In the final analysis, no sin is any more “deadly” than any other sin. Nearly every sin could be placed in one of those seven categories. The traditional list of seven deadly sins can function as a way to categorize the many different sins that exist. Yes, pride, envy, etc., are sins that the Bible condemns however, they are never called “the seven deadly sins” in the Bible. Of course, this list is not what most people understand as the “seven deadly sins.” Proverbs 6:16–19 lists seven things that are detestable to God: 1) haughty eyes, 2) a lying tongue, 3) hands that shed innocent blood, 4) a heart that plots evil, 5) feet that are quick to rush to do wrong, 6) a false witness, and 7) a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. Is the idea of seven deadly sins biblical? Yes and no. Catholicism also teaches that the seven deadly sins can be overcome with the seven virtues (humility, gratitude, charity, temperance, chastity, patience, and diligence). The Roman Catholic Church does not teach the sins to be unforgivable in Catholic doctrine, the seven deadly sins can lead to mortal sins, which will send a person to hell immediately upon death, unless such sins are repented of before death. Sloth - Lack of effort in the face of a necessary task, causing it to go undone (or done badly).Ī common misconception about the seven deadly sins is that they are sins that God will not forgive. Greed - A strong desire for possessions, especially for possessions belonging to another. Lust - A selfish focus on sex or a desire to have sexual pleasure with someone other than your spouse.Īnger - An excessive, improper desire to exact revenge. Gluttony - An excessive desire for the pleasure of eating and drinking. Pride - An inflated, unrealistic sense of your self-worth.Įnvy - The feeling that you deserve the possessions, success, virtues, or talents of another person. Here is a brief description of each of the seven deadly sins: Each of the seven deadly sins leads to other sins for example, anger can lead to evil speaking, violence, or murder.
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The seven deadly sins are also called the seven capital sins or the seven cardinal sins- cardinal in this context meaning, “of basic importance” or “extremely grave.” The seven deadly sins are considered to be the most basic sins that plague humanity and the sins that are most likely to beset us. In the fourteenth century, Dante wrote his epic poem Inferno in which he pictured Purgatory as having seven terraces corresponding to the seven deadly sins. Thomas Aquinas later expounded on the idea. The list was first delineated by Pope Gregory the Great in the sixth century. The seven “deadly” sins are pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed, and sloth. According to Catholic theology, the seven deadly sins are seven vices or negative character qualities that, left unchecked, will result in a host of other sins and eventually kill a person’s soul.