The 'sin' is its own punishment

Or: morality as not actually being optional

12-step recovery meetings often open with a reading of the aforementioned 12 steps themselves, which are presented as ‘suggested program of recovery’. The word ‘suggested’ is emphasized, with a bit of a smirk - the steps are suggested in the sense that it is suggested to use a parachute when jumping out of a high-flying airplane. 

The steps have to be me…