[Daycare Nation]

sin is our translation of the Greek word "hamartia," which means "to miss the mark." It basically means "error." The idea is that the natural man persists in error until he experiences a fundamental transformation of mind and character (contrast the "normal guy" and the tibetan monk). The fundamental transformation is called "metanoia" and is the word we translate as repentance.

The extreme focus on shame and guilt did not occur until later in the church's history, probably middle ages. One can blame St. Augustine to a degree, who equated sin with sex because he had a neurosis about ejaculation and a fear of women.