What are the Seven Deadly Sins?
The identification and definition of the Sins is a fluid process and, like many aspects of religion, idea of what each sin encompasses has changed over time. This was exacerbated by the fact that the Sins are not considered in a structured manner in the Bible, and works referencing the sins were gradually considered sources for others to base their definitions on. The second section of the Divine Comedy, Purgatorio, is the most well known source for defining the sins, though modern interpretations often show those guilty of the Sins suffering in Hell, not purifying themselves in Purgatory.
Listed in the same order used by both Pope Gregory the Great in the 6th Century AD and Dante Alighieri, the seven deadly sins are as follows:
Lust (Latin, luxuria)
Lust (fornication, perversion):
Lust is best described as depraved thought, unwholesome morality, desire for excitement, or need to be accepted or recognized by others. It also includes obsessive, unlawful, or unnatural sexual desire, such as desiring sex with a person outside marriage or engaging in unnatural sexual appetites (like bestiality). Rape, adultery and sodomy are considered to be extreme forms of lust. Dante's criterion was "excessive love of others," thereby detracting from the love due to God. In Purgatorio, the penitant walk within flames to purge themselves of lustful thoughts.
Gluttony (Latin, gula)
Gluttony (waste, overindulgence):
Modern views identify Gluttony as being associated with an overindulgence of food and drink, though in the past any form of thoughtless excess could fall within the definition of this sin. Marked by a refusal to share resources and unreasonable or unnecessary consumption, Gluttony could also include certain forms of destructive behaviour, especially for sport (like trophy hunting), Substance abuse or binge drinking. The definition for Gluttony has the words “over indulgence” in it, so therefore, Gluttony could be over indulgence in any one thing (not just food). The penitant in the Purgatorio were forced to stand beneath two trees, unable to make use of the food hanging there and giving them a starved appearance.
Greed/Avarice (Latin, avaritia)
Greed (treachery, covetousness):
A strong desire to gain material wealth, Greed is, like Lust and Gluttony, a sin of excess. However, Greed particularly applies to the acquisition of wealth. Thomas Aquinas wrote that Greed was "a sin against God, just as all mortal sins, in as much as man condemns things eternal for the sake of temporal things." Dante wrote something similar, as the penitant in Purgatory were force to kneel on hard stone and recite the examples of avarice and its opposing virtue. Avarice is a blanket term that can describe many other forms of sinful behaviour. These include disloyalty, deliberate betrayal, or treason, especially for personal gain or when compensated. Scavenging and hoarding of materials or objects, theft and robbery, especially by violence, trickery, or manipulation of authority are all actions that are inspired by greed. Such misdeeds include Simony, where the sinner feels 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 and betrayal, and Dante included this sin in the first poem of the Divine Comedy (the Inferno).
Sloth (Latin, acedia)
Sloth (acedia, laziness, sadness):
More than other sins, the definition of sloth has changed considerably since its original inclusion in the list. Originally, its place was fulfilled by two others, Acedia and Sadness. The former described a spiritual apathy that affected the faithful by discouraging them from their religious work. Sadness (Tristitia in Latin) described a feeling of dissatisfaction or discontent, showing unhappiness with their current situation. When Aquinas selected Acedia for his list, he described it as an "uneasiness of the mind", being a progenitor for lesser sins such as restlessness and instability. Dante built on this definition, describing sloth as being the "failure to love God with all one's heart, all one's mind and all one's soul". He also describes it as the middle sin, and as such is the only sin characterised by an absence or insufficiency of love. Modern interpretations differ from either of these, and portray Sloth as being simply a sin of laziness, of an unwillingness to act. For this reason Sloth is now often seen as being considerably less serious than the other sins.
Wrath (Latin, ira)
Wrath (anger, hatred, prejudice, discrimination):
Inappropriate [unrighteous] feelings of hatred and anger. Denial of the truth to others or self. Impatience with the law, or seeking revenge outside of justice. Unnecessary vigilanteism. Wishing to do evil or harm to others. This also includes anger towards others for no good reason, such as their race or religion, leading to discrimination. 'Minor' sins born of wrath are some of the most serious, including murder,assault, discrimination, and genocide. (See Crimes against humanity.) Dante described wrath as "love of justice perverted to revenge and spite".
Envy (Latin, invidia)
Envy (jealousy, malice):
Like greed, envy is characterised by an insatiable desire, however the two sins differ for two main reasons. Firstly, greed is normally associated with material wealth, whereas envy can apply to other concepts, like love or success. Secondly those who commit the sin of envy desire something at the expense — or alternatively because of — someone else. Dante defined this as "love of one's own good perverted to a desire to deprive other men of theirs." Envy can inspire feelings of 'schadenfreude', where one delights in others experiencing misfortune because in the their eyes it compensates for what they are envious of (AKA: The grass is always greener). For this reason, in Purgatory the penitent walk around with their eyes sewn shut.
Pride (Latin, superbia)
Pride (vanity, narcissism):
In almost every list Pride is considered the original or most serious sin. It is identified as 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 neighbour". In Jacob Bidermann's medieval miracle play, Cenodoxus, Pride 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, and his subsequent transformation into Satan. Vanity and Narcissism are good examples of these sins, though both imply a more empty feeling of Pride, with little to back it up. In the Divine Comedy, the penitant were forced to walk with their heads bowed while they were whipped in order to induce feelings of humility.
Catholic Virtues
The Catholic church recognises the seven virtues as opposites to the seven sins. These are also known as the Seven Contrary Virtues.
| Vice | Virtue |
|---|---|
| Lust (undesired love) | Chastity (purity) |
| Gluttony (overindulgence) | Moderation (self-restraint) |
| Greed (avarice) | Generosity (vigilance) |
| Sloth (laziness) | Zeal (integrity) |
| Wrath (anger) | Meekness (composure) |
| Envy (Jealousy) | Charity (giving) |
| Pride (vanity) | Humility (humbleness) |
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