1. Lesson One – What is Evil?

4. Before We Begin… What is Sin? – In the Concrete Using the word “sin” is not as popular today as it once was. Together read page 87 in your text! So… to draw attention to the reality of sin you should rate the behaviors on the handout “What is Sin – In the Concrete” in terms of their degrees of sinfulness. Your ratings will be biased, so be able to explain them. Church teaching recognizes that the circumstances and the persons involved affect the sinfulness of actions. Read pages 82 and 83 in your text.

5. What is Evil? Adjective -- morally bad or wrong, wicked -- harmful, injurious -- unlucky, disastrous Noun -- wickedness, SIN -- anything that causes harm or pain

6. Results from the imperfection of nature -- natural disasters -- disease -- human accidents Results from people’s deliberate choices to do bad things -- intentionally hurting someone -- rich exploiting the poor -- lying to cover for yourself Examples:

7. An action (or inaction) contrary to God’s call to love God, others, and ourselves. In Scripture, sin is sometimes described as: -- Being “off center” -- Failing to love --Old Testament – “chata”= to miss --New Testament – “hamartia” = falling short -- Closing in on self, closing off from others -- Failing to respond in a truly human way - Read pages 84 – 86 in your text – discuss other examples of “missing the mark”

8. purposely doing an action that is harmful to oneself or another not doing an action that is called for Examples: saying something hurtful Examples: not putting an end to gossip slapping a sibling ignoring someone who’s hurting passing litter on a trail

9. Mortal Sin – Action so destructive that it mortally wounds our relationship with God – Complete rejection of God Venial Sin – Action that weakens our relationship with God Sind Culpability – the degree to which people are responsible for their actions Sin is a statement about the way we treat our relationship with God; it does not describe his relationship with us! - Read pages 91 - 92 in your text

10. Homework Read the Article – “Missing the Mark” – by Kevin Hendricks Post to the Blog on the SchoolFusion site. Then comment on at least one other students post. Complete for 20 homework points. SIN