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Sin: The Shocking Path to Enlightenment

Sin: The Shocking Path to Enlightenment

Last updated on: August 28, 2023 at 6:57 pm by Mark J. Platten

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Sin: The Shocking Path to Enlightenment 2023-08-28T18:57:43-06:00 Mark J. Platten

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To evoke the sin of Adam eating of the forbiden fruit in the Garden of Eden

Naked Man Holding Apple Inviting a Sinful Act Source: Canva

Hey there, curious souls! Get ready for a mind-blowing revelation because today, we’re diving headfirst into a topic that’s been deemed the ultimate taboo for centuries: sin. That’s right, buckle up because we’re about to take a wild ride beyond the ordinary, beyond what you thought you knew about sin, and straight into the heart of the sacred and the divine.

The Devilish Reputation of Sin

Sin has been the black sheep of the moral family for ages. It’s that naughty word that sends shivers down our spines, making us fear Hell or worse – jail. But what if I told you, we’ve got it all wrong? What if sinning is the key to connecting with the Divine?

Did you know that the fear of sin has deep historical roots? From the time of ancient civilizations to modern religions, the concept of sin has played a pivotal role in shaping human behavior and ethics.

What Is Sin Anyway?

Before we dive deeper, let’s decode this enigmatic term, ‘sin.’ In Aramaic, the language of the New Testament, ‘sin’ was akin to missing the mark, like an archer’s arrow veering off-course. In Hebrew, ‘sin,’ or ‘cheit,’ literally means ‘to go astray’ or an archery target – another bullseye for missing the mark.

The origins of the word “sin” in different cultures highlight a common theme – it’s about deviating from a desired path or potential. This concept has transcended time and continues to influence our moral compass.

Sin as a Cosmic Wake-Up Call

Hold onto your seats, folks, because here comes the shocker! The Greek perspective sees sin as an invitation to remember our purpose, to become the best version of ourselves and offer our unique gifts to the world. Sinning, in this light, is an inspiration, not a punishment – it’s urging us to keep striving until we hit the mark, like a cosmic game of darts where the bullseye is our true self-expression.

But, wait! Before you think I’m advocating a wild, lawless free-for-all, hear me out. Our ‘true self-expression’ isn’t about destruction; it’s about discovering our potential. Those destructive tendencies? They’re learned behaviors, also missing the mark on our soul’s work.

The Greeks attributed sin to ignorance aligns with the idea that challenges and setbacks often lead to personal growth. It’s not about falling down; it’s about rising stronger each time.

The Forgiveness Game

Almost every faith has some form of forgiveness practice – Catholic confession, Jewish Yom Kippur, or private confessions for Protestants. Hindus and Buddhists delve into karma, where intentional actions echo through lifetimes. Indigenous cultures had their take too, because sin is part of the fabric of what it is to be human and there has to be pathways to turn it into a positive force, lest we sink in despair with no way to redeem ourselves.

The Sinful Brain

Ever wonder why teenagers sometimes make questionable choices? Well, their prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for rational decisions, doesn’t fully mature until their mid to late 20s. So, cut them some slack – they literally can’t always think straight!

Brain development studies have shown that the prefrontal cortex, responsible for impulse control and rational thinking, undergoes significant changes during adolescence, affecting decision-making processes.

Subconscious Shenanigans

Here’s a mind-blowing fact I discussed in a previous post: our subconscious controls a whopping 90-95% of our cognitive function! When we’re extremely stressed, we’re thrown into the fight, flight, or freeze response.

In traumatic situations, the subconscious hijacks the conscious mind because our safety supersedes the extra time it would take for the conscious mind to reason what’s going on and make a decision. By that time, the saber-toothed tiger already had you for lunch!

What’s interesting is the subconscious mind is preverbal…that belongs to the development of prefrontal cortex and the conscious mind. So, oftentimes, victims of trauma have difficulty talking about it or finding words to describe what happened because the conscious mind was offline when the event happened.

Sin and the Subconscious

Now, let’s connect the dots. So, why does sin matter in this subconscious tale? Well, since our subconscious responds to emotions and safety, our ongoing sins help it decide what’s safe, what to reinforce, and where to focus our energy. In essence, we must sin to grow, to become the best version of ourselves. Studies on habit formation and behavior change emphasize the importance of emotional responses in reinforcing certain behaviors, making sin a powerful tool for personal evolution.

The Traps of Shame

But wait, there’s a catch. The shame, punishment, and persecution that often accompany our sins can be stifling. They keep us stuck in a cycle of fear, preventing us from reaching our full potential and creativity.

Or worse, we believe we are our sins, and that not only have we missed the mark, but we are incapable of anything but missing the mark because we believe we are flawed, broken, and irredeemable.

How many have we pushed into believing this about themselves, who were never able to adjust their aim? How much humanity and its infinite potential have we decimated by placing this sort of burden on our fellow humans? We must do better.

Creative Genius Lost

Remember that NASA study on genius? It found that 98% of 4- and 5-year-olds were creative geniuses. But as they grew older, that genius dwindled. Only 2% of adults maintained that level of creativity. What happened? Society, shame, and fear of sin often strangle our creative spark. This is the cost of being shut down when we sin. We’re missing out on 96% of the creative genius we had as children. If we could learn to teach healthy ways of experiencing sin and nurture/coach our children, perhaps we’d have a much different world.

The Original Sin Twist

Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: original sin in the Christian faith. What if that story was mistranslated? What if God didn’t want to keep Adam and Eve from the fruit but instead wanted them to take a bite?

Why would God create something, place it where they could easily get to it, and then tell them not to eat of it? Ask any parent and they’ll tell you the fastest way to get a child to do something is tell them they can’t. It’s almost a command to their souls to do the very thing they’re told not to do! So, I’m pretty sure God knew that by saying “don’t do this,” what was really being said is, “I want you do this.”

The Gift of Imperfection

What if Eden was the cage, not paradise? Maybe God didn’t kick Adam and Eve out, but invited them into their sovereign gift of choice so they (and we) could grow, create, and evolve without divine intervention. Original sin might just be the greatest gift we’ve ever received, an opportunity to create so God can evolve with us.

Embrace Your Inner Child

So, here’s the shocking revelation: Go forth and sin! Embrace risk, tap into your inner four-year-old where everything is possible, and miss the mark. Because, my friends, that’s how you achieve your true self-expression and preserve your connection to the universe.

Are you ready to rewrite the rules? It’s time to sin your way to greatness!

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About Mark J. Platten

Mark J. Platten is the founder of Integral Human Initiative where he helps people find their passion, purpose, and path by integrates brain science, indigenous wisdom, rites/rituals/ceremonies, connection with nature, and current research to help others become the best version of themselves so they can give their gifts to the world. Mark's Amazon bestseller, "The Art of Connecting With Nature," is an anthology exploring how the contributors connect to nature through various rites, rituals, ceremonies, and practices. He is also a contributing author on four other Amazon #1 bestselling books, has presented three times at the Parliament of the Worlds Religions, is ordained in two traditions, and a high priest in a pagan tradition. On the academic/professional side, Mark has an MBA in Organizational Management, served seven years as an Air Force officer, worked internationally for 15 years, and since 2008 has been faculty at Colorado State University where he's received over 30 state and 20 national awards for his programs. You can read more about the author here.

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