Social Sin in Dead Man Walking
In his writing on critical theology, Gregory Baum defines social sin as "collective blindness, group-egotism, and the pursuit of a national life that betrays the covenant and violates the divine command" (Baum 198). Baum goes on to describe foul levels of social sin that can be applied to society. This notion of sin can be clearly seen in Sister Helen Prejean's book, Dead Man Walking. One example of collective blindness in Dead Man Walking can be seen in Prejean's childhood. As a child, Prejean was exposed to the racist American society in the 1940's and 1950's. She tells of separate schools for blacks and whites, as well as separates seats for blacks in buses and churches. Prejean recounts how "it was a great dare for a white kid to go to the back of the bus and sit with the blacks." (Prejean 6). She later explains, "it would take me a long time to understand how systems inflict pain and hardship in people's lives and to learn that being kind in an unjust system is not enough." (Prejean 7) This example constitutes Baum's first level of social sin, which is "made up of the injustices and dehumanizing trends built into the various institutions which embody people's collective lives." (Baum 201) Racism and poverty were so deeply
" (Baum 201) Prejean also found an example of social sin in capital punishment. This was Prejean's act of redemption. She didn't say a word, did not even look at the bus driver, just picked herself up and walked away. As long as you are truthful, confess and admit to being guilty Prejean believes God will take you in, and the sinner will leave the world with dignity as everyman deserves. So why should not murderers be sentences to death? As Baum stated, "by persuading people that the source of evil is only in the human heart we make them blind to the destructive trends built into their institutional life. " (Prejean 106) This example can be applied to Baum's second level of social sin. Baum describes this level as "made up of the cultural and religious symbol. These are the men that are responsible for carrying out the executions who believe they are justified in their actions. I heard the bus driver shout an obscenity to a young black women and saw him kick her with his foot off the bus and onto the sidewalk. She recalls an awful event she witnessed:". However, it is this same society that believes murdering someone who has committed murder is not a sin.
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