The apostle Paul tells us we will all “stand before God’s judgment seat” (Rom 14:10). This is a concept all Jews understand well. During the Ten Days of Awe beginning with Rosh Hashana and ending with Yom Kippur, Jews rehearse for this final judgment, giving an account of ourselves to God.

The standard explanation for why this judgment is necessary is that God is holy, and we are not, and we need to be forgiven for our sins. While this is true, it seems aridly theological, failing to give us a sense of what sin is, and why it matters.