Not the Way It's Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin — Cornelius Plantinga Jr.

Cornelius Plantinga Jr. describes sin not merely as a list of forbidden actions, but as a vandalism of shalom, defined as the harmonious webbing of God, humanity, and creation. The text explores how evil functions as a parasitic intruder that possesses no original power of its own, instead flourishing by corrupting and despoiling the good things God has made. Through a framework of perversion, pollution, and disintegration, Plantinga illustrates how sin causes a "spiritual hygiene" crisis, leading individuals into a tragic spiral of addiction and self-deception. Ultimately, the author emphasizes that while sin is a fertile and fatal force that prompts both attack and flight, it remains a secondary reality that is eventually overcome by the persistence of divine grace.