text: Marty, you spent some time organizing this post and thanks for your efforts.
  I don't approach this topic as much from Church Teaching and Catechism as Spirituality. 
  I have mentioned that I see sin more as a refusal of mutuality or closing down into separateness. Essentially the Holy Spirit is absent from our lives. 
  Jesus can easily help us regain our divine connection by following  his teachings such as Happy are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.