What does the Catholic Church describe sin as?

Answer 1

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Catholic AnswerSins are thoughts, words, or deeds which are contrary to the Will of God. God made us, and he made us with an infinite desire. The only "infinite" in the world (or out of it) is God; anytime we try to choose something less than God, we sin as we are choosing an idol, we are making something that is not God into a god and thus sinning. One incomplete analogy might be: anytime you are trying to use a tool for something for which it was not created, like a knife for a screwdriver, or some such thing, you are distorting its purpose. That is similar: anytime you are trying to use your body, your mind, or your spirit, for something other than glorifying God, you are distorting your purpose, the reason for which you were created and brought into being.

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from

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, English translation 1994

II. The Definition of Sin

1849

Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is a failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as "an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law." (St. Augustine, Contra Faustum 22: J.P. Migne, ed., Patrologia Latina {Paris: 1841-1855} 42, 418; St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae I-II, 71, 6)

1850

Sin is an offense against God: "Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight." (Psalm51:4) Sin sets itself against God's love for us and turns our hearts away from it. Like the first sin, it is disobedience, a revolt against God through the will to become "like gods," (Genesis 3:5) knowing and determining good and evil. Sin is thus "love of oneself even to contempt of God." (St. Augustine, De civ. Dei 14, 28: J.P. Migne, ed., Patrologia Latina {Paris: 1841-1855} 41, 436) In this proud self-exaltation, sin is diametrically opposed to the obedience of Jesus, which achieves our salvation. (Cf. Phil 2:6-9)