What if the wages of Sin were physical mutations?

[metalikhan]

Apr 24, 2011 20:53:06 GMT -5 myrthman said:

I like the idea of a super-advanced society that has eradicated all disease and sickness, maybe even societal ills like hunger and crime too.

That would be a tough one. In this fallen world, there are many diseases that are present in the environment. We just don't succumb to them unless specific conditions occur. Strep, staph, tetanus -- these and more will be in the environment until God brings on the new heaven & earth. Even curing societal ills may involve something akin to removing the individual's free will. Ouch!

[myrthman]

Hmm... Good point. Maybe they've just figured out a cure for everything (at least in the wealthier parts of the world), like polio still exists but there's virtually zero cases of it in the U.S. Maybe the Wormwood Virus has only surfaced in these places where other diseases have been successfully cured. People in 3rd-world areas perhaps still deal with other sicknesses??

[susanne]

This is a very interesting idea and would make an excellent story. You should definitely just focus on this subject, don't get side-tracked, because you have so much material just within that subject.
It also set me thinking, doesn't sin really quite often manifest itself physically in this life?
This morning at the healthy living group hosted by our church we were talking about the prevalence of clamydia and other STDs. My friend was saying that there are women who indulged in sex as teenagers and are now unable to bear children because of these diseases.
Gluttony can lead to being overweight, quite a stigma in our current culture.
Drinking a lot of alcohol can lead to physical disease.
My Mom has smoked all her life and now suffers from lung and artery problems.
Just a few examples, but it really makes you think.

[Divides the Waters]

I had a similar notion for magic usage. I have a story on the back burner wherein magic is fairly easily accessed, but it creates deformities like horn-like growths, etc.

[firestorm78583]

One possibility for a symptom of this virus is physical weakness (i.e. Samson). I've considered incorporating the "Samson Effect" with the superheores in my story. The more sin they harbor in their hearts, the weaker they become.

[Bethany J.]

This is such an interesting idea! I would definitely read it if it was a book. I like myrthman's observation that it's kind of like X-men...would this "Wormwood virus" manifest at puberty and suddenly reveal an individual's particular sins? There would be so many people trying to protect their children with moralism, but of course that never works...

I wonder what effects the various vices would have? The ailments would have to fit the sin somehow...maybe lust affects the eyes, for example.

I once began a short story with a (sort of) similar premise...it was based on the thought that sin in one's heart is just as bad as outward sin, although it may not be visible (i.e. Jesus said that lusting in one's heart = committing adultery). In the world of the story, hating someone was the same as killing them because physical symptoms of your hate would show up on their body and eventually destroy them. I didn't handle the concept very well, though, and never finished the story. I like your idea better!

First post! I'm new around here.

[Kessie]

Hi Bethany! Welcome to the Anomaly! I really like the concept, too. I wonder if the original poster ever did anything with it? The original post is pretty old.