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The '''seven deadly sins''', also known as the '''capital vices''' or '''cardinal sins''', are a classification of vices used in Christian teachings to educate and protect followers from unwholesome traits and behavior. The [[Roman Catholic Church]] differentiated between two different types of sin: venial sin (forgiven without the need for the [[Sacrament]] of [[Confession]]) and capital sin (meriting [[damnation]]).  The generally accepted deadly sins are '''superbia''' ([[hubris]]/pride), '''avaritia''' (greed), '''luxuria''' (extravagance, later lust), '''invidia''' (envy), '''gula''' (gluttony), '''ira''' (wrath), and '''acedia''' (sloth). Each deadly sin is opposed by one of the corresponding [[seven virtues|Seven Holy Virtues]].
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[[image:Boschsevendeadlysins.jpg|thumb|right|400px|''The Seven Deadly Sins and the Four Last Things'' by [[Hieronymus Bosch]] 1485 Oil on wood panels]]
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In [[Roman Catholicism]], the '''Seven Deadly Sins''', also known as the ''capital vices'' or ''cardinal sins'', are a list of the worst vices that cut a person off from God's [[grace]]. In [[Latin]] and [[English]], the Seven Deadly Sins are: ''superbia'' (pride), ''avaritia'' (greed), ''luxuria'' (extravagance, later lust), ''invidia'' (envy), ''gula'' (gluttony), ''ira'' (wrath), and ''acedia'' (sloth). Each of the Seven Deadly Sins corresponds to one of the Seven Holy [[Virtues]], and together these lists were the moral standards and tests of the early Catholic Church.
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{{toc}}
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Much debate thrived over the relative merit of the Seven Deadly Sins in the scope of salvation, as well as their particular ranking.  The [[Roman Catholic Church]] differentiates between two different types of sin: venial sin (forgiven through a sacrament) and capital sin (meriting [[damnation]] without reconciliation). The Seven Deadly Sins may be venial or mortal depending on the specific case (see below).  
  
== Christian views of sin ==
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== Roman Catholic Views of Sin ==
=== In general ===
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[[Roman Catholic]] doctrine distinguishes between personal sin and [[original sin]]. Personal sins are either mortal or venial:  
In [[Western Christianity]], sin is often viewed as a legal infraction or contract violation, and so salvation tends to be viewed in legal terms. In [[Eastern Christianity]], sin is more often viewed in terms of its effects on relationships, both among people and between people and God. The Greek word in the [[New Testament]] that is translated in English as "sin" is ''hamartia'', which literally means ''missing the target''. Consequently, salvation is viewed more in terms of reconciliation and vastly improved relationships. These two perspectives are not necessarily mutually exclusive. [[1 John]] 3:4 states: "Everyone who commits sin is guilty of [[antinomianism|lawlessness]]; sin is lawlessness." ([[NRSV]])
 
  
=== Catholic views ===
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Mortal sins are sins of grave (serious) matter, where the sinner is aware that the act (or omission) is both a sin and a grave matter, but still performs the act (or omission) with deliberate consent. The act of committing a mortal sin cuts off the sinner from God's grace; it is in itself a rejection of God. If left un-reconciled, mortal sins result in eternal punishment in [[Hell]]. Thus, mortal sin is sin causing spiritual death. (Rom. 5:12; 6:23).
Catholic doctrine distinguishes between personal sin and [[original sin]]. Personal sins are either mortal or venial.  
 
  
Mortal sins are sins of grave (serious) matter, where the sinner is aware that the act (or omission) is both a sin and a grave matter, and performs the act (or omission) with deliberate consent. The act of committing a mortal sin cuts off the sinner from God's grace; it is in itself a rejection of God. If left un-reconciled, mortal sins result in eternal punishment in Hell.
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:In order for a sin to be mortal, it must meet three conditions:
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*Mortal sin is a sin of grave matter
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*Mortal sin is committed with full knowledge of the sinner
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*Mortal sin is committed with deliberate consent of the sinner <ref>[http://www.saintaquinas.com/mortal_sin.html What is a Mortal Sin?] ''St. Thomas Aquinas Forum''. Retrieved March 31, 2022.</ref>
  
Venial sins are sins which do not meet the conditions for mortal sins. The sin may be one that is not a grave matter, or if a grave matter, the individual does not realize that the act is a sin or grave matter, or does not deliberately consent to the sin. The act of committing a venial sin does not cut off the sinner from God's grace, as the sinner has not rejected God. However, venial sins do injure the relationship between the sinner and God, and as such, must be reconciled to God, either through the sacrament of reconciliation or receiving the Eucharist.
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Consequently, to be classified as a "mortal sin" a sin must meet the first condition of being a "grave matter", as well as meet the two other conditions. The Seven Deadly Sins are also deemed "grave matter" but can only be "mortal sins" if the two other subsidiary conditions are met.
  
Both mortal and venial sins have a dual nature of punishment. They incur both guilt for the sin, yielding eternal punishment, and temporal punishment for the sin. Reconciliation is an act of God's mercy, and addresses the guilt and eternal punishment for sin. Purgatory and indulgences address the temporal punishment for sin, and exercise of God's justice.
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Venial sins are sins that do not meet the conditions for mortal sins. The sin may be one that is not a grave matter, or if a grave matter, the individual does not realize that the act is a sin, or does not deliberately consent to the sin. The act of committing a venial sin does not cut off the sinner from God's grace, as the sinner has not rejected God. However, venial sins do injure the relationship between the sinner and God, and as such, must be reconciled to God, either through the [[sacrament]] of reconciliation or receiving the [[Eucharist]].
  
Catholic doctrine also sees sin as being twofold: Sin is, at once, any evil or immoral ''action'' which infracts God's law and the inevitable consequences, the ''state of being'' that comes about by committing the sinful action. Sin can and does alienate a person both from God and the community. Hence, the Catholic Church's insistence on reconciliation with both God and the Church itself.  
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Both mortal and venial sins have a dual nature of punishment. They incur both guilt for the sin, yielding eternal punishment, and temporal punishment for the sin. Reconciliation is an act of God's mercy, and addresses the guilt and eternal punishment for sin. [[Purgatory]] and indulgences address the temporal punishment for sin, and exercise of God's justice.
  
According to Catholicism, in addition to [[Jesus]], the [[Blessed Virgin Mary|Virgin Mary]] also lived her entire life without sin. It is believed that Jesus assumed her directly into heaven after the end of her life on Earth; see [[Assumption of Mary]]. The belief in Mary's sinlessness is shared by many Eastern Orthodox theologians, but is not universally held and is not generally considered to be a point of dogma. In addition, the Orthodox view of the sinlessness of the [[Theotokos]] is not quite of the same nature as that held by Catholics, since the Catholic teaching of the [[Immaculate Conception]] is not an Orthodox doctrine.
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Catholic doctrine also sees sin as being twofold: Sin is, at once, any evil or immoral ''action'' that causes infraction in God's law and the inevitable consequences, the ''state of being'' that comes about by committing the sinful action. Sin can and does alienate a person both from God and the community. Hence, the Catholic Church's insistence on reconciliation with both God and the Church itself.
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
 
While no list of the seven deadly sins appears as such in the [[Bible]] itself, each of the sins is condemned at various points in the text. A list of seven sins that God hates ''is'' found in [[Book_of_Proverbs|Proverbs]] 6:16-19:
 
While no list of the seven deadly sins appears as such in the [[Bible]] itself, each of the sins is condemned at various points in the text. A list of seven sins that God hates ''is'' found in [[Book_of_Proverbs|Proverbs]] 6:16-19:
  
:There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. ([[New International Version]])
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:There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. (New International Version)
  
In the 4th-century, further elucidation of the sins was provided by the poet Prudentius (dates?) in his descriptions of battles between the Virtues and Vices in the Psychomachia, as well as from , Evagrius of Pontus (349-399 C.E.), a Greek theologian, introduced the concept of eight offenses and passions that a human could fall victim to while on earth. They were the result of an abnormal obsession with self. The cure for each of these was an adoption of selfless attitudes towards the world.
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In the fourth century, further elucidation of the sins was provided by the poet [[Prudentius]] (ca. 348-ca. 405 C.E.) in his descriptions of battles between the Virtues and Vices in the ''[[Psychomachia]]'' ("The Contest of the Soul").  Additionally, [[Evagrius Ponticus|Evagrius of Pontus]] (349-399 C.E.), a Greek theologian, introduced the concept of eight offenses and passions that a human could fall victim to while on earth. They were the result of an abnormal obsession with self. The cure for each of these was an adoption of selfless attitudes towards the world.
  
In the later part of the 6th-century c.e., [[Pope Gregory the Great|St. Gregory the Great]] (d. 604) in his work ''[[Moralia in Job]]'', introduced the seven deadly sins. The goal of the seven deadly sins was to illustrate for laypersons of the church the need to be mindful of capital sin, or sin which requires penance in Hell. Capital sin is graver than venial sin, which can be forgiven through confession.
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It has also been suggested that the original classification may have been monastic in origin.<ref> (cf. Cassian, ''Collationes Patrum'', vs. 10).</ref>
  
Pope Gregory's list was different from today and ranking of the Sins' seriousness was based on the degree from which they offended against love. From least serious to most, they were: lust, gluttony, sadness, avarice, anger, envy, and pride. Sadness would later be replaced by acedia (sloth), putting off or failing to do what God asks of you.
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In the later part of the sixth century C.E., [[Pope Gregory the Great]] (d. 604) in his work ''Moralia on Job (esp. XXXI.45)'', introduced the seven deadly sins and has given us the classical exposition on the subject. The goal of the seven deadly sins was to illustrate for laypersons of the church the need to be mindful of capital sin, or sin which requires penance in [[Hell]]. Capital sin is graver than venial sin, which can be forgiven through confession.
  
In the official [[Catechism of the Catholic Church]], consisting of 2,865 numbered sections and first published in 1992 by order of [[Pope]] [[Pope John Paul II|John Paul II]], the seven deadly sins are dealt with in one paragraph. The principal codification of [[moral]] transgression for Christians continues to be the [[Ten Commandments]] and the [[Beatitudes]], which are a positive statement of morality and part of the [[Sermon on the Mount]].  
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Pope Gregory's list of Seven Deadly Sins was different from the one found today, and his ranking of the Sins' seriousness was based on the degree that they offended against love. From least serious to most, were: lust, gluttony, sadness, avarice, anger, envy, and pride. Sadness would later be replaced by acedia (sloth), putting off or failing to do what God asks of you.
  
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Early [[Church Fathers]] around 1000 C.E. began to view the capital sins as not seven equal sins, but rather each sin having its own weight based on its grievousness. This began with an interpretation of [[1 John]] 5:16-17, which states, "If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death."
  
Beginning in the early 14th-century, the popularity of depicting the Seven Deadly Sins by artists of the time engrained them in western popular  consciousness.  The Italian poet [[Dante Alighieri]] (1265-1321), wrote three epic poems (known collectively as the Divine Comedy) titled Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. In his book Inferno, Dante recounts the visions he has in a dream in which he enters and descends into hell. According to Dante, he is told by his guide that a soul's location in Hell is based upon the sins that they commit when they are alive. In each 'ring' of hell, a specific punishment is doled out. As they descend lower and lower, the punishments (and consequently sins) become worse and worse until he reaches the bottom and discovers Satan.  In Inferno, Dante encounters these sins in the following order (canto number):  Lust (5), Gluttony (6), Avarice (7), Wrath (7-8), Heresy (10), Violence (12-17), Blasphemy (14), Fraud (18-30), and Treachery (32-34). However, the highly influential theologian and philosopher [[Thomas Aquinas]] (1225-1273) contradicted the notion that the seriousness of the capital sins should be ranked.
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Their interpretation of this chapter leads to the notion that some sins (those resulting in death or harm to others) are more grievous than others (those that result in death or harm to self).
  
[[Image:Hieronymus Bosch - The Garden of Earthly Delights - Hell.jpg|thumb|180px|right|''Hell'', the right panel from the triptych ''[[The Garden of Earthly Delights]]'']]
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Several of these sins interlink and various attempts at causal hierarchy have been made. For example, pride (love of self out of proportion) is implied in gluttony (the over-consumption or waste of food), as well as sloth, envy and most of the others. Each sin is a particular way of failing to love God with all one's resources and to love fellows as much as self. The [[Scholastic]] theologians developed schema of attributes and substance of will to explain these sins.
  
In the twentieth century, references to the Seven Deadly Sins continue to be a popular topic in modern Music and art.   Among the most famous of these are [[Hieronymus Bosch]] - [[The Seven Deadly Sins and the Four Last Things]]
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[[File:Seven Deadly Sins, St. Peter's Church, Linchmere.JPG|thumb|400px|Sculpture of the Seven Deadly Sins in the church of St. Peter, Lynchmere, West Sussex, England]]
  
* "[[The Seven Deadly Sins]]" (Die sieben Todsünden) is the name of a 1933 [[Kurt Weill]] / [[Bertolt Brecht]] / [[George Balanchine]] collaboration. It was originally sung by Lotte Lenya and danced by Tilly Losch.
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However, the highly influential theologian and philosopher [[Thomas Aquinas]] (1225-1273) contradicted the notion that the seriousness of the capital sins should be ranked. In medieval scholasticism the Seven Deadly Sins were the focus of considerable attention. <ref>cf. esp. Aquinas, ''Summa Theologica'', II.ii.</ref>
* "Seven Deadly Sins" is a 1990 song by the rock and roll supergroup, Traveling Wilburys.
 
* Modern artist Paul Cadmus painted a series of graphically disturbing, anthropomorphic depictions of the seven deadly sins, in the style of [[comic book]]s. After his death, this series was willed to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
 
* The album [[Heaven and Hell (Joe Jackson)|Heaven and Hell]] by [[Joe Jackson (musician)|Joe Jackson]] is a modern musical interpretation of the seven deadly sins.
 
* The rock group Simple Minds has a song titled "7 Deadly Sins" on its ''Good News From the Next World'' album.
 
* Seven Deadly Sins series by blackeri is a popular digital art series on deviantART.
 
  
TV, movies and games
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Beginning in the early fourteenth century, the popularity of depicting the Seven Deadly Sins by artists of the time ingrained them in western popular consciousness. The [[Italy|Italian]] poet [[Dante Alighieri]] (1265-1321 C.E..), wrote three epic poems (known collectively as the ''Divine Comedy'') titled ''Inferno'', ''Purgatorio'', and ''Paradiso''. In his book ''Inferno'', Dante recounts the visions he has in a dream in which he enters and descends into [[Hell]]. According to Dante, he is told by his guide that a [[soul]]'s location in Hell is based upon the sins that they commit when they are alive. In each 'ring' of hell, a specific punishment is doled out. As they descend lower and lower, the punishments (and consequently sins) become worse and worse until he reaches the bottom and discovers [[Satan]]. In ''Inferno'', Dante encounters these sins in the following order (canto number): Lust (5), Gluttony (6), Avarice (7), Wrath (7-8), Heresy (10), Violence (12-17), Blasphemy (14), Fraud (18-30), and Treachery (32-34).  
* ''Se7en'', (1995) - A [[serial killer]] obsessed with the seven deadly sins, reconstructs each one through his crimes.
 
* ''The Devil's Advocate'', (1997) - In this film, Satan declares that due to its simplicity, vanity (Pride) is his favorite sin.
 
* ''Serenity'', (2005) - The main antagonist makes references to the seven deadly sins.
 
* A pretext for the seven comic sketches in the motion picture ''[[The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins]]'' (1971).
 
* ''Bedazzled'', (1967) - Stanley Moon meets incarnations of the seven deadly sins.
 
* ''Final Fantasy XI'', (2003, VG-Sony) - A series of seven skeleton monsters are named after the seven deadly sins.
 
* ''Devil May Cry 3'', (2004, VG-Sony) - Demonic entities that represent the seven deadly sins early in the game are the jailkeepers of their respective sins. Each one of the demons is formed from sand, except for Envy, which is formed from a thick green liquid. Furthermore, each of the seven "devil" bosses in the game also represents one specific sin.
 
* ''Afterlife'', (2000, VG-Lucas Arts) - A ''SimCity''-like game played with Heaven and Hell. Areas are zoned according to the Seven Sins (in Hell) and the Seven Virtues (in Heaven).
 
* ''ActRaiser 2'', (?, VG-Nintendo) - Features seven demon bosses representing the seven deadly sins. They are represented by: a giant snail (sloth), a decaying, worried zombie head (envy), an ant/scorpian chimera (gluttony), a muscular man on fire resembling a Japanese demon (wrath), a jewel and gold-wearing dragon (greed), a goat-man creature with a human trapped in its belly (lust, but is renamed as deception in the US version) and a god-like machine (pride).
 
  
==The Sins==
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In modern times, references to the Seven Deadly Sins continue to be a popular topic in music and art. One of the most famous examples of these is the painting, ''The Seven Deadly Sins and the Four Last Things'' by [[Hieronymus Bosch]] (c. 1450-1516).
Listed in order of increasing severity as per Pope Gregory the Great, 6th-century A.D., the seven deadly sins are as follows:
 
  
===[[Lust]] (Latin, ''luxuria'')===
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In the official [[Catechism of the Catholic Church]], consisting of 2,865 numbered sections and first published in 1992, by order of [[Pope]] [[Pope John Paul II|John Paul II]], the seven deadly sins are dealt with in one paragraph. The principal codification of [[moral]] transgression for Christians continues to be the [[Ten Commandments]] and the [[Beatitudes]], which are a positive statement of morality.
Lust (fornication, perversion) &mdash;<br>Depraved thought, unwholesome morality, desire for excitement, or need to be accepted or recognized by others. Obsessive, unlawful, or unnatural sexual desire, such as desiring sex with a person outside marriage or engaging in unnatural sexual appetites. Rape and sodomy are considered to be extreme lust and are said to be mortal sins. Dante's criterion was "excessive love of others," thereby detracting from the love due to God. Lust prevents clarity of thought and rational behavior.
 
  
===[[Gluttony]] (Latin, ''gula'')===
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==The Sins==
Gluttony (waste, overindulgence) &mdash;<br>Thoughtless waste of everything, overindulgence, misplaced sensuality, uncleanliness, and maliciously depriving others. Marked by refusal to share and unreasonable consumption of more than is necessary, especially food or water. Destruction, especially for sport. Substance abuse or binge drinking. Dante explains it as "excessive love of pleasure". Associated with pigs and the color orange{{citeneeded}}.
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The Seven Deadly sins are listed today as follows:
  
===[[Avarice]] (Latin, ''avaritia'')===
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===Lust (Latin, ''luxuria'')===
Greed (treachery, avarice) &mdash;<br>A strong desire to gain, especially in money or power. Disloyalty, deliberate betrayal, or treason, especially for personal gain or when compensated. Scavenging and hoarding of materials or objects. Theft and robbery by violence. Simony is the evolution of avarice because it fills you with the urge to make money by selling things within the confines of the church. This sin is abhorred by the Catholic Church and is seen as a sin of malice, Dante included this sin in his first novel. Simony can be viewed as betrayal. Thomas Aquinas on greed: "it is a sin against God, just as all mortal sins, in as much as man condemns things eternal for the sake of temporal things." The childish of the 3 exaggerated adulthood sins. Greed is represented by the frog and the color yellow. {{citeneeded}}
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[[Lust]] ([[fornication]], [[perversion]]) &mdash;<br>Obsessive, unlawful depraved thought, or unnatural desire for sexual excitement, such as desiring [[sexual intercourse]] with a person outside marriage or engaging in unnatural sexual appetites. [[Rape]] and [[sodomy]] are considered to be extreme lust and are said to be mortal sins. [[Dante]]'s criterion was "excessive love of others," thereby detracting from the love due to God. Lust prevents clarity of thought and rational behavior.
  
===[[laziness|Sloth]] (Latin, ''acedia'')===
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===Gluttony (Latin, ''gula'')===
Sloth (apathy, indifference) &mdash;<br>Apathy, idleness, and wastefulness of time. Laziness is particularly condemned because others must work harder to make up for it.  Cowardice or irresponsibility. Abandonment, especially of God. Sloth is a state of [[equilibrium]]: one does not produce much, one does not consume much. Dante wrote that sloth is the "failure to love God with all one's heart, all one's mind and all one's soul". Associated with goats and the color light blue{{citeneeded}}. The childish of the two misplaced childhood.
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[[Gluttony]] (waste, overindulgence) &mdash;<br>Thoughtless waste of everything, overindulgence, misplaced sensuality, uncleanliness, and maliciously depriving others. Marked by refusal to share and unreasonable consumption of more than is necessary, especially food or water. Destruction, especially for sport. [[Substance abuse]] or [[binge drinking]]. Dante explains it as "excessive love of pleasure."
  
===[[Wrath]] (Latin, ''ira'')===
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===Avarice (Latin, ''avaritia'')===
Wrath (anger, hatred) &mdash;<br>Inappropriate (unrighteous) feelings of hatred and anger. Denial of the truth to others or self. Impatience or revenge outside of justice. Wishing to do evil or harm to others. Self-righteousness. Wrath is the root of murder and assault. Dante described wrath as "love of [[justice]] perverted to [[revenge]] and spite". The childish of the two prolonged adolescence sins, being hard to safeguard against especially in the case of people in teens and 20s.
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[[Avarice]] ([[greed]], treachery) &mdash;<br>A strong desire to gain, especially in money or power. Disloyalty, deliberate betrayal, or [[treason]], especially for personal gain or when compensated. Scavenging and hoarding of materials or objects. [[Theft]] and robbery by violence. Simony is the evolution of avarice because it fills you with the urge to make money by selling things within the confines of the church. This sin is abhorred by the Catholic Church and is seen as a sin of malice. Dante included this sin in his first novel. Simony can be viewed as betrayal. [[Thomas Aquinas]] on greed: "it is a sin against God, just as all mortal sins, in as much as man condemns things eternal for the sake of temporal things."
  
===[[Envy]] (Latin, ''invidia'')===
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===Sloth (Latin, ''acedia'')===
Envy (jealousy, malice) &mdash;<br>Grieving spite and resentment of material objects, accomplishments, or character traits of others, or wishing others to fail or come to harm. Envy is the root of theft and self-loathing. Dante defined this as "love of one's own good perverted to a desire to deprive other men of theirs". Associated with the dog and the color green. The adolescent of the 3 exaggerated adulthood sins.
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[[laziness|Sloth]] ([[apathy]], indifference) &mdash;<br>Apathy, idleness, and wastefulness of time. Laziness is particularly condemned because others must work harder to make up for it. Cowardice or irresponsibility. Abandonment, especially of God. Dante wrote that sloth is the "failure to love God with all one's heart, all one's mind and all one's soul".  
  
===[[Pride]] (Latin, ''superbia'')===
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===Wrath (Latin, ''ira'')===
Pride (vanity, narcissism) &mdash;<br>A desire to be more important or attractive to others, failing to give credit due to others, or excessive love of self (especially holding self out of proper position toward God). Dante's definition was "love of self perverted to hatred and contempt for one's neighbor". In Jacob Bidermann's [[medieval]] [[miracle play]], ''[[Cenodoxus]]'', superbia is the deadliest of all the sins and leads directly to the damnation of the famed Doctor of Paris, [[Cenodoxus]]. Pride was what sparked the fall of Lucifer from Heaven. Vanity and narcissism are good examples of these sins and they often lead to the destruction of the sinner, for instance by the wanton squandering of money and time on themselves without caring about others. Pride can be seen as the misplacment of morals. Associated with the horse and the color violet{{citeneeded}}. The absolute of the 3 exaggerated adulthood sins, as a prideful person believes him/herself to be in complete control of things.
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[[Wrath]] (anger, hatred) &mdash;<br>Inappropriate (unrighteous) feelings of hatred and anger. Denial of the truth to others or self. Impatience or revenge outside of [[justice]]. Wishing to do evil or harm to others. Self-righteousness. Wrath is the root of [[murder]] and [[assault]]. Dante described wrath as "love of justice perverted to revenge and spite".  
  
== Hierarchy ==
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===Envy (Latin, ''invidia'')===
Early church fathers around 1000 C.E. began to view the capital sins as not seven equal sins, but rather each sin having its own weight based on its grievousness.  This began with an interpretation of 1 John 5:16-17, which states, "If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death."
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[[Envy]] ([[jealousy]], malice) &mdash;<br>Grieving spite and resentment of material objects, accomplishments, or character traits of others, or wishing others to fail or come to harm. Envy is the root of theft and self-loathing. Dante defined this as "love of one's own good perverted to a desire to deprive other men of theirs".  
  
Their interpretation of this chapter leads to the notion that some sins (those resulting in death or harm to others) are more grievous than others (those that result in death or harm to self).
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===Pride (Latin, ''superbia'')===
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[[Pride]] ([[vanity]], [[narcissism]]) &mdash;<br>A desire to be more important or attractive to others, failing to give credit due to others, or excessive love of self (especially holding self out of proper position toward God). Dante's definition was "love of self perverted to hatred and contempt for one's neighbor." In Jacob Bidermann's [[medieval]] [[miracle play]], ''[[Cenodoxus]]'', superbia is the deadliest of all the sins and leads directly to the damnation of the famed Doctor of Paris, [[Cenodoxus]]. Pride was what sparked the fall of [[Lucifer]] from [[Heaven]]. Vanity and narcissism are good examples of these sins and they often lead to the destruction of the sinner, for instance by the wanton squandering of money and time on themselves without caring about others. Pride can be seen as the misplacement of morals.
  
Several of these sins interlink and various attempts at causal hierarchy have been made. For example, pride (love of self out of proportion) is implied in gluttony (the over-consumption or waste of food), as well as sloth, envy and most of the others. Each sin is a particular way of failing to love God with all one's resources and to love fellows as much as self. The [[Scholastic]] theologians developed schema of attribute and substance of will to explain these sins.
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==Interpretations==
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In the original classification, "Pride" was considered to be the 'deadliest' of all sins, and was the father of all sins. This relates directly to [[Christian]] philosophy and the story of [[Lucifer]] as told in the [[Bible]]. Lucifer, the highest [[angel]] in [[heaven]], surrendered to the sin of pride and demanded that the other angels worship him. This being a violation of God's will, Lucifer and his followers were cast from heaven.
  
In the original classification, Pride was considered to be the 'deadliest' of all sins, and was the father of all sins. This relates directly to Christian philosophy and the story of Lucifer as told in the Bible. Lucifer, the highest angel in heaven, surrendered to the sin of pride and demanded that the other angels worship him. This being a violation of God's will, Lucifer and his followers were cast from heaven.
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However, other interpretations have viewed "Greed" as the keystone of the seven deadly sins, and see the other deadly sins as manifestations of wanton greed:
 
 
More recently, Greed has been treated as the keystone of the seven deadly sins. The other deadly sins are tributaries of wanton greed:
 
 
* Lust: Greed for Sex, Attention
 
* Lust: Greed for Sex, Attention
 
* Gluttony: Greed for Self-Indulgence
 
* Gluttony: Greed for Self-Indulgence
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Alternatively, one could consider Lust to be the central sin:
 
Alternatively, one could consider Lust to be the central sin:
 
* Lust: lust for attention and sex
 
* Lust: lust for attention and sex
* Gluttony: lust for self indulgence  
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* Gluttony: lust for self-indulgence  
 
* Sloth: lust for avoidance
 
* Sloth: lust for avoidance
 
* Envy: lust for possessions and personal gain  
 
* Envy: lust for possessions and personal gain  
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* Pride: lust for greatness and supremacy
 
* Pride: lust for greatness and supremacy
  
Another sin that branches out into the father of sins can be the sin of sloth for instance
+
Another interpretation of these sins is to see all the Seven Deadly Sins as an extension of "Sloth":
  
 
* Lust means they are too lazy to love
 
* Lust means they are too lazy to love
Line 112: Line 102:
 
* Sloth means they are too lazy to do anything
 
* Sloth means they are too lazy to do anything
 
* Envy too lazy to think about anything but money and personal gain
 
* Envy too lazy to think about anything but money and personal gain
* Wrath too lazy to considered the consequences  of their vengeful actions
+
* Wrath too lazy to consider the consequences  of their vengeful actions
 
* Greed too lazy to think about anything other than money and power
 
* Greed too lazy to think about anything other than money and power
 
* Pride too lazy to understand that there is more to life than money and power
 
* Pride too lazy to understand that there is more to life than money and power
  
Both of these proposed schemes seem reductionistic, though - reducing both greed and lust so that they are synonymous with "desire". Perhaps Pride still makes the most sense as the father of all sins.
+
Many of these interpretive schemes are reductionistic, and are not accepted by the Roman Catholic Church.
 
 
==Catholic Virtues==
 
The [[Catholic]] church recognises the [[seven virtues]] as opposites to the seven sins.
 
  
 +
==Seven Holy Virtues==
 +
The [[Roman Catholic Church]] recognizes the seven [[virtue]]s as opposites to the seven sins: 
 +
{{readout||right|250px|The [[Roman Catholic Church]] recognizes the seven Holy [[virtue]]s as opposites to the Seven Deadly Sins}}
 
{| cellspacing="8"
 
{| cellspacing="8"
 
!Sin
 
!Sin
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|}
 
|}
  
== The Punishments ==
+
==Notes==
* Lust: Smothered in brimstone and fire
+
<references/>
* Gluttony: Force-fed rats, toads and snakes
 
* Greed: Boiled in the finest oil
 
* Sloth: Thrown into a snake pit
 
* Wrath: Dismembered alive
 
* Envy: Submerged in freezing water
 
* Pride: Broken on the wheel
 
  
Similar punishments are imagined in [[Dante's Inferno]]
+
==References==
 
+
*  Fussell, R. Curtis. ''Deadly Sins and Living Virtues: Living Beyond the Seven Deadly Sins'' CSS Publishing Company, 1998. ISBN 978-0788011382
== Associations with demons ==
+
* Schimme, Solomon. ''The Seven Deadly Sins: Jewish, Christian, and Classical Reflections on Human Psychology'' Oxford University Press, USA, 1997. ISBN 978-0195119459
In [[1589]], [[Peter Binsfeld]] paired each of the deadly sins with a [[demon]], who tempted people by means of the associated sin. According to ''Binsfeld's classification of demons'', the pairings are as follows:
+
* Stalker, James. ''The Seven Deadly Sins and the Seven Cardinal Virtues: And, the Seven Cardinal Virtues'' Navpress Publishing Group, 1998. ISBN 978-1576830925
 
 
* [[Lucifer]]: Pride
 
* [[Mammon]]: Greed
 
* [[Asmodeus]]: Lust
 
* [[Leviathan]]: Envy
 
* [[Beelzebub]]: Gluttony (lord of the flies)
 
* [[Satan]]: Wrath
 
* [[Belphegor]]: Sloth
 
 
 
 
 
==Further reading==
 
*'''Summa Theologiae''', by Saint Thomas Aquinas
 
*'''Inferno''', by Dante Alighieri
 
*'''Purgatorio''', by Dante Alighieri
 
*'''The Concept of Sin''', by Josef Pieper
 
*'''The Traveller's Guide to Hell''', by Michael Pauls& Dana Facaros
 
*'''Sacred Origins of Profound Things''', by Charles Panati
 
*'''Faerie Queene''', by Sir Edmund Spenser
 
 
 
==See Also:==
 
[[Vice]]
 
[[Catholic doctrines]]
 
[[Core issues in ethics]]
 
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
* [http://www.seven-deadly-sin.com/ Seven-Deadly-Sin]
+
All links retrieved January 26, 2023.
* [http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt3sect1chpt3.htm#art1 Catholic Catechism on The Moral Law]
+
* [https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/questions/what-are-seven-deadly-sins What are the seven deadly sins?] ''Bible Info''
* [http://vocationalpsychology.com/essay_11_sins.htm The Seven Deadly Sins At Work]
+
* [http://www.deadlysins.com/ Seven Deadly Sins]
* [http://www.deadlysins.com/ 7 Deadly Sins, 7 Heavenly Virtues]
+
* [https://www.christianity.com/wiki/sin/what-are-the-seven-deadly-sins.html What Are the Seven Deadly Sins? A Biblical Guide] ''Christianity.com''
* [http://thesins.blogspot.com 7 Deadly Sins (A humor/USA politics blog)]
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
[[Category:Philosophy and religion]][[category:Religion]]
+
[[Category:Philosophy and religion]]
 +
[[category:Religion]]
  
 
{{Credit2|Seven_Deadly_Sins|47728437|Sin|47835960}}
 
{{Credit2|Seven_Deadly_Sins|47728437|Sin|47835960}}

Latest revision as of 10:07, 26 January 2023

The Seven Deadly Sins and the Four Last Things by Hieronymus Bosch 1485 Oil on wood panels

In Roman Catholicism, the Seven Deadly Sins, also known as the capital vices or cardinal sins, are a list of the worst vices that cut a person off from God's grace. In Latin and English, the Seven Deadly Sins are: superbia (pride), avaritia (greed), luxuria (extravagance, later lust), invidia (envy), gula (gluttony), ira (wrath), and acedia (sloth). Each of the Seven Deadly Sins corresponds to one of the Seven Holy Virtues, and together these lists were the moral standards and tests of the early Catholic Church.

Much debate thrived over the relative merit of the Seven Deadly Sins in the scope of salvation, as well as their particular ranking. The Roman Catholic Church differentiates between two different types of sin: venial sin (forgiven through a sacrament) and capital sin (meriting damnation without reconciliation). The Seven Deadly Sins may be venial or mortal depending on the specific case (see below).

Roman Catholic Views of Sin

Roman Catholic doctrine distinguishes between personal sin and original sin. Personal sins are either mortal or venial:

Mortal sins are sins of grave (serious) matter, where the sinner is aware that the act (or omission) is both a sin and a grave matter, but still performs the act (or omission) with deliberate consent. The act of committing a mortal sin cuts off the sinner from God's grace; it is in itself a rejection of God. If left un-reconciled, mortal sins result in eternal punishment in Hell. Thus, mortal sin is sin causing spiritual death. (Rom. 5:12; 6:23).

In order for a sin to be mortal, it must meet three conditions:
  • Mortal sin is a sin of grave matter
  • Mortal sin is committed with full knowledge of the sinner
  • Mortal sin is committed with deliberate consent of the sinner [1]

Consequently, to be classified as a "mortal sin" a sin must meet the first condition of being a "grave matter", as well as meet the two other conditions. The Seven Deadly Sins are also deemed "grave matter" but can only be "mortal sins" if the two other subsidiary conditions are met.

Venial sins are sins that do not meet the conditions for mortal sins. The sin may be one that is not a grave matter, or if a grave matter, the individual does not realize that the act is a sin, or does not deliberately consent to the sin. The act of committing a venial sin does not cut off the sinner from God's grace, as the sinner has not rejected God. However, venial sins do injure the relationship between the sinner and God, and as such, must be reconciled to God, either through the sacrament of reconciliation or receiving the Eucharist.

Both mortal and venial sins have a dual nature of punishment. They incur both guilt for the sin, yielding eternal punishment, and temporal punishment for the sin. Reconciliation is an act of God's mercy, and addresses the guilt and eternal punishment for sin. Purgatory and indulgences address the temporal punishment for sin, and exercise of God's justice.

Catholic doctrine also sees sin as being twofold: Sin is, at once, any evil or immoral action that causes infraction in God's law and the inevitable consequences, the state of being that comes about by committing the sinful action. Sin can and does alienate a person both from God and the community. Hence, the Catholic Church's insistence on reconciliation with both God and the Church itself.

History

While no list of the seven deadly sins appears as such in the Bible itself, each of the sins is condemned at various points in the text. A list of seven sins that God hates is found in Proverbs 6:16-19:

There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. (New International Version)

In the fourth century, further elucidation of the sins was provided by the poet Prudentius (ca. 348-ca. 405 C.E.) in his descriptions of battles between the Virtues and Vices in the Psychomachia ("The Contest of the Soul"). Additionally, Evagrius of Pontus (349-399 C.E.), a Greek theologian, introduced the concept of eight offenses and passions that a human could fall victim to while on earth. They were the result of an abnormal obsession with self. The cure for each of these was an adoption of selfless attitudes towards the world.

It has also been suggested that the original classification may have been monastic in origin.[2]

In the later part of the sixth century C.E., Pope Gregory the Great (d. 604) in his work Moralia on Job (esp. XXXI.45), introduced the seven deadly sins and has given us the classical exposition on the subject. The goal of the seven deadly sins was to illustrate for laypersons of the church the need to be mindful of capital sin, or sin which requires penance in Hell. Capital sin is graver than venial sin, which can be forgiven through confession.

Pope Gregory's list of Seven Deadly Sins was different from the one found today, and his ranking of the Sins' seriousness was based on the degree that they offended against love. From least serious to most, were: lust, gluttony, sadness, avarice, anger, envy, and pride. Sadness would later be replaced by acedia (sloth), putting off or failing to do what God asks of you.

Early Church Fathers around 1000 C.E. began to view the capital sins as not seven equal sins, but rather each sin having its own weight based on its grievousness. This began with an interpretation of 1 John 5:16-17, which states, "If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death."

Their interpretation of this chapter leads to the notion that some sins (those resulting in death or harm to others) are more grievous than others (those that result in death or harm to self).

Several of these sins interlink and various attempts at causal hierarchy have been made. For example, pride (love of self out of proportion) is implied in gluttony (the over-consumption or waste of food), as well as sloth, envy and most of the others. Each sin is a particular way of failing to love God with all one's resources and to love fellows as much as self. The Scholastic theologians developed schema of attributes and substance of will to explain these sins.

Sculpture of the Seven Deadly Sins in the church of St. Peter, Lynchmere, West Sussex, England

However, the highly influential theologian and philosopher Thomas Aquinas (1225-1273) contradicted the notion that the seriousness of the capital sins should be ranked. In medieval scholasticism the Seven Deadly Sins were the focus of considerable attention. [3]

Beginning in the early fourteenth century, the popularity of depicting the Seven Deadly Sins by artists of the time ingrained them in western popular consciousness. The Italian poet Dante Alighieri (1265-1321 C.E.), wrote three epic poems (known collectively as the Divine Comedy) titled Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. In his book Inferno, Dante recounts the visions he has in a dream in which he enters and descends into Hell. According to Dante, he is told by his guide that a soul's location in Hell is based upon the sins that they commit when they are alive. In each 'ring' of hell, a specific punishment is doled out. As they descend lower and lower, the punishments (and consequently sins) become worse and worse until he reaches the bottom and discovers Satan. In Inferno, Dante encounters these sins in the following order (canto number): Lust (5), Gluttony (6), Avarice (7), Wrath (7-8), Heresy (10), Violence (12-17), Blasphemy (14), Fraud (18-30), and Treachery (32-34).

In modern times, references to the Seven Deadly Sins continue to be a popular topic in music and art. One of the most famous examples of these is the painting, The Seven Deadly Sins and the Four Last Things by Hieronymus Bosch (c. 1450-1516).

In the official Catechism of the Catholic Church, consisting of 2,865 numbered sections and first published in 1992, by order of Pope John Paul II, the seven deadly sins are dealt with in one paragraph. The principal codification of moral transgression for Christians continues to be the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes, which are a positive statement of morality.

The Sins

The Seven Deadly sins are listed today as follows:

Lust (Latin, luxuria)

Lust (fornication, perversion) —
Obsessive, unlawful depraved thought, or unnatural desire for sexual excitement, such as desiring sexual intercourse with a person outside marriage or engaging in unnatural sexual appetites. Rape and sodomy are considered to be extreme lust and are said to be mortal sins. Dante's criterion was "excessive love of others," thereby detracting from the love due to God. Lust prevents clarity of thought and rational behavior.

Gluttony (Latin, gula)

Gluttony (waste, overindulgence) —
Thoughtless waste of everything, overindulgence, misplaced sensuality, uncleanliness, and maliciously depriving others. Marked by refusal to share and unreasonable consumption of more than is necessary, especially food or water. Destruction, especially for sport. Substance abuse or binge drinking. Dante explains it as "excessive love of pleasure."

Avarice (Latin, avaritia)

Avarice (greed, treachery) —
A strong desire to gain, especially in money or power. Disloyalty, deliberate betrayal, or treason, especially for personal gain or when compensated. Scavenging and hoarding of materials or objects. Theft and robbery by violence. Simony is the evolution of avarice because it fills you with the urge to make money by selling things within the confines of the church. This sin is abhorred by the Catholic Church and is seen as a sin of malice. Dante included this sin in his first novel. Simony can be viewed as betrayal. Thomas Aquinas on greed: "it is a sin against God, just as all mortal sins, in as much as man condemns things eternal for the sake of temporal things."

Sloth (Latin, acedia)

Sloth (apathy, indifference) —
Apathy, idleness, and wastefulness of time. Laziness is particularly condemned because others must work harder to make up for it. Cowardice or irresponsibility. Abandonment, especially of God. Dante wrote that sloth is the "failure to love God with all one's heart, all one's mind and all one's soul".

Wrath (Latin, ira)

Wrath (anger, hatred) —
Inappropriate (unrighteous) feelings of hatred and anger. Denial of the truth to others or self. Impatience or revenge outside of justice. Wishing to do evil or harm to others. Self-righteousness. Wrath is the root of murder and assault. Dante described wrath as "love of justice perverted to revenge and spite".

Envy (Latin, invidia)

Envy (jealousy, malice) —
Grieving spite and resentment of material objects, accomplishments, or character traits of others, or wishing others to fail or come to harm. Envy is the root of theft and self-loathing. Dante defined this as "love of one's own good perverted to a desire to deprive other men of theirs".

Pride (Latin, superbia)

Pride (vanity, narcissism) —
A desire to be more important or attractive to others, failing to give credit due to others, or excessive love of self (especially holding self out of proper position toward God). Dante's definition was "love of self perverted to hatred and contempt for one's neighbor." In Jacob Bidermann's medieval miracle play, Cenodoxus, superbia is the deadliest of all the sins and leads directly to the damnation of the famed Doctor of Paris, Cenodoxus. Pride was what sparked the fall of Lucifer from Heaven. Vanity and narcissism are good examples of these sins and they often lead to the destruction of the sinner, for instance by the wanton squandering of money and time on themselves without caring about others. Pride can be seen as the misplacement of morals.

Interpretations

In the original classification, "Pride" was considered to be the 'deadliest' of all sins, and was the father of all sins. This relates directly to Christian philosophy and the story of Lucifer as told in the Bible. Lucifer, the highest angel in heaven, surrendered to the sin of pride and demanded that the other angels worship him. This being a violation of God's will, Lucifer and his followers were cast from heaven.

However, other interpretations have viewed "Greed" as the keystone of the seven deadly sins, and see the other deadly sins as manifestations of wanton greed:

  • Lust: Greed for Sex, Attention
  • Gluttony: Greed for Self-Indulgence
  • Envy: Greed for Possessions, Personal Gain
  • Sloth: Greed for Avoidance
  • Pride: Greed for Greatness
  • Wrath: Greed for Revenge

Alternatively, one could consider Lust to be the central sin:

  • Lust: lust for attention and sex
  • Gluttony: lust for self-indulgence
  • Sloth: lust for avoidance
  • Envy: lust for possessions and personal gain
  • Wrath: lust for vengeance
  • Greed: lust for money and power
  • Pride: lust for greatness and supremacy

Another interpretation of these sins is to see all the Seven Deadly Sins as an extension of "Sloth":

  • Lust means they are too lazy to love
  • Gluttony means they are too lazy to consider others
  • Sloth means they are too lazy to do anything
  • Envy too lazy to think about anything but money and personal gain
  • Wrath too lazy to consider the consequences of their vengeful actions
  • Greed too lazy to think about anything other than money and power
  • Pride too lazy to understand that there is more to life than money and power

Many of these interpretive schemes are reductionistic, and are not accepted by the Roman Catholic Church.

Seven Holy Virtues

The Roman Catholic Church recognizes the seven virtues as opposites to the seven sins:

Did you know?
The Roman Catholic Church recognizes the seven Holy virtues as opposites to the Seven Deadly Sins
Sin Virtue
Lust (undesired love) Chastity (purity)
Gluttony (overindulgence) Moderation/Temperance (self-restraint)
Greed (avarice) Generosity (vigilance)
Sloth (laziness) Zeal (integrity)
Wrath (anger) Meekness (composure)
Envy (jealousy) Charity (giving)
Pride (vanity) Humility (humbleness)

Notes

  1. What is a Mortal Sin? St. Thomas Aquinas Forum. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  2. (cf. Cassian, Collationes Patrum, vs. 10).
  3. cf. esp. Aquinas, Summa Theologica, II.ii.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Fussell, R. Curtis. Deadly Sins and Living Virtues: Living Beyond the Seven Deadly Sins CSS Publishing Company, 1998. ISBN 978-0788011382
  • Schimme, Solomon. The Seven Deadly Sins: Jewish, Christian, and Classical Reflections on Human Psychology Oxford University Press, USA, 1997. ISBN 978-0195119459
  • Stalker, James. The Seven Deadly Sins and the Seven Cardinal Virtues: And, the Seven Cardinal Virtues Navpress Publishing Group, 1998. ISBN 978-1576830925

External links

All links retrieved January 26, 2023.

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