Outright sin

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Michael_N_1

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I don’t usually think that people sin on purpose. I mean, I know what mortal sin is, and it requires full consent. But still, it probably usually happens because the person thinks in some way that it is OK for them to do. Or they make up excuses for why they can do it. Or else, in another case, people simply don’t know that what they’re doing is wrong (then it wouldn’t be mortal).

I mean, what kind of a person would ever say, I am going to go sin? How could you do this???

I go to a very liberal-minded college and I just got the following mass email (this is not private correspondence, this is an advertisement):
O hey there ----, [name of my college]
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Feeling sinful? Pent up tension from a year without Sex Week? Need to get some…free merchandise with a carnal edge? The come get down at
Se7en, -------- College’s celebration of the seven deadly sins. Come dressed as your favorite vice or just enjoy the view, 10pm to 1am in the TC dining hall. Relish in a burlesque show by the Bad Romantics and a night of dancin’ dirty. Pre-sale tix are $5 in advance in the TC, PC, CC, and DC dining halls and $7 at the door.
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Are you born to be bad?
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The “seven” refers to the seven deadly sins. There’s an attached poster that is a design incorporating flames and the names of the seven deadly sins. And: “HELL GATES open at 10”.

What could anyone be possibly thinking? :confused: :eek:

This is not a hoax email, there is real-world marketing of the event too.

Maybe I just need to calm down and realize that this must be some kind of dark humor, or something. I can’t explain it though. WHY??

So confused.
 
That’s easy. This kind of stuff is dreamed up by people who don’t really believe in sin (as Christians know it), or who think that sin is fun (!) and anyone who chooses not to “partake” is a stick in the mud.
 
Agree with previous poster.
The devout Christian will ever be chided by non-believers by such things. They simply do not believe and it is a pity…
I would suggest setting aside some time on that evening for prayer - nothing public - just quiet “inner room” prayer for the conversion of souls…

Peace
James
 
I guess the whole event is a bashing of Christians. If someone just organized a dance party that had immoral elements, and they were a nonbeliever, that would be one thing. It’s too bad that they would implicitly say, with this theme, “We think Christians are wrong! And we’re going to make fun of them!” As opposed to just going about their business.

But I still can’t understand how someone could look at a set of words like lust, envy, pride, greed, gluttony, wrath, and sloth, and think, “That’s a great idea for a party!”

I guess I’m not going anywhere with this, or asking any actual questions, just expressing my incredulity… It doesn’t help that this is being sponsored by the college (not the university, it’s a “college” within a college, but the point is, the people in authority have chosen to let this happen and be official).
 
I find it hilarious that in today’s cultural climate, these folks would be celebrating greed and gluttony with such abandon. Obesity and financial fraud aren’t commonly praised by young liberal academics* (at least, not at a public gathering). 😛

*Note: Posted by a young, moderate academic.
 
What is Sex Week?

Is this an annual fundraiser of some sort?
 
I dunno, sounds like a costume party to me. Perhaps there will be a contest, since they request the costumes be of seven specific things. I think people could get kind of creative with a greed costume, for example. I suspect once they decided on costumes, then they thought up a theme, and then the email suggested itself to them as a result of the theme, trying to sound funny and fun.

It makes perfect sense to me to have the seven deadly sins cavorting amidst flames in hell. That they recognize this is a *good *sign…😉
 
Pug said:
I dunno, sounds like a costume party to me. Perhaps there will be a contest, since they request the costumes be of seven specific things. I think people could get kind of creative with a greed costume, for example. I suspect once they decided on costumes, then they thought up a theme, and then the email suggested itself to them as a result of the theme, trying to sound funny and fun.

It makes perfect sense to me to have the seven deadly sins cavorting amidst flames in hell. That they recognize this is a *good *sign…😉
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Pug,

Let me be the first to thank you for your observations. Why would a person who did not believe in the supernatural make the supernatural the focus of this event?

I wonder who is really behind this idea.
 
Dear Pug and StrawberryJam (and everyone else!),

I realize that you are trying to be charitable. I also realize that I might have been going a bit far in putting forth the idea that people would deliberately have an event dedicated to sin.

It is evident that this is a parody, in some sense. (I doubt anyone is celebrating wrath and envy.) But I wouldn’t get excited and think that it was designed by believers to be a good thing – I know better than that here. I would say that in all seriousness, what it probably amounted to was a lot of college kids getting drunk and celebrating the lowering of their inhibitions, so to speak. It probably wasn’t any worse than every other party around, which isn’t saying much that’s good.

I guess my reaction was a bit reflexive, in the sense that this is hardly newsworthy, but I still believe that it was a terrible theme with no intended redeeming value. It’s not the first, there’s been a dance in the past called “SIN: Strangers In the Night”. It pulls on your strings.
 
Michael_N said:
Dear Pug and StrawberryJam (and everyone else!),

I realize that you are trying to be charitable. I also realize that I might have been going a bit far in putting forth the idea that people would deliberately have an event dedicated to sin.

It is evident that this is a parody, in some sense. (I doubt anyone is celebrating wrath and envy.) But I wouldn’t get excited and think that it was designed by believers to be a good thing – I know better than that here. I would say that in all seriousness, what it probably amounted to was a lot of college kids getting drunk and celebrating the lowering of their inhibitions, so to speak. It probably wasn’t any worse than every other party around, which isn’t saying much that’s good.

I guess my reaction was a bit reflexive, in the sense that this is hardly newsworthy, but I still believe that it was a terrible theme with no intended redeeming value. It’s not the first, there’s been a dance in the past called “SIN: Strangers In the Night”. It pulls on your strings.
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Sadly, yes, as far as I can tell, lots of parties at college are an excuse to get thoroughly drunk. Somehow this has been defined by some as “fun”. I never got it, so I can’t enlighten you on that strange behavior. It was never clear to me what was celebrated at those types of events. You’re right, though, I doubt they wish to celebrate sin itself.

I’m the sort of clueless individual who’d rather have a discussion, card game, eat dinner, or watch football. Hey, if I could run, I’d prefer laser tag.
 
Everyone including myself makes attempts to rationalize sin. As you stated, what person would want to outright choose sin? Especially when there could be the consequence of Hell. However, rationalizations though they may be, in general, people know what is wrong and right. Sure at the time the person found an excuse to justify sinning, but it is just that, an excuse. That is why there is the sacrament of Confession, so one, after examining their conscience, can be sorry for all the rationalizations they made.

Personally, I think the biggest rationalization is that “God will understand” or just a doubt in God’s overall existence, even if minimal, and therefore desiring instant gratification for something in this life, and then thinking that overall you can just be a good person, and God is not going to care about the minor stuff.

I think everyone is guilty of one of those rationalizations at times. But rationalizations are still purposeful, so perhaps it is the rationalizaton that is the outright sin and not the sin itself.
 
Dear Michael,

Do not kid yourself – there is a tremendous amount of evil in the world and on college campuses. Many young adults loose themselves at this stage. It takes strong will, practicing your faith and much prayer to overcome the ploys of satan. That’s just the way it is.

Now many people don’t like to hear the truth so they rationalize it away. I encourage you to avoid these types of parties. Whenever we allow ourselves to be near great opportunities for sinfulness we open ourselves up for a fall.

I’m not saying you can’t have a good time. Choose more healthy environments. Find a spiritual advisor on campus or locally. Hang out with others that have your morals. Together you will find much strength and Jesus.

Matthew Ch 18:
20 For where two or three are gathered in my Name, I am there among them."

May God Bless and guide you.
 
You know that’s a very interesting e-mail. Were I actually in your situation, I would find a way to send an anonymous reply saying that I will attend dressed up as a symbol of Wrath. I will then tell them that to commemorate my arrival, I would have the whole party place… bombed.

I mean after all, wrath is all about destruction, chaos, and violence no? What better way to highlight that particular sin than with a nice, big bomb scare to induce a stampede?

P.S.

In all honesty though, I’ve just demonstrated the whole irony of the event right there. :rolleyes:
 
Thanks all for your help. I’m trying to do my best in this tough atmosphere. I’m looking for others who are doing the same here.

Just for practical reasons, I think I’ll refrain from using bomb threats to make a point 😃

In case anyone was interested in the answer to what this party actually was like, apparently it was ‘typical’, as described above, and they handed out condoms as party favors. Ick.
 
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