Page:Sin and Crime.pdf/3



questions are of more importance to the student of sociology than that of the nature and treatment of sin and crime; in this and the following papers I purpose to examine the subject, to ask what light is thrown on it by the Bible—as the received guide in morality by the majority—and by science; and to seek some rational mode of dealing with both sinners and criminals.

A few definitions are necessary at the outset, in order to avoid misconception of the terms used. The definitions may or may not be accepted as generally true, but they will bind me in all I write here under the above heading, and so will serve for clearly showing my meaning, whether that meaning be approved or not.

I define Sin as disregard of moral law. Some people take it as connoting God, or breach of supernatural law. I do not so use it. A word is needed to signify wrongdoing, outside, as well as including, the scope of the criminal law, and the word sin is useful for this purpose. It includes, but goes beyond, all crimes, and I define Crime as breach of a special kind of moral law, of law which is enacted by some authority and enforced by penalty. A crime will therefore necessarily be a sin, but a sin need not be a crime.

The words "law" and "moral" also require definition. Law is a word which has two meanings, and much