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sadowski
Guest
How do i explain venial sin, mortal sin to a protestant? I have been asked and i know their thinking. They will tell me sin is sin and all sin is evil .
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ReachingFaith
Guest
all sin IS evil, so start by telling them you agree! 
Then you can try to give an example: for instance, if I steal a cupcake from an uncle of mine, it’s not such a bad thing. Bad, yes, but not major.
Now, what if I steal a car from the president? (Not likely!) This is much worse, and still an evil.
Apply that to sin, and it is the same way. We offend God, but mortal sin is worse than the “minor” offenses of venial sin. More thought and more “badness” goes to make a sin mortal. A venial sin is just that–venial!
Hope that helps!
Then you can try to give an example: for instance, if I steal a cupcake from an uncle of mine, it’s not such a bad thing. Bad, yes, but not major.Now, what if I steal a car from the president? (Not likely!) This is much worse, and still an evil.
Apply that to sin, and it is the same way. We offend God, but mortal sin is worse than the “minor” offenses of venial sin. More thought and more “badness” goes to make a sin mortal. A venial sin is just that–venial!
Hope that helps!
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Edmundus1581
Guest
all sin IS evil, so start by telling them you agree!
Catholics believe that, and do not water down venial sins as “acceptable”!
In response to your Protestant friends, just quote scripture…
1 John 5:16-17 (RSV): “If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is a sin which is not mortal.”
Luke 12:47-48: “And that servant who knew his master’s will, but did not make ready or act according to his will, shall receive a severe beating. But he who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, shall receive a light beating. Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required; and of him to whom men commit much they will demand the more.” (cf. Lev. 5:17, Lk. 23:34)
John 19:11: “’. . .** he who delivered me to you has the greater sin.**’”
The Bible also refers to (mortal) sins which - if not repented of - will exclude one from heaven (1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 1:8; Eph. 5:5; Heb. 12:16; Rev. 22:15). The list does not include children stealing cookies while mom’s not looking, or adults who have 4 glasses of wine when they should have stopped at two (assuming that they have done no more harm than become a bit tipsy).
There’s a good discussion in this blog
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mdgspencer
Guest
Mortal sin is a term taken from the Bible. "If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal (In the First Epistle of John 5:16-17). Venial sin, naturally, is the sin that is not mortal of which Saint John speaks.
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babs57
Guest
Those scripture passages are great, and will probably be most effective in discussing issues with a protestant (Sola Scriptura and all that). However, The Catechism also has some wonderful explanations of this issue in particular, and sin in general. (CCC 1854 - 1864) I especially like the quote TheChatechism gives from St. Thomas’ Summa:
“When the will sets itself upon something that is of its nature incompatible with the charity that orients man toward his ultimate end, then the sin is mortal by its very object…whether it contradicts the love of God, such as blasphemy or purjury, or the love of neighbor, such as homicide or adultery…But when the sinner’s will is set upon something that of its nature involves a disorder, but is not opposed to the love of God and neighbor, such as thoughtless chatter or immoderate laughter and the like, such sins are venial.” (Summa Theo. I-II, 88, 2, corp. art.)
Immoderate laughter??!! I love Thomas!
“When the will sets itself upon something that is of its nature incompatible with the charity that orients man toward his ultimate end, then the sin is mortal by its very object…whether it contradicts the love of God, such as blasphemy or purjury, or the love of neighbor, such as homicide or adultery…But when the sinner’s will is set upon something that of its nature involves a disorder, but is not opposed to the love of God and neighbor, such as thoughtless chatter or immoderate laughter and the like, such sins are venial.” (Summa Theo. I-II, 88, 2, corp. art.)
Immoderate laughter??!! I love Thomas!
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Bookcat
Guest
Yes all sin is evil.
All injury results in a defect in health of sorts. But getting scratched up in some stickers while walking in shorts — is very different than stepping on a land mine…
(analogy limps of course …sin is indeed evil and moral evil at that --but I think you get what I am getting at)
Venial sin (while bad --and not something to willfully continue doing) is very different than mortal sin.
All injury results in a defect in health of sorts. But getting scratched up in some stickers while walking in shorts — is very different than stepping on a land mine…
(analogy limps of course …sin is indeed evil and moral evil at that --but I think you get what I am getting at)
Venial sin (while bad --and not something to willfully continue doing) is very different than mortal sin.
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Bookcat
Guest
Compendium:
1874
One commits a mortal sin when there are simultaneously present: grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent. This sin destroys charity in us, deprives us of sanctifying grace, and, if unrepented, leads us to the eternal death of hell. It can be forgiven in the ordinary way by means of the sacraments of Baptism and of Penance or Reconciliation.
1875
One commits a venial sin, which is essentially different from a mortal sin, when the matter involved is less serious or, even if it is grave, when full knowledge or complete consent are absent. Venial sin does not break the covenant with God but it weakens charity and manifests a disordered affection for created goods. It impedes the progress of a soul in the exercise of the virtues and in the practice of moral good. It merits temporal punishment which purifies.
vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html
- When does one commit a mortal sin?
1874
One commits a mortal sin when there are simultaneously present: grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent. This sin destroys charity in us, deprives us of sanctifying grace, and, if unrepented, leads us to the eternal death of hell. It can be forgiven in the ordinary way by means of the sacraments of Baptism and of Penance or Reconciliation.
- When does one commit a venial sin?
1875
One commits a venial sin, which is essentially different from a mortal sin, when the matter involved is less serious or, even if it is grave, when full knowledge or complete consent are absent. Venial sin does not break the covenant with God but it weakens charity and manifests a disordered affection for created goods. It impedes the progress of a soul in the exercise of the virtues and in the practice of moral good. It merits temporal punishment which purifies.
vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html
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PJM
Guest
TRY THIS
“Sin” is saying NO to God!
“Mortal Sin” is saying NO to God in a manner that is so serious that until it is confessed [John 20:1923] and forgiven through Catholic Confrssion [the only acceptable normal way according Jrsus Himself] it acctually seperates us from God and severson our “personal relationship”
Because consequeces are SO SERIOUS in order for “sin” to be a “Mortal sin” [1st. John 5:16-17] THREE MUST ALWAYS BE MET:
- It MUST a serious matter
- One MUST KNOW what they are about to do is a Mortal sin [serious matter]
- One must FREELY desire to do it
If you were to ask a group of informed Catholics is “???” a Mortal sin? [all non-catholics can be assumed to have either an incompletly or incorrectly informed conscience] and more than half say “yes” then it is assumed everyone OUGHT to know that it is
For example Missing Sunday Mass [worship] for no good and valid reason; abortion, or supporting anyone who supports it, or ruining sombody’s reputation… Each of the 10 Commandments holds the potential for being in certain circumstances a Mortal sin
When in doubt ALWAYS ask the Confessor priest.
Hope this helps you?
God Bless,
Pat /PJM
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