Upfront January 2, 2012 ISSUE

Not cursed...blessed

Maike Byrd, Staff Editor

The concept of people as sinners is deeply entrenched in society’s thought. In the Bible we find this view of humanity portrayed in the story of Adam and Eve, the mythological first couple, and the curse of hardship and suffering put on them because of their disobedience to God. In this context sin is seen as a transgression of divine law, or an offense against God. Digging in my dictionaries, I found that the root word for sin is related to the German word Sünde, which is described as human behavior that disturbs the relationship between God and man.

As anyone who has ever struggled with “sinful” behavior knows, it often results in feelings of shame, guilt, or unworthiness. However, no matter how you add it up, it is actually not in anyone’s nature to sin because as the image of God, Spirit, each one of us is blessed with dominion over evil. Sentinel founder Mary Baker Eddy gives this encouragement in Science and Health, “To hold yourself superior to sin, because God made you superior to it and governs man, is true wisdom” (p. 231).

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