The awareness of sin, a deep awareness of disobedience, and painful confession of sin used to be our shadow. Christians hated sin. They feared it, they fled from it, they grieved over it. Some of our [forefathers] agonized over their sins. A man who lost his temper might wonder if he could still go to holy communion. A woman who for years envied her more attractive and intelligent sister might wonder if this sin threatened her very salvation... That shadow has dimmed. Nowadays the accusation, 'You have sinned,' is often said with a grin and with a tone that signals an inside joke. At one time this accusation still had the power to jolt people.