What makes an act a sinful act ?

Earlier to this, I have tried to understand what is sin, and in this article I would like to dig further on, what makes an act a sinful act. Could this be a bad decision, a bad condition, a bad situation; that make people to do some unthinkable act, which ultimately becomes a sinful act ?

In China, due to one child policy, government are killing the almost fully developed fetus in the name of abortion. The unborn child, which is by the parents who already had a child and try to have another child without the government consent. But once the  government finds out it will be forcefully aborted, even it its about seven or eight months of pregnancy. The infant, who never got the chance to see the light on earth, with their tiny eyes; are the victims of one child policy in China.  

Although, I forgot the year and month the article appeared on the Reader's Digest written by a Chinese Doctor, opposing the system of the kill.  The doctor had to leave china for her opinion not to kill the child that was aborted when she was on duty and she was not willing to kill the baby. She was even ready to adopt ‘the child’ to give her own rights to have her own baby in future. The medical assistant injects the aborted child on the softest part of the infants head, to so that they will die soon. In China, these medical assistants makes more money, than the doctors. With the population growing high 1.35 billion and ever growing higher, its a government policy to ‘control the population’ and for many of them who are doing this kind of act, who kills new born child is just another job in china.

Is landing in bad job is sin then ? Is bad judgment is sin then ? Who decides what is sin ? Perhaps its easy to judge from outside. Is some bad decision made by some people at worst condition is sin then ? Everybody knows, we tend to judge people for that one decision, I mean that one bad decision; which goes wrong, because of that one decision made in that hard time and situation, which seems to be the result of bad time, situation and condition; where one seem to be losing all common sense at that very moment. Does this mean, weak decision made on bad condition is sin then ?  but they live that life and we don't.

It can always be argued on.

In recent years, I have been hooked to watch, crime patrol, an Indian reality crime show, desperately trying to find some answers to some of the perplexing question of life that lies in our society. Just like all of you I too, thought, murder is one of the worst possible sin, one can commit in life. But after watching the complete story and understanding the real reason behind it, I have come to the conclusion that; even the cold blooded murder is not always a sin. There are times, I would not want to vote for punishing, at all; for the murder one have committed.

For example a man, who was convicted of murdering his best friend and ended his life in prison was indeed roped in to the murder of his own best friend. The person who booked him to kill is none other than; the one who got killed, and he was paid only 90,000 indian Rs. while the killed guys would have made 1.5 million if the fraud had not been exposed by the crime branch of India. See my blog post ‘should he be punished for the murder of his best friend ?’ for more details.  

I have also watched time and again, on the very crime show that, murder or lets called it sin, have been committed by the people, who have all the common sense, moral integrity and God fearing; yet, its just that one split seconds decision they made at that time. Does that bad decision, is what makes it a sin ?

The teenage girl of Dahishar, India, who was so exploited by the corrupt and powerful politician of the area, to the max, just to elude her, of her simple right; to get a ration card. The corrupt politician, whose name was Mangesh Kadam*, abused the power and authority and used it to exploit her sexually to poor girl; should indeed be blamed for his own murder. His throat was slit open, before be was heavily overdosed of alcohol. But at the end of the day, the teen girl and her employers, who treated her like thier own sister will have to serve the jail term or the punishment at the end. I would not have called this a heinous act of crime or sin just the bad decision at the worsts condition. Just a spring overreacted, after a long and hard push.  

I also sympathised; with my whole heart to the servant, who served his masters for seven years. He had borrowed some Rs 30,000  for his marriage, but he could not return the loan on stipulated time, due to his meager salary. The mistress had another plan in her mind to settle the dues with him, “if you kill my in-laws [mother and sister of her husband] then you will be free from the dues or I will even give you more money than you can imagine.” There was huge money - about 70 corod worth of flat in big city of India - after their death in her name waiting to be transferred. He was reluctant to take the offer, but a poor servant could not leave the job, nor he was allowed to leave his job. Having no option, he did killed the ladies, but it so happened one died and the old one survived, to tell the story to police, in front of the family members.

I do not want to go further  arguing on, should that poor servant be charged for something he was trapped to ? Does he deserve the punishment, which he never wanted to do, but was forced to do ? He had fear, fear of God; moral integrity and the good judgement that this murder is a  sin, yet he ended up doing exactly; what he feared for.

I would like to tell my readers that I am not trying to justify any crime mentioned above but I am only trying to understand the real reason behind an act called sin.

What makes an act a sinful act then ? why it is regarded sin ?

Who does not know the logic of Nazi officers, who killed millions of jews in gas chambers and other brutal ways to clean Germany during Hitler's ruling era and later on, when the victims and other agencies in Germany wanted to prosecute the case against them, they simply responded; they were just following the order from the ‘top’. Does this mean they don't have the sense to differentiate   what is right and what is wrong ?

How justifiable that response is ? and more than that how justifiable the murder they committed during their work life ? or they just choose to blame the whole situation to ‘others’ for the life they lived ? Like the injector of aborted child, those Chinese medical staff at every abortion section of the maternity hospital in China ? Should a job be blamed for the bad decision ?  or a person finds it so easy to hide their own hidden weakness under the coziness of job, situation, condition or bad time to hide their own flaws ?

Then, who decides what is sin ?

For a murder, which is the mother of all sin, a parents may call it siblings rivalry, society may call it unacceptable and unbelievable act, human rights activist may call it inhuman or barbaric act and  judicial system calls it illegal, government may call it taking stern action to implement the system on track and a thinker may call it illogical and insane act, when a philosopher with psychological insights may call it manifestation of deeper dwelling frustration of other issues, a corporate house may call it job well done for survival, press may call it unhealthy competition. You may call it bad and he may call it good. But a religious leader comes forth saying, this is evil and devils work and this is sin. Huge bunch of our society will go on agreeing with the religious leader. Yeah, this is sin !

Therefore every society needs more social reformers, not a religious leaders to understand the deep root of the cause; rather than jumping into the wrong conclusion when it comes to an act called sin.

But, it it seems that my work is still not done, what makes an act a sinful act then ? why it is regarded sin ?

*Could be fake name, as I use it what they used the name but crime show normally do not reveal the real name,  when they dramatise it for public viewing.

Note : this article was published before in Nepalidvocate.com

Good judgement good leadership

Leadership ability is grossly ignored yet highly sought after quality in my country. What is more frustrating is intellectuals not only political journalists or writers but all walk of like only seeks this quality in politicians and not in other areas of life. Some political journalist[s] never get tire using the word leader for politicians who do not have leadership qualities at all; but knows how to play politics to remain in the position for long.

As a blogger, writer I always keep myself away from political talks and topics and I keep writing, politics is not my subject and I don't understand politics. But, the truth is I don't want to understand politics. I avoid it to the max, because it has power to boil my blood and give me high blood pressure, mostly for it being twisted beyond recognition. I have to admit it, there are times, when I really need to know what do they understand and what I fail to understand in politics ?

By now I have learned that its better to avoid journalists, Reporters or correspondents and people who are expert on giving political jargon. I stick with  only those who helps me make sense of the things I need to understand. There are times I have found illiterate politicians making more sense than the well educated journalists, who are asking biased question with half done homeworks. Therefore, for this very reason, its Christiane Amanpour on CNN and Bijay Kumar on his show Dishanirdesh which I stick with to understand that even politicians makes sense.

Early this year, I got a little bit curious to give my time and interest in some news when Khil Raj Regmi a clean image Chief justice became the center of attention due to his name submission by Unified CPN- Maoist. He was chosen from all party to get out from the political deadlock my country was going through for four years, to held a CA election; as four major party could never reach clear consensus.

To keep an eye on this news was not being interested in politics but just being a responsible citizens to know what is going on now and how things will turn out. Because he has been associated with justice department with squeaky clean image so I started reading Ananta Raj Luitel, for he not being a political journalist. I got most of my insights in his news, views and commentary. I kind of read almost all the news that his name was. Of course, I am famous for filtering the nonsense news, just to keep my blood pressure level intact.From very early stage, I had faith in him like all the political party that he is the right person for my country to give us a solution. He did not come from political background nor he is good at politics like others.

 

To my disappointment I got a chance to read mostly negative news and views and protest before and after his posting as the Executive Head of the state. Judges, lawyers, civil rights bodies and other intellects from my country unanimously opposed the decision of Khil Raj Regmi to take the challenge to give this  nation a way out from deadlock situation that never seem to be ending.

If you read closely the the comments and opinions put forth by EX-AG, Ex Supreme court justice and President of Democratic Lawyers association they were all only worried about the possible image tarnishing of judicial institution not the entire nation. Nepal Bar association have come forward to oppose his join in Government.

“When political parties have failed to maintain countries politics, how will Regmi be able to handle the situation ?” asked Sarvgyaratna Tuladhar former attorney general. “since politicians and political parties have failed in the last four years now they want to shift the blame on cj, or the judiciary for that matter, by dangling the prime ministerial post before Regmi” Ex-AG opined.

“I can confidently predict that he would fail [ as the  executive head], and he will make the judiciary a controversial institution.” said Yadunath Khanal President Democratic Lawyers Association.  He also said, “But I don't think he will be able to handle the [political] situation as the executive head for he has failed to put his own house in order - like in relations to addressing judicial affairs”

“He might not be able to deliver what the political parties are expecting. So, the move of making him the prime minister boomerang, jeopardizing the entire judiciary, which could ultimately become a failed institution” a former supreme court justice told Ananta Raj Luitel on his news piece that appeared on the February 22, 2013 on The Himalayan Times.

In other news I read civil rights body lead by Kanak Mani Dixit, who is famous political journalist. He squarely focus on political matter and loves busting scams and hanuman hammer the bloated ego of politicians. What stunned me is when he regrouped his civil rights associates to manage a peaceful protest in Peace Garden [Shanti Batika ] to oppose Khil Raj Regmi lead government. What is so peace about peaceful protest held in Shanti Batika ? and what he knows about the result long before, to doubt his ability  to give us a way out from political deadlock ?. Now when we have fresh result  in hand of his ability to give us what he was trusted, I now doubt this white haired journalist in depth knowledge more than ever. He keeps demanding answer with politician for this and that but I yet have to read his self reflecting and soul searching article on this doubt. He still have not written anything about his doubt, not even four lines on his Facebook status to feel guilty about his protest before the result. Instead he is giving nonstop report on which party own which lose and which nation welcomed our peaceful participation in our election. How can he do so when he keep hammering the politicians non stop and yet he presume he never makes any mistake in his field ? His loud silence on this matter has power to tell, that his fight with politicians seems like clash of ego, rather than helping us to understand the situation from pure white haired journalist angel.

Now after the November 19, 2013 CA Election, I have been reading the Facebook status of not only journalists but many national dailies editors including Kanak Mani Dixit. Strange they are busy reporting which party won and who lost and who got how much vote, totally ignoring who gave us this opportunity to take part in this most peaceful election of our time despite all the doubt put on, not only with him but wild prediction that our mass is not interested in elections anymore and election will not take place in time and things will turn upside down. The  actual result is so opposite to what I have been reading over the period of more than nine months.

Knowing politics, doing politics and playing politics is a whole lot of different things and one do not need to know politics like CJ khil Raj Regmi to lead a nation and give us a way out. He not only accepted the dreadful challenge, as he himself was not sure about accepting this request from the very beginning and he took really long time to make his mind. Khil Raj Regmi is the most undermined and ignored leader. However, he showed this nation how a non-political leader can help this nation give a way out from a political deadlock. This, way out do have power to tell us that good justice always means good leadership.

What is Sin ?

I needed to refer, The Fourth Dimension for an article, but when I reread it, it thoroughly changed my mind, then I came up with this article instead. Couple of years ago, when I had read Dr. Paul Yonggi Cho for the first time, he did added me in his vast circle of admirer.As very powerful religious leader which made him an influential pastor not only in Korea, but a well known name around the world in Christian community. I became his huge fan, even though, he is an ardent worshiper of Jesus and I am not.

But when I picked up the same book, it forced me to think about whole idea of his believe about sin. Oh, don't get me wrong, I still love to read this book again and again for many times as its so good and his reasoning is very convincing and my respect for him has not diminished, not even by an inch. Its just that I disagree with him, when I came to an end of the book. The part that have stayed in my mind long after I read it. However, when I flipped the pages straight towards the last couple of pages, one word intrigued me as it stood tall among his other belief. Its his believe that fear, hatred, inferiority [complex] and guilt are sins.

It really forced me to think hard. These are common human weakness; not even psychological issues. We all have these weakness, regardless of our family background, class, society, nationality regardless of we being belonging to any part of the world. Everyone of us have these weakness, some more and some less. I would not regards these weakness as sin; just the natural flaws. A weakness that separate us from God or some superhuman. But, when Dr. Paul Yonggi Cho, a religious leader, international speaker and most powerful pastor of his country puts those weakness in the bracket of sin, it sure makes his huge followers [ inside and outside the country], to believe in it and at the same time has tremendous power to confuse equal number of people, regardless of their religious belief.

If fear, hatred, inferiority [complex] and guilt are sins; then  what makes criminal instinct, murder,  serial killers, terrorist act, or those who did or ordered for genocide or even worse those who are so corrupt, that their corrupt habit is taking lives of so many others; but only indirectly. They never get punished for the death they caused in many ways. Yet, they never feel sorry for what their action touched many live in negative way, and what do you call the person involved in human trafficking and making mankind as close to animal and treating them like slave. Does sin has A, B, C grade ?

As I was reading another book, Truth and Transformation by Vishal Mangalwadi, who again is another religious preacher, Indian philosopher and . In one incident in his book, he had written anger is sin. Since when, human emotions like anger is also part of sin ? Its very hard to believe when social reformer and intellect like him  advocating  on the subject that is emotion like anger and put it in the sins bracket. But, its the power of thinkers to change the society with radical thinking and more than that they also indulged in power to confuse common people always. And in this case it sure has full power to confuse the people who have huge faith in God. This is the logic made by religious leaders, in the name of God to confuse the huge general mass.

Some people define sin is what when majority of people think ‘this is sin’. Disapproval of the community is what makes an act sin ? Is sin is something going for the forbidden fruit ? whether its by God or the upper caste people in the society, who are in a position to make rules ? Personally to me, it seems that the word has a blind faith, without using the common sense. It also seems they blindly believed what the religious gurus said or defined it. What is sin then ? what makes an act a sinful act ?

Some Hindu religious leader regard sex as a lust and not love; even in married couples. In so many religion sex is mere use for the utility and nothing else. Many religious leaders from east and west are unanimous, when it comes to abortion, making it a sinful act. Only couple of years ago, it was one of the most deciding factor to choose the President of America based on his opinion on abortion; until one smart person came up with the answer, that made the would be president to respond, “we are going to respect the decision mothers make for themselves”, this statement doused the hot discussion on sleep mode. Now a days, this issue is not the topic of discussion, any more, for the presidential campaign.

To control a genocide some super nations enters into the mission of stopping it with a motto, ‘stop terror with terror’.  Americans were always divided during the gulf war to shut down Saddam. Who decides what is good or what is bad then ?  Since when murder by powerful politicians is not murder and by individual it is still called murder.

Why some religious leaders preach a human flaws as a sin ? Why they are trying hard, the impossible act of controlling the flaws by telling them to suppress it. Telling them to be the one, who they are not. Then again, why this kind of philosophy is not helping any society - east or west - to control the crime or sins to happen in every society ?

The truth is; how hard the religious leaders try to stop some sins to take place in our society one thing is sure, the all of the combined force of religious leaders of the world can not change one core point of the human beings, to convert them into a God. Human remains human; with all their weakness and flaws and as long as we live on earth the sinful act will never stop happening.

So the best for every one is to remain the best of yourself and try not to be like God or live the life of faking everything, no one has to pretend, who you are not.  I am also hoping when you are reading these lines, you must be very much aware of; what moral integrity is. So relax, be yourself, I mean true self of yours and without worrying what is good or bad; live your life your way, with all the flaws that is your which makes you truly you. As time flies by, you will grow up to know all on your own, what is good and what is bad. Because what seem good to you, will always seem bad to someone else and one day you will grow up to find the answer of that act of yesterday. More than that you will grow up to know that    those who preaches to be good and sinless are also not the perfect self of them.

Do what you think is right and what feels right to you. Let others judge you, because that’s what they do best to judge you or your decision. Always keep in mind, they don't live your life, which you have to live. Make your mistakes and learn from your mistakes just keep in mind that life is too short to make all the mistakes and learn from it, at the same time.

Every human being has its share of natural weakness and flaws, that's what makes us human being and not God !

Note : this article was first published in Nepaliadvocate.