Let's take a look at sin and sins. Sins, we all know, are things we do that we ought not to do and things that we don't do that we ought to do. There are lists and lists of them, heap upon heap, do's and don'ts, shoulds and shouldn'ts, things we've been told are sins, things we think are sins, things that others think are sins. Sins are things we commit or omit. Sin is a little more complicated.
Sin is a condition, a predilection.
Our sins are symptoms of our sin , the concrete instances, deeds, actings-out of our refusal to accept reality, of our inclination t alienation, of our dogged determination to fall on our face. One way or another, our sins make us very unhappy. And if you want a working definition of sin and sins, look to your unhappiness. Not the unhappiness of your circumstances or your upbringing, nor the unhappiness others may cause you. Their sins be upon their own heads.