Torn: When Sin Goes Viral

Some sins seem to take on a life of their own as individual choices add up to systems and structures of evil. There comes a tipping point where these structures (racism, queer phobia, environmental degradation, capitalism) take on a life of their own, newly replicating themselves beyond the control of any one person. We call this corporate sin - the sins of collective or communal harm.

 

Corporate sin is a major emphasis of the scriptures, in which the prophets frequently call on whole cities to repent. So why do our modern conversations about sin always center the individual? And how are we called to repent from communal sins that feel so beyond our control?