Reconsidering How We Name and Perceive Morality

What if the notion of sin is, at its heart, a garment we have woven from our own judgments—a mantle we drape over our actions to classify, to define, to understand? The phrase “There is no sin, only things we do, that we call sin” invites us to question the essence of morality and the boundaries we construct in our search for meaning.

The Invention of Sin

Throughout human history, societies have sought to establish codes of conduct, frameworks of right and wrong, sacred and profane. The concept of sin, arising from ancient traditions, served as a guidepost—sometimes a warning, sometimes a call to self-examination. Yet beneath these layers, every action begins as a simple act, untethered to judgment. It is only when viewed through the lens of belief and custom that these acts are named “sin” or “virtue.”

The Power of Naming

What, then, does it mean to call something a sin? It is an act of naming—a ritual that holds power over the named. When we choose to label a deed as sinful, we imbue it with gravity, with consequence, with the weight of communal disapproval. Yet these labels are as varied as the cultures that wield them, ever-shifting with time and place. What was once considered a grave transgression may, in another era or another land, be met with indifference or even approval.

The Relativity of Morality

If our judgments are mutable, what becomes of the idea of sin itself? Perhaps, as the phrase suggests, there is no intrinsic sinfulness—no stain upon the soul that exists independent of human perception. Instead, there are only the choices we make, the ripple of consequences that follows, and the names we assign in our efforts to make sense of their impact.

Does this diminish the importance of reflection, of striving for goodness? Not at all. Rather, it invites us to approach each decision with clarity and compassion, to ask not whether an act is “sinful,” but how it shapes the world around us. Does it bring harm or healing, division or understanding? When we set aside the rigid language of sin, we make room for deeper accountability and more honest introspection.

Living Beyond Labels

In the end, to say “there is no sin, only things we do, that we call sin” is not to deny the existence of right and wrong, but to remind ourselves of the responsibility we bear in defining them. It is an invitation to move beyond dogma, to examine our actions with humility and courage, and to recognize the humanity in ourselves and others.

Let us acknowledge the complexity of our lives—not as saints or sinners, but as people walking a winding path, forever learning, forever choosing, and forever naming that path as best we can.

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Norman R. Van Etten