{"product_id":"not-the-way-its-supposed-to-be-a-breviary-of-sin","title":"Not the Way It's Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin","description":"Not the way it's supposed to be retrieves an old awareness that has slipped and changed in recent decades. The awareness of sin used to be our shadow. Christians hated sin, feared it, fled from it - and grieved over it.\nBut in part because modern society does not encourage moral reproach - particularly self-reproach - the shadow of sin has now dimmed in our consciousness. Teachers, politicians, and other public guardians of morality seek less judgmental descriptions of wayward human conduct. Even preachers, who once got visibly angry over a congregation's sin, now speak of sin in a mumble.\nSharing Samuel Johnson's conviction that we need to be reminded more often than instructed, Cornelius Plantinga, Jr., pulls the ancient doctrine of sin out of mothballs and presents it to contemporary readers in clear language, drawing from a wide range of books, films, and other cultural resources. Plantinga's assumption is that a healthy reminder of our sin and guilt is clarifying and even reassuring. For, unlike some other identifications of human trouble, a diagnosis of sin and guilt allows hope. Something can be done for this problem. Something has been done for it.\nPlantinga's goal is to present a brief account - a breviary - of the nature and dynamics of sin and to renew our knowledge of a persistent reality. He defines sin as the destruction of shalom, the peace and harmony and blessedness God intended for creation. Creation is no longer the way it's supposed to be. Plantinga describes how sin corrupts what is good and how such corruption spreads. He discusses the parasitic quality of sin and the ironies and pretenses generated by this quality. He examines the relation of sin to folly and addiction. He concludes by describing two classic \"postures\" or movements of sin (attack and flight). An epilogue reminds us that whatever we say about sin also sharpens our eye for the beauty of grace.\u003cbr\u003eASIN: 0802837166\u003cbr\u003eVSKU: BVV.0802837166.A\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Acceptable\u003cbr\u003eAuthor\/Artist:Plantinga, Cornelius\u003cbr\u003eBinding: Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNote:\u003c\/b\u003e Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition Notes\u003c\/b\u003e: The item is very worn but is perfectly usable. Signs of wear can include aesthetic issues such as scratches, dents, worn and creased covers, folded page corners and minor liquid stains. All pages and the cover are intact, but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include moderate to heavy amount of notes and highlighting, but the text is not obscured or unreadable. Page edges may have foxing  age related spots and browning . May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials.  \u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Blue Vase Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44525138378813,"sku":"BVV.0802837166.A","price":24.44,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0589\/4225\/9261\/files\/0802837166-0.jpg?v=1794523621","url":"https:\/\/www.bluevasebooks.com\/products\/not-the-way-its-supposed-to-be-a-breviary-of-sin","provider":"Blue Vase Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}