
The seven deadly sins are a classification of vices within Christian teachings. They are pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth. The concept originated with the fourth-century monk Evagrius Ponticus, who wrote down eight evil thoughts or tempting thoughts: gluttony, lust, avarice, anger, sloth, sadness, vainglory, and pride. Over time, the list was revised and popularised by various religious figures, including Pope Gregory I, also known as Pope Gregory the Great, who is credited with finalising the list of seven deadly sins in AD 590. The seven deadly sins have been a source of fascination across the centuries, appearing in art, literature, film, and television.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Number | 7 |
Original Number | 8 |
First Person to Outline | Evagrius Ponticus |
First Person to Outline 7 Sins | Pope Gregory I |
First Person to Outline 8 Sins | Evagrius Ponticus |
Type of Sins | Capital/Cardinal |
Religious Type | Christian/Roman Catholic |
Pride | Excessive belief in one's abilities |
Envy | Desire for others' traits, status, abilities or situation |
Wrath/Anger | Uncontrolled feelings of anger, rage and even hatred |
Sloth | Lack of interest or habitual disinclination to exertion |
Greed/Avarice | Inordinate desire to acquire or possess more than one needs |
Lust | Inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body |
Gluttony | Inordinate desire to consume more than one requires |
Pride
The seven deadly sins are pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth. Pride is considered the original and worst of the seven deadly sins and is thought to be the source of the other capital sins.
Spiritual pride is considered the most dangerous form of pride. This can be seen when someone thinks they are on better terms with God because of their spiritual success rather than because of His grace. It can also lead to the belief that one does not need God's grace and can handle things on their own, thus directly opposing God.
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Envy
According to St. Thomas Aquinas, the struggle of envy occurs in three stages. In the first stage, the envious person tries to lower the other person's reputation. In the second stage, the envious person experiences either ""joy at another's misfortune" or "grief at another's prosperity". The third stage is hatred, as "sorrow causes hatred". Aquinas also considered envy to be a ""capital sin" because it is the head and form of all the other sins.
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Gluttony
In Christianity, gluttony is considered a sin if an excessive desire for food leads to a lack of control over one's relationship with food or harms the body. Some Christian denominations consider gluttony one of the seven deadly sins. Gluttony is defined as the over-indulgence or lack of self-restraint in food, drink, or wealth items, especially as status tokens. The English word comes from the Latin "gluttire," meaning "to gulp down or swallow." Gluttony can be understood as worshipping food to feed our own self-love.
The Bible repeatedly admonishes against gluttony in the Old Testament. The Book of Proverbs advises, "Do not join with winebibbers, nor with those who glut themselves on meat. For drunkards and gluttons come to poverty, and lazing about clothes one in rags" (Proverbs 23:20-21). Gluttony is also one of the sins named in God's judgment upon the wicked city of Sodom, whose inhabitants were "proud, sated with food, complacent in prosperity. They did not give any help to the poor and needy" (Book of Ezekiel 16:49).
In the New Testament, St. Paul the Apostle includes "drinking bouts, orgies, and the like" in his list of "works of the flesh" that will keep "those who do such things" from inheriting the kingdom of God (Letter of Paul to the Galatians 5:19-21). Paul also likens gluttony to idolatry, as in his description of the "enemies of the cross of Christ" in the Letter of Paul to the Philippians: "Their end is destruction. Their god is their stomach; their glory is in their 'shame.' Their minds are occupied with earthly things" (Philippians 3:18-19).
In Dante's 14th-century Inferno, gluttons are punished in the third circle of hell, where they are guarded and tortured by Cerberus, a monstrous three-headed beast, while lying face down in icy mud and slush.
Church leaders from the Middle Ages, such as St. Thomas Aquinas, took a more expansive view of gluttony. Aquinas listed five forms of gluttony:
- Laute – eating too expensively
- Studiose – eating too daintily
- Nimis – eating too much
- Praepropere – eating too soon
- Ardenter – eating too eagerly
St. Aquinas concludes that "gluttony denotes inordinate concupiscence in eating"; the first three ways are related to the food itself, while the last two are related to the manner of eating. He asserts that abstinence from food and drink overcomes the sin of gluttony, and the act of abstinence is fasting.
In modern times, Pope Francis has referenced the sin of gluttony on several occasions in his commentary on world hunger, food insecurity, food waste, the obesity epidemic, and materialism.
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Lust
The seven deadly sins, also known as the capital vices or cardinal sins, are a grouping of vices within the teachings of Christianity. The seven deadly sins are pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth.
In Roman Catholic theology, lust is considered one of the seven deadly sins and is believed to spur other immoral behaviours and sins. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, lust is a "disordered desire for or inordinate enjoyment of sexual pleasure." It is considered a sin when sexual pleasure is "sought for itself, isolated from its procreative and unitive purposes."
To combat lust, it is important to acknowledge and recognize its triggers, be attentive to one's thoughts and physical state, and seek support from honest friends or spiritual guidance.
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Wrath
The seven deadly sins, also known as the capital vices or cardinal sins, are a grouping of vices within the teachings of Christianity. The seven deadly sins are pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth.
In the Bible, wrath and anger are frequently warned against. For example, Psalm 37:8 advises, "Refrain from anger, and forsake from wrath...it leads only to evil." In the Gospel According to Matthew, Jesus alludes to the dangers of wrath while admonishing one of his disciples for brandishing a sword against his captors: "Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword."
To prevent anger from becoming sinful, it is suggested to slow down, take a breath, and do nothing. Pausing before responding can help to reduce the level of one's emotional reaction.
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Frequently asked questions
The seven deadly sins are pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth.
The seven deadly sins originated from a list of eight "evil thoughts" or "tempting thoughts" written by a Christian monk named Evagrius Ponticus in 375 AD. The list included gluttony, lust, greed, sadness, wrath, sloth, vainglory, and pride. In 590 AD, Pope Gregory I, also known as Pope Gregory the Great, adjusted the list to the modern version of the seven deadly sins.
The seven deadly sins are also referred to as cardinal sins or capital sins. They are a grouping of major vices within the teachings of Christianity, particularly the Roman Catholic Church.
Vainglory and pride are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same. Vainglory is the desire for human acclaim, while pride is taking spiritual credit for one's actions instead of ascribing them to God.
Yes, there are several cultural and religious variations of deadly sins. For example, in Hinduism, there are the Arishadvargas, and in Buddhism, there are the Five Poisons.