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Date: Mon, 16 Jun 1997 19:47:17 -0400
From: rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu (Russell Hendel)
Subject: RE: Doubt vs Sin

Jacob Faturechi [BM v1n18] seems to suggests that a person sins because
he/she has doubt.

>  >   I don't think it was unquestionable proof since they still fell into
idolatry>  >

I would like to suggest that the correct equation is not
               sin = doubt
but
               sin = impetuousness.

To sin means to let your bodily instincts do what they feel like,
spontaneously, without checking them. It doesn't mean you have doubt. True,
to cover sin a person may start acting like he doubts but doubt is not a
prerequisite for sin.

The simplest example is that of Kind David and Bath-Sheva. King David was a
prophet and had no doubt that G-d exists. But he behaved impetuously with
Bath-Sheva and sinned. He had no doubts. His greatness was that he
repented. On the other hand when Adam sinned (Gen 3) he started to "rebel"
and "hide from G-d", acting like he had doubts (because Adam too was a
prophet)--but in reality Adam knew that G-d existed without doubt.

I hope this helps.

Russell Hendel; Ph.d;ASA; rhendel @ mcs drexel edu

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