The Original Sin
It was when both Adam and Eve ate from the tree. They were free to do whatever they wished but that one thing. The tree signifies our ability to abide or defy rules, free will; it also represents the public sphere and boundaries. It was the first order and the only boundary, and our predecessors failed to respect it.
Sin
Religious folks constantly speak of sin, and it is one of the most misunderstood concepts by most.
In Islam, wrongdoing is broken down to a few categories. There are wrongdoings, which break the contract with the divine; and others which inflict harm to oneself, others, and nature.
To most Muslims, it is the simple halal vs haram classification. The halal is all that permissible and in alignment with the natural order; haram is the opposite. These two can apply to most things, and not just food.
Sin refers to any action that is harmful to the human spirit, heart, mind, or body, including those to the self. The divine list of sinful action isn’t that long. However, that list includes all the things that traumatize any human.
Sin can also refer to illegal action. Sin exists in both the public and private spheres. I like to think of the public parts of it as laws and social contracts; on other hand, I see other parts as the collective common sense we continuously refer to.
The Evolution of Human and Sin
Yes, evolution took place and religious folks believe in it. Humans roamed the earth like every other member of the animal kingdom. Humans resembled animals in most facets; however, there was a leap forward, we communicated and expressed ourselves. We became human beings capable of logical thinking and choosing. The Quran makes a clear distinction between the two—bashar and nas.
Our evolution was physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Our evolution is ongoing.
The first law was simple, respect common public property, the tree. Laws were added as the collective mental capacity expanded and more humans chose being. We parted ways with the animal kingdom, with the natural order and harmony as our north star.
Did you know that at some point in history men didn’t recognize or acknowledge their children? Unknowingly, men slept with their daughters, sisters, or aunts. Mothers were the only recognized family members; our ancestors lived in matriarchal societies.
Human sacrifice was a widespread practice until a law was realized by a man who was willing to go as far as killing his own child to illustrate the insanity of such practice. Animals do kill and eat their weak and disabled.
With every forward leap, we received a new piece of our collective puzzle. With every new piece, we moved out of the animal jungle, created our own jungles, and moved towards the divine.
The Conflicting Pattern
Our evolution from humans to human beings didn’t include a separation of the two. If anything, we chose to add more responsibilities to our existence. The two thrive within; the two are the source of our duality and our continuous inner battles.
Our human side operates on basic instincts and simple one-dimensional commands—hungry, eat; thirsty, drink; sleepy, eat; aroused, mate; angry, scream; and so on. Humans don’t stop and think for a second about their actions and consequences. Humans have no concerns for the quality of their food, drink, shelter, partners, and quality of life. Humans aren’t thoughtful of anyone outside their immediate and recognizable family members. Humans aren’t that far from the animal kingdom.
On the other hand, human beings should be the opposite of the above. Human beings are meant to be more conscious and aware of their energies and that of the collective.
It is the mind over body. It is the mind over basic instincts.
Religion, laws, sin, halal, and haram are some of the ways to govern the relationship between the two for balance and harmony. And as long as our human story continues to grow, we will continue to struggle defining a harmonious relationship.
