Sin is the Absence of God

Four years ago, I had a protracted discussion online about religion with a friend who left the Church. You have an idea how "pleasant" that discussion was, right? I held up my "fort" for weeks until someone hacked his email account and silence enveloped our channel for 4 years. He complained to me about that a few days ago. Not wishing he'd begin insinuating that I did the hacking, I told him about Google's 2-step verification system.

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Anyhow, without boring you with details about what we discussed, I just thought at first that he was a born again Christian. Deeper into our discussion, I saw that he was an agnostic. Just recently, a chance conversation with him (seemingly from outer space) blew me away as he declared, "Life did not start with conception! Life started billions of years ago" or something like that.

His transformation from a non-Catholic Christian, to an agnostic, and now, it seems, to an absolute atheist was pretty amazing. He wants both of us to resume our discussions. This time, I said No. He insisted. I said No.

Many people look for God. Not having found them, they just dismiss God as a "concept" that lies somewhere within the realm of a more tangible human science. The fuel that drives this is ... pride.

I sense the cold breath of loneliness in between the words of this guy. I feel that loneliness envelopes him. There is no joy. There is only dissatisfaction. Everything to him has to be explained, including God. Isn't that pride at work? Doesn't pride breed loneliness? From disdain, my feeling about this friend is now more of sympathy.

A priest said something like this, "Sin is the absence of God, and what a tragedy that is when you dissociate yourself with someone who's the source of everything." Sin is to be swallowed by nothingness. I can't bear the thought of it.

When our eloquence couldn't sway a man, let's say our prayers for the man instead, in silence. He needs these prayers more than he sees it. One day, when we all make it to heaven, I dream of seeing this guy tap me on my back and say, "Hey, remember me? Thanks for your prayers. I made it back."

That would be a teary encounter.