuate in each sub-faith.

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Works Cited <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">"A Quick Question about the Percentage of Female Pastors." //Hartford Institute for Religion Research//. Web. 10 Feb. 2012. <http://hirr.hartsem.edu/research/quick_question3.html>.

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Wolfe, Alan. //The Transformation of American Religion: How We Actually Live Our Faith//. New York: Free, 2003. Print.

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">"Women Priests  No Chance." //Catholic Education Resource Center//. Web. 10 Feb. 2012. [].