Vinicius De Sousa

Linda Peterson

Phil. 271

05/16/2013

Abelard’s Analysis of Sin

In Abrahamic context, sin was considered as the act of violating the will of God. In this case, sin refers to anything that violates and strains ideal relationship between any individual and God. Some actions have been considered as sins and some sins are considered more serious than others. Sin is then rated in the spectrum ranging from deadly actions to minor errors in people’s lives. Peter Abelard a renowned philosopher and all time theologian analyses sin in his own distinct form and develop what could be a controversial conclusion on sin. He uses an appealing persuasion that is to some extent convincing; yet deep evaluations present a set of flaws in his reasoning that call for doubting and even disagreement.

In the Christian world, the notion of living a good life is embodied in two elements: doing the right thing basing on the societies moral standards and avoiding sin according to biblical teachings and standards. Christians have conceived the essence of sin as a transgression against God and his desires or principles (Marenbon 302). Yet this notion of sin remains alienated from the human concrete lives for it to be of any use to moral direction. The issues of the right thing to do, wrong thing to do and sin have been at the center of human questioning, which has driven the human race to perpetually seek for less abstract concept of sin. This concept, which has hitherto not been reached, should present the specificity required to understand what truly constitutes sin in a particular situation or context. In other words, the concept should define sin in a sense that each individual understands without doubting what it entails to refer to individuals actions as sin. The biblical perception of sin asserts that sin is defined basing on ones will or intentions