The Seven Deadly Sins: Exploring Their Mythological Origins

The seven deadly sins, also known as the capital or cardinal sins, are a grouping of vices within Christian teachings. They are pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth. The concept originated with the desert fathers, especially Evagrius Ponticus, who identified seven or eight evil thoughts or spirits that one needed to overcome. Evagrius' pupil John Cassian brought the classification to Europe, where it became fundamental to Catholic confessional practices. The seven deadly sins are often depicted in art and discussed in treatises, and they have inspired countless works of literature, film, and television.

Pride as the deadliest sin

Pride, or hubris, is considered the deadliest sin in almost every list of the seven deadly sins. It is also thought to be the source of the other capital sins. Pride is the opposite of humility.

In Christian theology, pride is a craving for superiority over those around us and sees other people as inferior. It can manifest itself in many ways, such as the desire to be the centre of attention, boasting, or constantly trying to one-up others. It can also lead to unwarranted confidence in one's abilities and a sense of being better than others. This can be seen in the stereotype of the high school quarterback who thinks he is better than all the "nerds" and "losers".

Pride can also be seen in looking down on others because they do not belong to a certain group, including racism, sexism, and contempt for those with different political or religious beliefs. Even self-esteem, which is valued in education, can turn into pride. Dennis Ockholm, in his book *Dangerous Passions, Deadly Sins*, calls this "self-esteemia", and it can lead to antisocial behaviour, bullying, defensiveness, narcissism, and aggression.

The most dangerous form of pride is spiritual pride, which can lead to the belief that one is spiritually mature and on better terms with God because of one's own achievements rather than His grace. This was the kind of pride that led Lucifer to challenge God's authority and become Satan.

Pride sets us in direct opposition to God and can lead to a fall, as seen in the biblical proverb, "Pride goeth before a fall". In political analysis, "hubris" is used to describe leaders who become irrationally self-confident and contemptuous of advice, leading to impulsive decisions.

Pride is a difficult sin to deal with as it can grow back in different forms, even after we think we have cut it from our lives. However, the antidote to pride is humility, which is one of the seven heavenly virtues that can overcome the seven deadly sins.

Gluttony and overindulgence

Gluttony, or overindulgence, is one of the seven deadly sins in both Christianity and Greek mythology. The word comes from the Latin "gluttire", meaning to gulp down or swallow. In the context of the seven deadly sins, gluttony refers to the overindulgence and overconsumption of anything to the point of waste.

In Christian theology, gluttony is considered a major vice and is believed to lead to further sin. Medieval church leaders such as Thomas Aquinas took a broad view of gluttony, arguing that it includes not just overeating, but also the obsessive anticipation of meals and overindulgence in costly foods and delicacies. Aquinas identified five forms of gluttony:

• Laute – eating too expensively
• Studiose – eating too daintily
• Nimis – eating too much
• Praepropere – eating too soon
• Ardenter – eating too eagerly

In Greek mythology, those guilty of gluttony are consumed by their appetites and are often depicted as overweight or greedy. For example, in the myth of Tantalus, the mortal king is punished for his gluttony by being condemned to stand in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree, forever unable to eat or drink.

In modern times, gluttony can be understood as a lack of moderation and self-control. This can apply not only to food but also to other areas such as drinking, screen time, and material possessions.

Wrath and anger

The seven deadly sins, also known as the capital vices or cardinal sins, are a grouping of major vices within the teachings of Christianity. The seven deadly sins are: pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth.

Wrath, or anger, is defined as a strong feeling of hatred or resentment with a desire for vengeance. This desire for revenge is what distinguishes wrath from anger, which is balanced with reason and is not a sin. Christian teaching also differentiates between God's wrath and human wrath, as the wrath of God is regarded as a manifestation of divine righteousness and justice.

Wrath is believed to be a sin that builds over time. It starts as a small feeling of anger, which, if not managed properly, can grow and lead to harmful thinking, speech, and actions. In the Bible, Colossians instructs believers to "put away...anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk."

In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, anger is considered a passion or feeling that inclines humans to act or not act in response to something that is perceived as good or evil. Anger becomes the sin of wrath when it is directed against an innocent person, when it is unduly strong or long-lasting, or when it desires excessive punishment.

In art, wrath has been depicted in scenes from the Bible and classical stories, such as Peter Paul Rubens' paintings "Cain Slaying Abel" and "The Wrath of Achilles." In Dante's "Inferno," sinners guilty of wrath are assigned to the fifth circle of hell, where they attack each other in a muddy swamp.

While wrath and anger are not listed as sins in the Bible, scripture often warns against them. For example, Psalm 37:8 advises, "Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath...it leads only to evil." Similarly, in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus admonishes one of his disciples for brandishing a sword, saying, "Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword."

Envy and jealousy

In Christianity, envy is one of the oldest motivators for sin in the Bible. Cain envies his brother Abel because God favours Abel's sacrifice, and this envy leads Cain to kill his brother. In Dante's "Purgatory", sinners guilty of envy have their eyes sewn shut with wire, as they have taken pleasure in another's misfortune.

Envy is a powerful motivator, and psychologists suggest that there are two kinds: benign and malicious. Benign envy can have positive effects, as it can motivate a person to work harder and improve themselves. Malicious envy, however, is the kind that leads to sin. It gets into your mind and causes you to want the person who has what you want to suffer. For example, in "The Lion King", Scar is envious of Mufasa and kills him to gain the kingdom.

Envy is also associated with the colour green, as in the phrase "green-eyed monster", first recorded by Shakespeare. This association likely stems from the Renaissance, when feelings were commonly associated with colours, and the fact that green is the colour of bile.

In Greek mythology, envy, or jealousy, was considered a deadly sin. Those who were guilty of it were consumed by feelings of resentment and bitterness towards others who had something they desired. In the myth of Apollo and Marsyas, Apollo becomes jealous of the mortal Marsyas's skill at playing the flute and punishes him for it.

Envy is a destructive force, both in a religious context and in our everyday lives. It can lead to sin, destruction, and the breakdown of community.

Lust and desire

Lust, or lechery, is considered one of the seven deadly sins in Roman Catholic theology. It is typically understood as an intense or unbridled longing for sexual desire, which may lead to fornication, adultery, and other sinful and sexual acts. However, it can also manifest as an unbridled desire for money or power. Lust is generally considered the least serious of the seven deadly sins, as it is seen as an abuse of a faculty shared with animals, and thus less grievous than spiritual sins.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said:

> "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:27-28)

This passage highlights that lust is not only about physical acts but also about the intentions and desires of the heart. It is a perversion of desire, where one seeks to satisfy their wants without regard for consequences or the honouring of another person's image as a bearer of God.

Lust can be a powerful force, and those who struggle with it often feel regret and shame. It is important to recognise that desires themselves are not inherently bad; God gave them to us for a reason. However, when we give in to lust, we make the desire itself the driving force in our lives, manipulating and objectifying others to satisfy our own thirst.

To overcome lust, it is crucial to let God reframe our desires rather than trying to snuff them out. This involves seeing Jesus at the centre of our desires, recognising them as gifts that point us towards the infinite as we pursue purity and holiness with the grace of the Father. Additionally, it is important to guard ourselves from media, books, and situations that might cause us to stumble, pray honestly, and stay accountable to trusted individuals.

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