As noted in the introductory blogs, at the same time that Menninger proposed that “sin” go into the slot for the realm of actuality, the Public Cult of Progressivism had already initiated a host of alternatives that now fall under the label “political incorrectness”.

So, Menninger’s argument ended up as crime(political incorrectness(symptom)).

This substitution does not change the nested structure.  However, it does change the point of accountability.

According to Menninger, God holds the person accountable.  “Sin” is a “transgression of the law of God; disobedience of the divine will; moral failure.  Sin is failure to realize in conduct and character the moral ideal, at least as fully as possible under existing circumstances; failure to do as one ought towards one’s fellow man (Webster)” (18-19).

According to the Public Cult of Progressivism, the central state holds the person accountable.  “Sexist”, “polluter”, “racist”, “capitalist”, “homophobe” blame the person in precisely the way that “sin” does?

Is there a difference?

Perhaps it is this:

In Christianity, the accuser is also a sinner.

In Progressivism, the accuser is a saint.