Thoughts on Sin

Were I a normal theologian who was explaining the topic of sin to a normal everyday person, I would use words such as; total depravity, corruption, transgression, posterity, original righteousness, carnal concupiscence, inclination to evil, depraved state, consequences,state of integrity,evil propensity, wrath of God,first parents, and list goes on and on. But, you know what? I am not a normal theologian. In fact I don't even hold myself to be a theologian. Yes, I have been trained as a theologian, having received my BA in Theology and Ancient Biblical languages, and my Masters of Divinity in Theology at a four year grad school, but claim not to be a theologian due to the fact that I find that human beings, when thinking about mysteries and the world around them, tend to make difficult the simple. Tend to take the basic and make them "advanced".
So, I consider myself to be one who prefers the simple rather than the difficult. And I have found through all of my research and studies of sin, and through all of the questions that I have fielded as a pastor in the Lutheran Church ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America), that the topic of sin is much easier to explain to people than theologians are apt to do. Now please understand that this blog is a place where I can write down my ideas, my thoughts on the subject and in turn receive feedback and ideas from others. That I will try to remain biblical in my interpretation of sin and humanities relationship with God, and back up any ideas biblically. So, ladies and gentlemen, I am willing to accept constructive feedback and criticisms and questions that any of you might have on the subject or relating subjects of sin.
So my first question on the subject is this, what in so many words is the definition of sin? I looked the word sin up in Merriam-Webster dictionary and this is the definition that was listed: 1. a: an offense against religious or moral law b: an action that is or is felt to be highly reprehensible c: an often serious shortcoming : 2 a: transgression of the law of God b: a vitiated state of human nature in which the self is estranged from God...What I see in this definition of sin is 95% human created confusion and 5% truth. The confusion? a: an offense against religious or moral law b: an action that is or is felt to be highly reprehensible c: an often serious shortcoming....The truth? a vitiated state of human nature in which the self is estranged from God. You see, it's all about relationship...more to come.