Vice

The Seven Deadly Sins

1. Pride is at work when we are unable to celebrate another‘s good fortune or find it hard to face our own imperfections. National pride in excess leads to racism, terrorism and even genocide

Example: someone cannot celebrate their friend’s birthday and this action results in a fight, argument that destroys their friendship that they have.

2. Envy serves as the basis for our consumerist society – we buy because we want more in order to be satisfied. Envy means never being happy with what you have

Example: Someone that is never happy with their belonging and always wants other people belongings for themselves and no one else.

3. Gluttony is self-absorption and the inability to recognise the needs of others. Destroying and polluting the environment for economic gain, economic policy that keeps the majority of the wealth in the hands of the few whilst millions are in poverty, and increasing levels of obesity are all evidence of gluttony

Example: someone who is always worried about themselves and nothing else like not caring for their friends who care for their friends, the environment or even what is happening in this world like poverty.

4. Lust is an inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body. It may lead to extra marital affairs, sexual abuse or rape. However it is not just sexual sin. Gollum in Lord of the Rings has an inordinate craving for the ring and its powers

Example: someone who is married but has a connection for another person. This action can lead to affairs destroying their love life.

5. Anger, when it is arises from inordinate and uncontrolled feelings of hatred and fury can lead to crimes such as assault, murder and acts of vengeance. Anger when it is appropriately expressed can be a force for change – it is how we express it that may cause problems

Example: someone who is always short tempered and gets angry at everything that makes them frustrated leading to violence physically and mentally to someone else.

6. Greed is the desire for material wealth or gain. Amassing large amounts of wealth, land, and resources with a disregard for how this leads to less being available for others characterises greed

Example: someone who doesn’t give only gets. Someone who doesn’t donates to the poor, and willing to steal from family and friends just to have it to themselves.

7. Slothfulness is the avoidance of physical or spiritual work including not acting when one should. Allowing bullying to occur and not acting to do something about it is an example of the vice of slothfulness

Example: someone who tries to get out of physical activities. Someone who is lazy and doesn’t do anything about it. This type of action lets bulling take over and doing nothing about it.